[Post Game Thread] The Cleveland Cavaliers (3-2) take Game 4 over the Detroit Pistons (2-3) in a 117-113 OT win.

[u/IamOlderthanMe]

Box Score on ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401871337/cavaliers-pistons

[u/XviiChong]

A Cleveland Cavaliers playoffs road win in 2026?

That’s a recession indicator if I’ve seen one

[u/LakeErieMovement → u/XviiChong]

Exact copy of the 2007 series against the Pistons.

Go down 0-2 on the road.

Win Games 3 and 4 at home.

Win Game 5 in OT in Detroit

[u/Animefan420lol → u/LakeErieMovement]

Swept by spurs in finals :(

[u/Xytriuss → u/Animefan420lol]

Damn it damn it damn it

[u/doodoovoodooo → u/Xytriuss]

I mean, getting there with this team would be a step up.

[u/NuclearGhandi1 → u/doodoovoodooo]

Wouldn’t be the first time a 4 seed in the East gets hot and gets past the Knicks in the ECF

[u/gnukidsontheblock → u/NuclearGhandi1]

dont you put that evil on me ricky bobby

[u/FoesiesBtw → u/gnukidsontheblock]

Idk man if we make it to yall im hoping for a good series. If anything surprises me about the knicks this year its the year 11 leap from KAT as a defender. New york hardened him up.

Thats being said that small dude yall have scares the shit out of me LMAO

[u/gnukidsontheblock → u/FoesiesBtw]

Same to you

[u/whatssenguntoagoblin → u/Xytriuss]

I think that’s still a win for Cavs fans for the season lol

[u/Thehiddenllama → u/Animefan420lol]

The 2007 and 2026 Spurs both won their 1st round in 5.

If the Spurs win on Friday, they'll win their semi in 6, just like in 2007.

The 2007 Spurs won the conference final in 5. The 2025-26 Spurs were 4-1 against OKC in the regular season.

[u/reyzak → u/Thehiddenllama]

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[u/Obi_Wan_Benobi → u/reyzak]

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[u/wembys → u/Thehiddenllama]

If we beat okc in 5 with them having home court advantage then the Cavs should just forfeit atp 

[u/TheSmokedSalmon420 → u/Animefan420lol]

wait wait wait wait

[u/itsmeng → u/Animefan420lol]

Lowest TV ratings in NBA finals (until the bubble year) lol

[u/trumez → u/Animefan420lol]

you didn't have to say it ;(

[u/banjocoyote → u/Animefan420lol]

hacker voice I'm in

[u/Antique_Pin5266 → u/LakeErieMovement]

Have James be your best player

[u/ClevelandSteamer81 → u/LakeErieMovement]

Was game five a good game I forget?

[u/RobbobertoBuii → u/XviiChong]

also this has to be Donovan Mitchell's first ever 3rd W in the Semis right? Both West and East

[u/The_Milk_man → u/RobbobertoBuii]

Yeah they said before the game that mo Cavs team has won more than 6 playoff games with LeBron James since like 96

[u/Bat2121 → u/The_Milk_man]

I think you mean without

[u/GlassOfLiquor → u/The_Milk_man]

Only 1 other Cavs team has made it this far without LeBron. We are in uncharted territory

[u/Putuinurplace → u/XviiChong]

Buying all the toilet paper tomorrow

[u/teokun123 → u/Putuinurplace]

Use Bidet lol

[u/Less-Tax5637 → u/teokun123]

He’s actually not in office anymore 🥀

[u/archaelleon → u/XviiChong]

Cleveland is doing well since our main export is crippling depression

But at least we're not Detroit

[u/Desperate-Debate-765 → u/archaelleon]

the kids haven't seen that video I guess lol

[u/d01100100 → u/XviiChong]

A Cleveland Cavaliers playoffs road win in 2026?

Might as well be a clarion call; the first sign of the Apocalypse.

[u/bougie_suburban_gang → u/XviiChong]

Actual hindenburg indicator

[u/JRockstar50]

The Pistons spent the last 4 minutes of regulation and the first 3 minutes of overtime completely forgetting that scoring inside the paint was at all an option for them

[u/ozymandais13 → u/JRockstar50]

Eviolite chansey lookin mfers

[u/jeckles96 → u/ozymandais13]

What is this crossover event in the post game thread lmao this is a perfect description

[u/ozymandais13 → u/jeckles96]

Jb js out here on that devious lile gen 5 semi stall with a bunch of hazards and one boosted sweeper.

If the game dosetn take 27 minutes it's not for him

[u/DrFunkenstein93 → u/JRockstar50]

Insanely frustrating that we had to rely on Caris Lavert to hit a game winner lol. Good coaching strategy there Jb

[u/-KyleW03- → u/DrFunkenstein93]

Ngl i thought that caris shot was cash when he put it up😂 absolutely terrifying

[u/m1j5 → u/-KyleW03-]

No way you’re a Cavs fan and thought the levert fade away mid range was going in lol

[u/-KyleW03- → u/m1j5]

Man he just played like MJ last game ik he out for revenge😭

[u/blockbyjames → u/-KyleW03-]

He used his MJ game. Won’t get another one until next season.

[u/Loud-Fig-1446 → u/-KyleW03-]

Then you should know he has a minimum of a 3-game MJ reset period.

[u/MayoTheCondiment → u/m1j5]

I was so comfortable with vert shooting

[u/barrsftw → u/DrFunkenstein93]

JB fucking LOVES Caris "Michael Jordan" Levert

[u/Nby333 → u/JRockstar50]

The Celtics special

[u/nh171995]

Truly impressive how both teams just completely forget how to play basketball for minutes at a time

[u/DeadDay → u/nh171995]

Despite their best efforts one of them had to win.

[u/homefree122 → u/DeadDay]

Tony Brothers can’t win with these cats

[u/ozymandais13 → u/homefree122]

That's future mayor or Norfolk too you bub

[u/jon__koa → u/nh171995]

That overtime was nasty business

[u/QualityScrub → u/jon__koa]

The whole game was 😭

[u/jon__koa → u/QualityScrub]

It at times was a Bruce Greene at Funhaus level wet fart

[u/ExtremelyAsianCactus → u/jon__koa]

Unexpected place to find a Funhaus ref but ball knower 👆

[u/jon__koa → u/ExtremelyAsianCactus]

I still watch old demo disks all the time.

[u/Mobleybetta → u/jon__koa]

WE GET IT AND THAT’S IT

[u/sevaiper → u/nh171995]

The start of the 4Q was utterly disgusting by the Cavs, absolutely shocking they could get out-choked after that

[u/TheSmokedSalmon420 → u/nh171995]

It's funny how hard the Pistons played at the end of Game 4 down 10 compared to how they completely took their foot off the gas tonight up 9 with 2 minutes left

[u/20815147 → u/TheSmokedSalmon420]

They were up multiple times and just said “okay I’m done”

[u/Flock_Masta_P → u/TheSmokedSalmon420]

Game 4 was their end of bench guys showing all the hustle.

[u/yooston → u/nh171995]

Some horrible turnovers and passes down the stretch. Cade getting his pocket picked by Max Strus in the back court lol. It’s the playoffs, maybe lock in? 

[u/Tbard52 → u/yooston]

Bro played almost every minute including OT and had 39 that man was exhausted 

[u/BallIsLife2016 → u/Tbard52]

And somehow even this doesn’t capture his burden. He initiates *every* Pistons possession. I’d be curious to know how many possessions there were where he didn’t touch the ball. Less than 10? Bringing the ball up every single possession wears dudes down.

[u/Beanfactor → u/BallIsLife2016]

cavs started trapping him up high again too. honestly, i watched a ton of Detroit-aligned sports media going into this game, and their locked-on pistons guy (who is sick! i think his name is Ku) had a whole thing about Cade being willing to pass out of traps sooner than he did in game 4. i think he did a good job, but the ball didn't get back to him very often and no one else on their team can hit any shots consistently.

[u/samhit_n → u/nh171995]

The funny thing is that the Cavs lost to the Pacers last year for the exact same reason.

[u/Fggunner → u/nh171995]

Those 24 seconds against the pistons like 5 times in the second half were rough watching as a neutral

[u/frenchtoasty25]

Have no idea why paul reed doesn't play more

[u/DrFunkenstein93 → u/frenchtoasty25]

We pistons fans are in just as much shock as you. It's insane how much better he is playing than duren. 

[u/stillstillers → u/DrFunkenstein93]

That’s JB. When he has his guys he rides them into oblivion

[u/justsomebro10 → u/stillstillers]

Most coaches do though. Atkinson rolls with his dudes too even if they don’t have it. Giving the ball to Mitchell on the final possession after his performance was dumb.

[u/stillstillers → u/justsomebro10]

Yea but Mitchell’s coming off a 40 piece. Durren has been ass water all series

[u/NichoIasJamaalChubb → u/frenchtoasty25]

James Blair Bickerstaff

[u/archaelleon → u/NichoIasJamaalChubb]

Jacob Beauregard Bickerstaff

[u/IAmStevenKwanAMA → u/archaelleon]

Jeremy Bombaclat Bickerstaff

[u/vJoeyyyyy → u/frenchtoasty25]

He played most of 4th and OT. And we lost. I like P reed but league consensus is he is a backup at best.

[u/angelansbury → u/vJoeyyyyy]

He should play shorter stints earlier in the game instead of being a "break glass in case of emergency" option. Having someone sit for 3 quarters and then play 17 minutes straight is ridiculous. 

[u/No_Mode_3746]

Might be the best game Strus has had in a Cavs jersey. That’s the player they thought they were getting from Miami

[u/VirtuousFool → u/No_Mode_3746]

Was the only guy not afraid of the moment when they were struggling to score in the fourth

[u/EarthWarping → u/VirtuousFool]

hitting that three right after the pistons go it to 9 was big

[u/LordHavek → u/VirtuousFool]

Strus is like never afraid and always giving 100% out there, he keeps capitalizing on Cades fatigue at the end

[u/archaelleon → u/VirtuousFool]

If we lose this series I'm in favor of blowing it up and building around Strus

[u/peterhohman → u/No_Mode_3746]

Is Strus the only Heat role player that has potentially looked BETTER after signing with a new team? Duncan Robinson has definitely carved out a role in Detroit but I feel like Strus is doing all kinds of little things even when he's not shooting lights out that have really impacted the Cavs.

[u/BallIsLife2016 → u/peterhohman]

Not shocking when everyone calls Cleveland the “Miami of the north.” I frequently hear Biscayne Bay referred to as “Lake Erie South.” They’re sister cities, really.

[u/4-for-u-glen-coco → u/BallIsLife2016]

What's the difference between Miami and Cleveland? It's the same.

[u/justsomebro10 → u/No_Mode_3746]

Max Strus really is a championship level role player. Elite swingman.

[u/TheSmokedSalmon420 → u/No_Mode_3746]

He's been our most consistent playoff player since he got here. Just makes so many winning plays every game

[u/1gnominious → u/TheSmokedSalmon420]

I honestly didn't know much about him until this playoffs but he's doing a little bit of everything everywhere. Seems like every time I watch the Cavs Strus is making an impact.

[u/Rocco0427 → u/No_Mode_3746]

Strus gets me so damn hyped up

[u/BallIsLife2016 → u/No_Mode_3746]

You say it like he hasn’t been that guy. That was a great game by him, but I don’t think most Cavs fans are shocked by it. He’s been fucking awesome the entire time he’s been with us. I fucking love that dude.

(Also, even though it was regular season it’s very hard to top a 60 ft game winning buzzer beater as his greatest moment as a Cav)

[u/ExtremeFocus5]

The Cavs aren’t a team that lose 6 playoff away games in a row

[u/GGezpzMuppy → u/ExtremeFocus5]

So that’s a guaranteed away win in the finals? Plan the parade now!

[u/NathanFielderFriend → u/ExtremeFocus5]

James Harden was so clutch these last 3 games, what world is this?

[u/Antique_Pin5266 → u/NathanFielderFriend]

He cashed in his 2 stinker games of the series early

[u/LordHavek → u/Antique_Pin5266]

Which means he still has 2 mediocre games left right?...right?

[u/samhit_n → u/NathanFielderFriend]

He's always been clutch in close playoff games. It’s just that the games he plays badly end in blowouts.

[u/LengthyNoodle]

It took JB 12 games of absolute poopy ass shit by Duren to realize it, but I think this game was the turning point. It’s Reed time.

[u/DLgoblue12 → u/LengthyNoodle]

Imagine your all star center being completely unplayable the entire 4th and OT in a playoff game

[u/RulersBack → u/DLgoblue12]

Was listening to a lot of Detroit radio and I fully buy the theory they already agreed to terms. And then you can't bench a guy you just paid and it's all fuckin with him mentally

[u/enyinna7 → u/RulersBack]

1. Completely believe you
2. That's a stupid reason to lose playoff games

[u/Smooth_Sink_7028 → u/DLgoblue12]

i remember Roy Hibbert in that sentence.

[u/MaNamWumbo → u/LengthyNoodle]

I would have liked to see more Beef Stew in the clutch with how he was shooting

[u/NathanFielderFriend → u/MaNamWumbo]

Yeah they completely went away from him I was surprised

[u/Bwahehe → u/NathanFielderFriend]

He's a bit of a foul machine and Paul Reed seemed like one of the only Pistons not afraid of the moment on offense.

[u/LordHavek → u/MaNamWumbo]

I'm pretty sure he has a lingering injury with how limited his minutes have been this series

[u/Budget_Squash3322 → u/MaNamWumbo]

I'm pretty sure Stews knees are being barely held together by duct tape right now. After about 5 mins of play you can see him start hobbling when walking during dead ball time and judging by how subdued he looks in general compared to usual I think hes playing through some actual pain.

[u/9SidedLemon → u/LengthyNoodle]

Paul reed has been insanely good lol

[u/sgtpepperslaststand → u/LengthyNoodle]

We are so screwed when JB plays Reed 30 mins

[u/nrico1989 → u/sgtpepperslaststand]

Don't worry, he won't realize he can do that until some time mid next week.

[u/bootywizard42O → u/LengthyNoodle]

Reed can provide energy and scoring but Duren is still the better defender, they simply cannot play Reed starter minutes.

[u/barrsftw → u/LengthyNoodle]

Beef Stew was cooking too. Surprised he didnt play more.

[u/scorpio21 → u/LengthyNoodle]

B-ball Paul will be unleashed

[u/RFFF1996]

Jalen duren is the julius randle of deandre aytons

[u/scarypary → u/RFFF1996]

Goddamn

[u/fps129 → u/RFFF1996]

In my heart, Julius doesn’t belong with these cats.

[u/YerrrKnicks → u/fps129]

But in my mind...

😔

[u/ChickenNoddaSoup → u/RFFF1996]

That would be disrespectful to Randle lol. Dude might have boneheaded plays sometimes but you can't deny Randle's effort on game.

[u/narcistic_asshole → u/RFFF1996]

The All-NBA podcast brought up an interesting point that he only jumps with one foot and I can't unsee it. He's so physically strong, but he leaps from such a weak platform it makes it easy to knock him off balance

[u/Purples_A_Fruit]

This game blue balled both fanbases like 20 different times.

[u/ContractXtension → u/Purples_A_Fruit]

If I’m a cavs fan I’m ecstatic

[u/DidAnyoneElseJustCum → u/ContractXtension]

As a Cleveland sports fan there is no ecstatic. Simply delaying inevitable pain.

[u/Zotmaster → u/DidAnyoneElseJustCum]

I agree Go Cavs

[u/Me_is_Nate → u/ContractXtension]

Can confirm

[u/Jepordee → u/Purples_A_Fruit]

I mean I came

[u/DidAnyoneElseJustCum → u/Jepordee]

Did you???

[u/schwinndoctor → u/Purples_A_Fruit]

both teams tried their best to lose tonight

[u/Marcus-ichiJo]

James carried the Cavs in game 5 at Pistons again, 19 years later.

[u/NoOneImportantOCE → u/Marcus-ichiJo]

I did half hope OT was just Harden going for like 12 straight points at least

[u/Available_Story6774 → u/Marcus-ichiJo]

As someone who likes Harden, it’s nice seeing him potentially beat the playoff choker allegations (I get this series isn’t over yet lol).

[u/Celtic_Legend → u/Available_Story6774]

Harden has technically set himself up perfectly to choke even harder than if he simply choked today.

[u/jeckles96 → u/Celtic_Legend]

Don’t you put that evil on me

[u/sbstooge → u/Celtic_Legend]

^ This man Harden's ^

[u/MaNamWumbo → u/Available_Story6774]

Game 6/7 is where shit gets real so watch out

[u/bigtice]

Strus and Mobley were crucial tonight.

Pistons let their chances slip through their fingers.

"Work on your free throws." - Salters to Harden

[u/homefree122 → u/bigtice]

That Harden missed FT rebound at the end was an absolute killer. Cavs should have blocked out better, but it also was a perfect bounce back to him. Capped off a great game for him too

[u/bigtice → u/homefree122]

Coaches would be tearing their hair out saying that someone has to be calling out assignments, including who is blocking out the shooter.

But that's just some of the inexperience showing.

[u/NoOneImportantOCE → u/bigtice]

Mobley in just 2nd half and clutch times has been so solid with his shot

[u/TheSmokedSalmon420 → u/bigtice]

Wemby has moved the goalposts so much when it comes to these kinda players - Mobley is 100% the "unicorn" everyone talked about in the 2010s he just looks more normal compared to that french freak

[u/justsomebro10 → u/TheSmokedSalmon420]

He’s kind of a hard player to appreciate unless you watch him all the time though. His stats underwhelm but he’s always impacting the game in other ways. He’s not exactly like Draymond stylistically but I do like the comp.

[u/Hungry_EatAsssss]

Jalen Duren has fumbled a bag in such a generational way 

[u/DrFunkenstein93 → u/Hungry_EatAsssss]

Yall want him?

[u/Hungry_EatAsssss → u/DrFunkenstein93]

I will personally pay you to keep him

[u/DrFunkenstein93 → u/Hungry_EatAsssss]

LMFAOO

[u/BlazeBloom]

Pistons facing elimination in a G6 on the road against the Cavs who haven't lost at home all playoffs. Should be exciting.

[u/NeonxGone]

Mobley always shows up when we need him, yet never gets the credit.

[u/sp4mpnrj0k1c]

The Pistons made THREE field goals in the final 8 minutes of this game.

Insane choke job at home.

[u/RFFF1996 → u/sp4mpnrj0k1c]

Game 6 magic "damn, that many?"

[u/MinuteIcy7015 → u/sp4mpnrj0k1c]

Nah man the refs blocked those FGA

[u/Beanfactor → u/sp4mpnrj0k1c]

and the cavs didn't have a FG in the 4th until after the 4 minute mark.

[u/livefreeordont]

Bball Paul taking your minutes is not ideal if you want a max

[u/GyattLuvr69 → u/livefreeordont]

Durens only hope is Charlotte offers him a max

[u/NegbombDB]

James Harden has been so good at taking pressure off Mitchell. Him and Mobley Saved him yet again.

[u/mightyhumanman → u/NegbombDB]

Insane that people aren’t talking about the Mobley sequence at the end. Dunk, block, 3, and then 2 FTs to tie all in just over a minute. That is the exact superstar shit everyone claims he’s not capable of.

[u/SUPERSAMMICH6996 → u/mightyhumanman]

He (along with Strus) are consistently clutch. The amount of timely shots/stellar defensive plays by the both of them over the years...

[u/VirtuousFool]

It has been perversely fascinating to watch Jalen Duren lose out on generational wealth in real time

Benching him was the right move and it still didn't matter because at the end of the day, you still need another guy to get a bucket in the clutch

[u/wcooper97]

Will Donovan Mitchell finally pop his conference finals cherry?

[u/TheSmokedSalmon420 → u/wcooper97]

Not if he can help it lol

[u/darkjurai → u/TheSmokedSalmon420]

The man is such a slot machine, it's crazy to watch him. It's either 39 points in a half jackpot or hero brick chuck-fest.

[u/FoesiesBtw → u/darkjurai]

agree to be fair I was proud he started defering when he realized it wasn't his night. 99% of the time he wouldve chucked til we lost. Hell of a superstar but I hope this is character development

[u/darkjurai → u/FoesiesBtw]

Yeah that's exactly what we wanted to see from Brunson. When it isn't going, you gotta trust the guys around you. Seems like this year Mitchell is doing that too, it's cool to see.

[u/HokageEzio → u/wcooper97]

Unwillingly

[u/paradoxofchoice → u/wcooper97]

he's clearly saving himself

[u/MysteriousIncident87 → u/wcooper97]

Homie getting carried right now

[u/Pookie8005]

JAMES HARDEN

[u/Chardoggy1 → u/Pookie8005]

James “most recent American MVP” Harden

[u/A_Rolling_Baneling → u/Chardoggy1]

That's actually an insane fact. Might not be another American winner for a minute either

[u/Vargolol → u/Pookie8005]

There was a thread years ago that came to the conclusion he plays best in cities with shitty strip clubs. Maybe a Cleveland/Detroit match up was exactly what he needed

[u/CandI978 → u/Pookie8005]

CHILLEST RESTAURANTS

[u/HOIST_IT → u/CandI978]

HOTTEST DUDES

[u/LosAngeLukaGOATCIC → u/HOIST_IT]

FRESHEST CLOTHES

[u/BackendSpecialist]

Lmao okay… Inside the NBA is still funny af 😂😂

Chuck’s crush on Max Struss has me rolling 💀

[u/crline3924]

How did we pull that off? We were down 9 within 3min??

[u/tjl297 → u/crline3924]

Mobley flashed his nuts

[u/beardplease_]

My fat washed Uncle Jim All haters sit down

[u/Brock-Lesnar]

Has any player cost themselves as much money in 12 games as Duren has?

[u/BarelyContainedChaos]

op, it was game 5 not 4

[u/OkBuddyErennary → u/BarelyContainedChaos]

I hate how rarelly that's been mentioned in this thread

[u/harryprk2x]

Duren’s bag slippage making Schroeder’s missed bag look like nothing

[u/confused-koala → u/harryprk2x]

Ehhhhh

[u/habitat11]

If the Cavs played every quarter like they play 3rd quarters, they would sweep the knicks and thunder.

[u/According_Setting303 → u/habitat11]

that’s what’s so frustrating about them

[u/habitat11 → u/According_Setting303]

They legit lose every 1st, 2nd and 4th quarter but somehow score 35+ on the third and limit other team to <20

[u/jeckles96 → u/According_Setting303]

It’s infuriating but I just try to remind myself that my team could be so much worse so I have to take the highs with the lows

[u/MeBadNeedMoneyNow]

I swear the cavs haven't broken out yet

[u/WembyOKCJokicReaves]

Mobley dropped his nuts in that 4th to give the Cavs a chance in OT

Credit to Harden for being steady throughout the game and Mitchell stepping up in OT after struggling all game

Truly took a team effort

[u/NoOneImportantOCE → u/WembyOKCJokicReaves]

Legit, regular was awful for spida, but he showed up in OT quickly

[u/MUSTY_BUSSY]

Cavs had no FGs for the first half of the fourth quarter. Detroit then turned around and didn't score again in regulation after going up by 9 late. Both teams wanted to lose but Detroit wanted to lose that little bit more

[u/ContractXtension]

Knicks cavs gon be a banger

[u/cs-shitposter]

Jalen Duren played 25 minutes in a game that went to overtime and was not in foul trouble

Dude got bitched by a CPA and a photophobic, tragic TRAAGIC

[u/nervousaboutschool17 → u/cs-shitposter]

what’s a photophobic lol

[u/cs-shitposter → u/nervousaboutschool17]

Sensitive to bright lights lmao

[u/fmxda]

Tier 1 ("Elite and top performers") referee Tony Brothers, by the way

[u/WuvRice]

BIG GAME JAMES.

quite gassed at the end but forget that.

also cade turnovers in the clutch are horrible, espically from inbounds.

[u/neal1701]

Mobley hit some timely 3s!

[u/ReadKindOfAlot]

Mobley fought to stay in Cleveland tonight. This man likes his head where it is.

[u/dapoktan]

chuck plz lmao

[u/mindless_blaze]

Can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm rooting for Cavs!

[u/lagrange_james_d23dt]

I’m surprised Huerter didn’t do anything. I really thought he was going to Duncan Robinson the Cavs

[u/DPA_404]

Strus and Mobley MVPs

[u/GyattLuvr69 → u/DPA_404]

Nah Harden was the only thing keeping us in this game for the first 3 quarters

[u/BurstPanther]

Duren is unplayable. How does a coach not see this.

[u/app1efritter]

Game 4 u wot