Harden stars as Cavaliers take 3-2 series lead over Pistons after overtime win

[p]The Cavs, fueled by 30 points from veteran [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/harden-james/zm5V3CZo/"]James Harden[/a], claimed their first road win of these playoffs [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/cleveland-cavaliers-xGk13Tb6/detroit-pistons-UcjMRj6J/?mid=OrtqKUnf"]to take a 3-2 lead[/a] in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semi-final series.[/p][p]They will try to close it out at home when they host game six on Friday, with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-york-knicks/WCNO4nbt/"]New York Knicks[/a] awaiting in the conference finals.[/p][p][b]"Great time to have a first road win,"[/b] Harden told broadcaster ESPN after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cleveland-cavaliers/xGk13Tb6/"]Cleveland[/a] notched their third straight victory to move within sight of their first trip to the conference finals since 2018.[/p][image alt="Key match stats" id="bb9a567e-867c-4977-8fc4-daabaeb38de8" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="6f7f52b9-2af7-49c6-8c04-5ed3eebfcbca" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Cleveland trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half against the top-seeded [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/detroit-pistons/UcjMRj6J/"]Pistons[/a], who were led by 39 points from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cunningham-cade/0YleT8PG/"]Cade Cunningham[/a].[/p][p]They rallied in the third, but in a see-saw fourth quarter, the Pistons appeared to have gained control with a 12-0 scoring run and led by nine with 3:57 left in regulation.[/p][p]Once again, the Cavaliers responded, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mobley-evan/SrZZLQHj/"]Evan Mobley[/a] coming up with a dunk and two free throws to tie it up with 45.2 seconds remaining - part of a 13-0 Cleveland run bridging the fourth quarter and the start of overtime that put the Cavs ahead for good.[/p][p]Cunningham's jump shot with 25.9 seconds left in overtime pulled the Pistons back within two points, but they would get no closer.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mitchell-donovan/hhFqipLe/"]Donovan Mitchell[/a] added 21 points, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/strus-max/l6o0LpGA/"]Max Strus[/a] chipped in 20 off the bench for Cleveland, who had 16 points and 10 rebounds from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/allen-jarrett/YFCdDdo1/"]Jarrett Allen[/a].[/p][p]Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said Harden's cool head in key moments was just what the Cavaliers had been looking for when they signed the 36-year-old three-time scoring champion in February.[/p][p][b]"Big reason we got him, that's what we expected," [/b]Atkinson said.[/p][p][b]"He adds a maturity and a poise, calmness to our group, which we needed."[/b][/p][embed guid="17256404-27cb-4042-8bbf-9c7160898278" url="https://x.com/cavs/status/2054771931879026826" social-type="twitter" /][p]Cunningham added nine assists and seven rebounds, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jenkins-dannis/xzVAqNCs/"]Daniss Jenkins[/a] scored 19 for the Pistons, who must win in Cleveland to force the series to return to Detroit for game seven.[/p][h2]Pistons prepared to fight[/h2][p]Harden said the Cavs, unbeaten at home this postseason, can't afford to let their guard down against a Detroit team that rallied from 3-1 down to beat Orlando in the first round.[/p][p][b]"Very, very crazy team defensively," [/b]he said.[/p][p][b]"We've seen what they've done. They've come back from 3-1, so from the beginning of the game we've got to make sure our mindset is right, and we do the small things to finish the series."[/b][/p][image alt="James Harden's stats for the match" id="c4b79fe2-88ed-426b-ae9e-121bf1bdaa12" credit-line="Flashscore / Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images" guid="e3f2f308-9250-4602-adb5-cf0efd77b962" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Detroit coach J.B. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bickerstaff-t-j/6kNM5wCN/"]Bickerstaff[/a] vowed the Pistons won't go down easily.[/p][p][b]"We're not going to go down without a fight,"[/b] he said.[/p][p][b]"That's just who we are. We've been in this position before, and we were able to work our way through it.[/b][/p][p][b]"I expect our guys to be ready mentally and to go out and compete at a high level and bring this thing back (to Detroit),"[/b] added Bickerstaff, who was irked that no foul was given when Cleveland's Allen inadvertently tripped [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/thompson-ausar/GA3f2MiL/"]Ausar Thompson[/a] on the final play of regulation.[/p][p][b]"He fouled Ausar. It's clear,"[/b] Bickerstaff said. "End of game situation, you know, that's tough."[/p][p]The winner of the series will face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals.[/p][p]The third-seeded Knicks swept the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/philadelphia-76ers/vwRW2QSh/"]Philadelphia 76ers[/a] in four games to reach the East finals for the second straight year.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/cleveland-cavaliers-xGk13Tb6/detroit-pistons-UcjMRj6J/?mid=OrtqKUnf"]Follow the NBA playoffs with Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]