Pistons cruise to Game 1 win over Cavaliers behind Cunningham's 23 points

[p]The top-seeded [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/detroit-pistons/UcjMRj6J/"]Pistons[/a] looked to be cruising to a comfortable opening win after dominating in the first half and taking a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/cleveland-cavaliers-xGk13Tb6/detroit-pistons-UcjMRj6J/?mid=CWMFS9CF"]17-point lead[/a] in the third period.[/p][p]But a spirited [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cleveland-cavaliers/xGk13Tb6/"]Cleveland[/a] rally saw the Cavaliers close to within four points before Detroit finally pulled clear again in the fourth quarter to seal victory.[/p][embed guid="b13606a6-75c0-4e4a-96d8-898ab1c80a52" url="https://x.com/NBA/status/2051845925224562831?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cunningham-cade/0YleT8PG/"]Cunningham[/a] was one of six Detroit players to finish in double figures, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/harris-tobias/A7GXRiFJ/"]Tobias Harris[/a] adding 20 points while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/robinson-duncan/vBYcPFk5/"]Duncan Robinson[/a] bagged five three-pointers on his way to a 19-point haul at the Pistons' Little Caesars Arena.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jenkins-dannis/xzVAqNCs/"]Daniss Jenkins[/a] added 12 points from the bench with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/thompson-ausar/GA3f2MiL/"]Ausar Thompson[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/duren-jalen/xva6ve5b/"]Jalen Duren[/a] scoring 11 points apiece.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mitchell-donovan/hhFqipLe/"]Donovan Mitchell[/a] led Cleveland with 23 points, including four three-pointers, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/harden-james/zm5V3CZo/"]James Harden[/a] scored 22 points with eight rebounds and seven assists.[/p][embed guid="58e75f4d-e290-4be8-aabd-b036ab451498" url="https://x.com/NBA_Philippines/status/2051825110978600982?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"It was a great team win - defending the ball, rebounding the ball,"[/b] Cunningham told NBC television.[/p][p][b]"We've got a great system in place. You've got somebody who will come in behind you whenever you get tired.[/b][/p][p][b]"But it's one win, we've got to come back and do it again."[/b][/p][p]Detroit had battled into the conference semi-finals after coming back from 3-1 down to defeat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/orlando-magic/QZMS36Dn/"]Orlando[/a] 4-3 in the first round.[/p][p]Cunningham said the Pistons are anxious to avoid a repeat.[/p][p][b]"At home, you've got to protect home court. We didn't do that in the last series so we want do that this series," [/b]Cunningham said.[/p][p][b]"They want to come in and steal one, so we've got to do this again the day after tomorrow."[/b][/p]