Pistons stay alive against Cavs after forcing winner-takes-all Game 7

[p]The top-seeded [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/detroit-pistons/UcjMRj6J/"]Pistons[/a] - trailing 3-2 in the best-of-seven series before Friday's must-win game in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cleveland-cavaliers/xGk13Tb6/"]Cleveland[/a] - produced a dazzling early onslaught to build a double-digit lead that proved the difference between the two sides.[/p][p]Cleveland, unbeaten at their Rocket Arena home so far this postseason, will now have to win on the road in Sunday's decisive game seven in Detroit to advance.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cunningham-cade/0YleT8PG/"]Cunningham[/a]'s 21 points included five three-pointers, while at the defensive end, Detroit center [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/duren-jalen/xva6ve5b/"]Jalen Duren[/a] delivered a dominant performance that included 11 rebounds, three blocks, and a steal.[/p][embed guid="15453f12-3ead-4dd1-a252-de0c3fbe5d64" url="https://x.com/NBA/status/2055437422566027657?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Cunningham was one of six Pistons players to finish in double figures, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/reed-paul/jFhA7tOk/"]Paul Reed[/a] adding 17 off the bench, and Duren and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jenkins-dannis/xzVAqNCs/"]Daniss Jenkins[/a] scoring 15 points apiece.[/p][p][b]"We're just playing our brand of basketball, coming out competing, trying to execute our system to the best of our ability, and we're together," [/b]Cunningham said afterward.[/p][p][b]"We stick together through everything, so it's a great win for us."[/b][/p][embed guid="84d08f3f-adc6-4b3a-9128-98036f5f320c" url="https://x.com/NBA/status/2055454173269737694?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/harden-james/zm5V3CZo/"]James Harden[/a] led Cleveland's scoring with 23 points while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mitchell-donovan/hhFqipLe/"]Donovan Mitchell[/a] was restricted to 18 points.[/p][p]The Cavs started Friday's game brightly, opening up a six-point lead in the first quarter before the Pistons started firing to take a grip on the contest.[/p][p]A devastating 22-4 run by Detroit saw the visitors accelerate into a commanding [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/cleveland-cavaliers-xGk13Tb6/detroit-pistons-UcjMRj6J/?mid=be3wSNq2"]39-27[/a] lead in the second quarter, and although Cleveland closed the gap to 54-51 at halftime, the Pistons regrouped impressively to snuff out the Cavs' threat with a 30-19 third quarter.[/p][p]That left Detroit leading by 14 points heading into the fourth, and the result was never in doubt, with the Pistons maintaining a double-digit lead to close out victory.[/p]