CLEVELAND — In a decisive matchup on Monday night, Darius Garland scored 22 points, and Donovan Mitchell contributed 21, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 110-91 victory over the Detroit Pistons. This win allowed the Cavaliers to break a season-high losing streak of three games and continues their dominance, securing an 11-game winning streak against Detroit. Cleveland remains a formidable force in the Eastern Conference with a strong home record of 22-3.

This game was also significant as it marked the Cavaliers’ second win against their former coach, J.B. Bickerstaff. Bickerstaff played a pivotal role in the team’s rebuild and helped the Cavaliers reach the playoffs over the past two seasons before being dismissed following a disappointing postseason last year. He is now at the helm of the Pistons.

Performing well for Cleveland, Jarrett Allen added 15 points while Evan Mobley pulled down 14 rebounds. The Pistons’ offense was led by Cade Cunningham, who scored 22 points, and Malik Beasley, who chipped in with 19 points. Jalen Duren also made an impact with 12 points and 15 rebounds, contributing to Detroit’s total of 23 wins this season, a significant improvement from their 14-68 record last year.

Despite the victory, the Cavaliers were missing three rotational players due to injuries: Caris LeVert (wrist), Isaac Okoro (shoulder), and Dean Wade (knee). Coach Kenny Atkinson indicated that Wade’s recovery timeline was uncertain, noting that his condition “isn’t day to day.”

Key takeaways from the game revealed that aside from Cunningham and Beasley, the Pistons struggled offensively; starting forwards Ausar Thompson and Tobias Harris were disappointing, shooting only 1 for 15 combined from the field. Conversely, the Cavaliers regained their defensive intensity, showcasing a more focused and purposeful effort compared to their prior games during the losing stretch.

A pivotal moment in the game came when Mobley followed up his own miss, securing a rebound on the baseline before delivering a pass to Mitchell. Mitchell then made a crucial 3-pointer that put the Cavaliers ahead 77-62, solidifying their lead in the third quarter.

Even though the Cavaliers entered the game with the best 3-point shooting percentage in the NBA at 39.8%, they had an off night from behind the arc, hitting only 12 out of 44 attempts.

Looking ahead, the Pistons are set to visit Indiana on Wednesday, while the Cavaliers will travel to Miami to take on the Heat that same night.