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In an exhilarating matchup on Wednesday night, Darius Garland’s long-range three-pointer from 31 feet secured a thrilling 118-115 victory for the Cleveland Cavaliers over the Detroit Pistons. The game saw the Cavaliers compete without star player Donovan Mitchell, who was sidelined due to a shoulder contusion.

Despite Mitchell’s absence, the Cavaliers faced a fierce challenge from the Pistons, particularly in the closing moments when Cade Cunningham of Detroit scored nine points in just 11 seconds. Cunningham initiated the Pistons’ late-game surge with a three-point shot that cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 112-109 with 16 seconds remaining. Garland then added a free throw, extending Cleveland’s lead to a two-possession game.

With just 7.3 seconds left on the clock, Cunningham was fouled, resulting in three successful free throws that leveled the score at 115-115 after Garland made another free throw for Cleveland. Following this, the game entered a nail-biting finish as Garland quickly drove down the court and launched a shot from near the center-court logo, clinching the victory for the Cavaliers with mere seconds to spare.

Alongside Garland’s 25 points, Evan Mobley stood out with an impressive 30-point performance. Cunningham emerged as the top scorer for the Pistons with a remarkable 38 points, complemented by nine assists and seven rebounds.

In this game, it’s notable that Mitchell had previously missed two other games this season, including a decisive win against the Charlotte Hornets and a narrow victory over the Toronto Raptors. On the day before this contest, he scored 31 points in a loss to the Boston Celtics.

In a pivotal moment earlier in the game, Paul Reed from the Pistons received a flagrant foul for obstructing Mobley’s landing after a 3-point attempt, allowing Mobley to convert two out of three free throw attempts. This sequence shifted momentum, further solidifying Cleveland’s 10-point lead after Craig Porter drained a three-pointer.

Throughout the third quarter, although Cleveland had a shooting percentage of 43.8% compared to Detroit’s 34.6%, the Pistons effectively capitalized on seven turnovers from the Cavaliers, outscoring them by 27-21 in that period.

A key point of interest was Mobley’s strong start, as he hit a three-pointer on the game’s opening possession and accounted for 20 of Cleveland’s first-half points, successfully shooting 7 of 10 from the field.

Looking ahead, the Cavaliers are set to head to Washington for their next game on Friday, while the Pistons will remain home to face the Philadelphia 76ers that same night.

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