CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Detroit Pistons defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers three out of four times during the 2015-16 campaign, but the reigning Eastern Conference champs won when it mattered Sunday.
In Game 1 of the first-round series between division foes at The Q, the Cavaliers held on for a hard-fought 106-101 victory in front of a sellout crowd.
The Cavs' Kyrie Irving led all scorers with 31 points. Kevin Love registered 28 points and 13 rebounds; and LeBron James went for 22 points, six rebounds and 11 assists. No other Cavaliers player scored in double figures.
Detroit was a pesky bunch that just wouldn't quit. The Pistons started the fourth on a 5-0 run, giving them a seven-point lead, their biggest of the evening. James was reinserted and Cleveland answered with 7-0 run to tie it at 83.
Just when it seemed as if one team had momentum, it shifted promptly toward the other team. Emotions were high and low all afternoon.
The Pistons started to unravel as the game wound down and they faced a four-point deficit. Reggie Jackson picked up technical after running up to an official and complaining about a non-call right in his face. It was the beginning of the end for the Pistons.
Cleveland went on to put the clamps on defensively and limited its opponent to six points during the last 2:49 of play. However, five were scored in the last five seconds when the game was well out of reach. The Cavaliers scored eight points in that span. Detroit's Marcus Morris had 19 points at the half, but scored only a point after that.
Detroit showed its inexperience, and Cleveland showed its experience and poise. The game was won in the last three minutes.
"We're excited," Cavs center Tristan Thompson said. "In the regular season, there are so many games. You have your ups and down, but now this is what it's all about. This why you play in the NBA, to play in the postseason."
The atmosphere was electric and rowdy with everyone in attendance sporting white "All In 216" T-shirts.
For the last three weeks of the regular season, the Cavaliers were bored out of their minds. Trying to manufacture motivation for each game became mentally tiresome. They needed this type of contest.
The intensity level was ramped up. There were a lot of holding, wrapping, tugging and multiple lead changes. The Pistons are simply happy to be here. Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy says he told his team to embrace the moment and in return, they played freely without a care.
"Are we [the underdogs]? Damn," Van Gundy kidded before the game.
In the first three quarters, Cleveland was routinely a step too late on its defensive rotations. Marcus Morris and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope found themselves open time and time again on the perimeter off of ball reversal. Detroit was shooting close to 60 percent for two and a half quarters.
Irving shot out of the gate for the third quarter by going on a personal 8-0 run to give his team a three-point lead. Detroit did not fold. It went down in the post and Andre Drummond was able to score nine of his 13 points in the quarter. The Pistons entered the final 12 minutes up two, but cooled off considerably down the stretch.
Caldwell-Pope had 21 points and Jackson added 17 points and seven assists. Detroit couldn't stay afloat. They're facing a team on a mission.
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