Cavaliers vs. Pistons Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 4
On May 12, Beijing time, the NBA playoffs continued with intensity. The Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the Detroit Pistons in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, trailing 1-2 in the series and eager to even it up. Cleveland had been perfect at home this postseason, boasting a 5-0 record, and they aimed to keep that momentum. Thanks to a late-game flurry by James Harden—who scored 7 consecutive points in the closing moments of Game 3—the Cavaliers had pulled off a win. Could Harden deliver another standout performance? That was a major storyline. Coach Atkinson stuck with his starting lineup of Harden, Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. On the other side, Pistons coach Bickerstaff started Duren, Tobias Harris, Ausar Thompson, Duncan Robinson, and Cade Cunningham. The duel between Harden, Mitchell, and Cunningham remained the biggest highlight of the series, while the interior battle between Allen/Mobley and Duren/Stewart added even more intrigue.
**Harden’s 24 Points, 11 Assists, 4 Steals Create 5 Historic Feats; Cavaliers Beat Pistons; Mitchell Explodes for 43 Points, 5 Rebounds to Shatter Records**
**Game Recap**
The first quarter saw Allen score inside, Cunningham and Harden trade three-pointers, Mobley block Duren, and Harris hit a jumper. Harden stole the ball from Ausar and drained another triple. Harden made two free throws, Wade blocked Cunningham, and Harden hit another three. The Pistons called timeout. Harden stole from Cunningham again, Allen made one of two free throws, and Mobley sank two from the line, giving the Cavs a 16-5 lead. LeVert and Harris traded mid-range shots, Mobley and Duren scored inside, LeVert nailed a three, and Atkinson called timeout.
Harden missed a floater, Harris hit a buzzer-beating jumper, Stewart scored inside, and the Pistons answered with a 14-2 run to take the lead. Harden turned it over, Schroder drew an offensive foul, Cunningham missed a three, Schroder scored on a layup, and LeVert hit a three. Tyson made one of two free throws, Cunningham hit a mid-range jumper, and Mitchell missed consecutive isolation attempts. After one quarter, the Pistons led 24-21, with Harden scoring 11 points in the period.
In the second quarter, LeVert hit a jumper, Mitchell missed from deep, Duren scored off the glass, and Mobley answered with a three. Duncan Robinson made one of two free throws, LeVert and Strus traded shots from distance. Strus stole and dunked, Harden assisted Merrill on a three, and Detroit called timeout. Ausar scored inside, Harden assisted Merrill again on a buzzer-beating three. Duren alley-ooped, Cunningham hit an and-one, Schroder drained a three, and Harden turned it over. LeVert scored on a layup, Harris stole from Harden, and Allen blocked Harris’ dunk. Stewart put back a miss, and Atkinson called timeout. Mobley scored on a layup, Mitchell made one of two free throws, Strus turned it over, and Harris hit a three. Harden made two free throws, Cunningham and Mitchell traded threes, Harris scored on a floater, and Allen hit two free throws. The Pistons missed multiple shots but grabbed offensive rebounds, LeVert hit a three, Mitchell missed, Harden and Cunningham each made two free throws, Mitchell turned it over, Harris scored on a layup, and Mobley answered with a dunk. At halftime, the Pistons led 56-52.
The third quarter began with Harris missing a jumper over Harden, Mitchell scoring on a layup, Harden defending Harris’ three, and Mitchell converting an and-one. Cunningham missed a floater, Mitchell hit a three, and the Pistons
