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Cavs score, recap vs Pistons | Cavaliers beat their former coach, end 3-game skid
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- Cavs score, recap vs Pistons | Cavaliers beat their former coach, end 3-game skid
CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers stopped the proverbial bleeding Monday night, snapping a three-game losing streak during a reunion with the Detroit Pistons and ex- Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff .
The Eastern Conference-leading Cavs (37-9) prevailed 110-91. They had owned the NBA's best record for the vast majority of this season, but Cleveland's losses Wednesday at the Houston Rockets , Friday at the Philadelphia 76ers and Saturday at home to the Rockets allowed the Oklahoma City Thunder (37-8) to take sole possession of the league's top record.
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Here is how Cavs versus Pistons (23-23) at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse unfolded through our updates.
Cavs defeat Pistons 110-91 with Darius Garland , Donovan Mitchell leading the way and Cleveland producing an 'elite defensive performance'
Guards Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with 22 points and seven assists and 21 points and six assists, respectively.
Center Jarrett Allen (15 points and 11 rebounds) and forward Evan Mobley (11 points and 14 rebounds) posted double-doubles for the Cavs. And Ty Jerome scored 15 points off Cleveland's bench.
Guard Cade Cunningham scored a team-high 22 points for the Pistons, who fell to 0-2 against the Cavs this season.
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Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson labeled the victory an "elite defensive performance." Detroit's 91 points accounted for the second-lowest total Cleveland has allowed this season.
Jan 27, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley (5) and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (2) watch Jerome’s shot during the second half at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Ty Jerome and Darius Garland have no interest in a Pistons rally. Cleveland leads Detroit 86-69
Jerome and Garland made driving layups to start the fourth quarter, giving Cleveland an 86-69 lead with 10:10 left to play and compelling Bickerstaff to use a timeout.
Cavs lead Pistons 82-67 at the end of the third quarter
The Cavs led the Pistons 82-67 at the end of the third quarter. With three seconds left in the third quarter, Jerome drained a 3-pointer to give Cleveland its 15-point advantage. Jerome had 13 points through three quarters.
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Cavs All-Star guard Mitchell and Pistons All-Star hopeful Cunningham were even with 18 points apiece entering the fourth quarter.
Jan 27, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) argues a call with referee Sean Corbin (33) during the first half against the Detroit Pistons at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Cavs push lead against Pistons to 64-51 with 7:34 left in the third quarter
The Cavs have had the upper hand by a bit in the third quarter, outscoring the Pistons 9-6 coming out of halftime, despite some missed opportunities. Cleveland led 64-51 with 7:34 left in the third quarter.
Mobley drew a foul against Cunningham with 10:11 left in the third quarter, and the Pistons guard subsequently picked up a technical foul. The Cavs curiously allowed Mobley to shoot the technical free throw, and he missed. Then he split the pair of free throws he gained as a result of Cunningham's shooting foul. The Cavs went ahead 60-49 during the sequence.
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Cavs lead Pistons 55-45 at halftime
The Cavs led the Pistons 55-45 at halftime. Allen scored 10 of his team-high 12 points to lead Cleveland in the second quarter. The only real blemish for Allen in the second quarter: He went 2-of-4 shooting from the free-throw line.
Mitchell scored 11 points in the first half for the Cavs. Garland added 10.
In Cunningham's quest for an All-Star selection, he scored 12 points to lead the Pistons in the first half.
Jan 27, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) during the first quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Jarrett Allen provides spark as Cavs extend lead to 41-32 vs. Pistons
With a dunk and a layup on consecutive possessions, Allen provided four points to elevate the Cavs to a 41-32 lead against the Pistons. The nine-point lead with 4:47 left in the second quarter was Cleveland's largest to this stage of the game. Allen had six points at this juncture.
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Cavaliers lead Pistons 32-28 with 6:55 left in the second quarter
The Cavs called timeout with 6:55 left in the second quarter, when they held a 32-28 edge over the Pistons.
Detroit has yet to lead, but the Pistons tied the score 28-28 when forward Simone Fontecchio made a floater with 9:14 left in the second quarter.
Jan 27, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley (5) shoots over the defense of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus (1) during the first half at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Cleveland Cavs lead Detroit Pistons 26-23 at the end of the first quarter
Mitchell scored eight points, and Mobley added six as the Cavs built a 26-23 lead against the Pistons through one quarter.
Cunningham led the Pistons with eight points in the opening quarter. Guard Malik Beasley scored seven.
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The Cavs challenged a call after forward Georges Niang fouled Cunningham right in front of the basket. Cleveland lost the challenge, and Cunningham made a pair of foul shots to cut Detroit's deficit to 17-14 with 4:03 left in the first quarter.
Cavs lead Pistons 12-10 with 7:34 left in the first quarter
The Cavs started the game 5-of-8 shooting from the field and led the Pistons 12-10 with 7:34 left in the first quarter.
But Atkinson called timeout with the lead immediately after Cleveland surrendered an alley-oop from Cunningham to center Jalen Duren . Defensive issues have plagued the Cavs in January, and Atkinson stressed Monday night in his pregame media availability his team must give up less in the paint and at the rim.
Jan 27, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Jaylon Tyson (24) hits Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) in the face on a drive during the first half at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Here is some pregame information:
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How are the Detroit Pistons playing under former Cleveland Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff?
The Pistons entered Monday sixth in the Eastern Conference standings. They are no longer an easy out after finishing last season with the NBA's worst record (14-68) and then hiring Bickerstaff to orchestrate a rise from the basketball abyss.
Bickerstaff coached the Cavs for four-plus seasons (2020-24), until they fired him in May and replaced him in June with Atkinson .
The Cavs and Pistons met in the second game of this season, and Cleveland prevailed 113-101 at home . The Cavs have won their past 10 games against the Pistons, accounting for Cleveland's longest active winning streak versus any opponent.
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Cavs news: Cleveland's Kenny Atkinson will be NBA All-Star Game head coach for the first time
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Georges Niang (20) drives to the basket against Detroit Pistons guard Marcus Sasser (25) on Jan. 27, 2025, in Cleveland.
Cavs injury report
Injuries have been among the culprits during the Cavs' recent drought.
Guard Caris LeVert (right wrist sprain), forward Dean Wade (right knee sprain) and small forward Isaac Okoro (AC joint sprain in right shoulder) have been ruled out against the Pistons. It'll be the sixth consecutive game Okoro misses, the fifth in a row LeVert sits out and the second straight Wade is idle. Although LeVert, Wade and Okoro are not part of Cleveland's core four, they are the team's top three perimeter defenders.
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Atkinson said he thinks LeVert is day to day but Wade's return-to-play status is more than day to day.
Cavs coverage: Donovan Mitchell voted NBA All-Star starter. Will Cavs core four make 2025 NBA All-Star Game?
Jan 27, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives to the basket against Detroit Pistons guard Marcus Sasser (25) during the second half at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Pistons injury report
The Pistons have listed forward Tobias Harris (post traumatic headache) as questionable to play. They have ruled out guard Jaden Ivey (fractured left fibula).
Cleveland Cavaliers broadcast information. How can I watch on TV, listen on radio or stream the Cavs, Pistons game?
Monday's game can be watched locally on the FanDuel Sports Network . It can be heard on the radio via WMMS (100.7-FM) and WTAM (1100-AM).
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Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavs score vs Detroit Pistons, recap, highlights
