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Cleveland Cavaliers
vsDetroit Pistons

Cavaliers

113
Game StatusFinal

Pistons

109

Jalen Tyson, James Harden lead Cavs past Pistons 113-109 without injured star Donovan Mitchell

Game Article

Game Recap

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Stephen A. Smith explains why the Cavaliers winning a regular-season game over the Pistons doesn't mean much to him. 
Stephen A. Smith explains why the Cavaliers winning a regular-season game over the Pistons doesn't mean much to him. 

CLEVELAND -- — Jaylon Tyson scored 22 points, James Harden added 18 and the Cleveland Cavaliers avenged a recent loss in Detroit by beating the East-leading Pistons 113-109 on Tuesday night despite playing without injured star Donovan Mitchell.

Evan Mobley also had 18 points and Dennis Schroder 15 for the Cavs, who split their four regular-season games with Detroit.

Mitchell sat out his fourth straight game with a nagging groin strain. Coach Kenny Atkinson said the seven-time All-Star is “trending better” but doesn't know when he'll be back to build chemistry for the postseason with Harden, who was acquired at the trade deadline.

Jalen Duren added 24 points and 14 rebounds and Tobias Harris scored 19 points — all after halftime — for the Pistons, who had their road winning streak stopped at six games. Cade Cunningham dished out 14 assists but scored only 10 on 4-of-16 shooting for Detroit.

The Pistons cut an 11-point deficit to one in the fourth, but Sam Merrill hit a big 3-pointer to help the Cavs hang on.

While it was the last meeting between Detroit and Cleveland before the playoffs, their rivalry has been reborn with both teams in Eastern Conference title contention.

Following the Cavs' overtime road loss last week, an unnamed Cleveland player chirped the Pistons “are not in our class."

Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who was fired by the Cavs in 2024, dismissed the bravado before Tuesday's game.

“If you mean it,” he said, “you don't say it anonymously.”

Cleveland center Jarrett Allen, who has been having one of the best stretches of his career, suffered a knee injury in the third quarter and didn't return. When asked about his condition on his way out of Rocket Arena, Allen said: “I'll be all right.”

Detroit's Isaiah Stewart returned from a seven-game league suspension and played 22 minutes.

Up next

Pistons: At San Antonio on Thursday.

Cavaliers: Host Boston on Sunday.

------

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Game Information

Game Information

Time, Location & Referees
Rocket Arena
Venue
Rocket Arena
Cleveland, OH
Date & Time
12:00 AM, March 4, 2026
Coverage
FanDuel SN DET, FanDuel SN OH, NBA League Pass
Attendance
19,432
Referees
Pat Fraher, Karl Lane, Ashley Moyer-Gleich

Game Analysis

Statistics visualization

Game Stats

Get the latest game stats
Pistons
Cavaliers
39-77FG38-86
51Field Goal %44
9-243PT17-46
38Three Point %37
22-29FT20-26
10Offensive Rebounds11
34Defensive Rebounds27
29Assists27
9Steals7
7Blocks4
13Turnovers10
0Technical Fouls0
15Points Conceded Off Turnovers13
10Fast Break Points9
23Fouls20
4Largest Lead11

Current Standings

2025-26 Central Standings

TEAMWLPCTSTRK
Detroit5621.727W2
Cleveland4829.623W1
Milwaukee3047.390L2
Chicago2948.377L6
Indiana1859.234L1

Play by Play

Play By Play

Recent plays and game events
TIMEPLAY
12:00
Jalen Duren vs. Jarrett Allen (James Harden gains possession)
00
11:42
James Harden bad pass turnover (Cade Cunningham steals)
00
11:37
Tobias Harris misses 25-foot running jump shot
00
11:33
Evan Mobley defensive rebound
00
11:17
Jaylon Tyson misses 27-foot three point jumper
00
11:15
Cade Cunningham defensive rebound
00
11:08
Cade Cunningham misses driving layup
00
11:06
Evan Mobley defensive rebound
00
11:03
Jaylon Tyson makes running layup (Evan Mobley assists)
20
10:49
Evan Mobley shooting foul
20
10:49
Jalen Duren misses free throw 1 of 2
20
10:49
Pistons offensive team rebound
20
10:49
Jalen Duren makes free throw 2 of 2
21
10:36
Jarrett Allen makes 4-foot hook shot (Evan Mobley assists)
41
10:25
Jarrett Allen shooting foul
41
10:25
Jalen Duren misses free throw 1 of 2
41
10:25
Pistons offensive team rebound
41
10:25
Jalen Duren makes free throw 2 of 2
42
10:14
Sam Merrill misses 26-foot three point jumper
42
10:12
Cavaliers offensive team rebound
42
10:12
Jalen Duren loose ball foul
42
9:58
Evan Mobley makes driving layup
62
9:40
Tobias Harris misses 11-foot pullup jump shot
62
9:38
Jarrett Allen defensive rebound
62
9:31
James Harden makes 25-foot three point step back jumpshot
92
9:30
Pistons Full timeout
92
9:06
Tobias Harris misses driving floating jump shot
92
9:06
Cavaliers defensive team rebound
92
8:52
Jarrett Allen misses 4-foot two point shot
92
8:49
Tobias Harris defensive rebound
92
8:35
Cade Cunningham makes 10-foot fade away jump shot
94
8:16
Sam Merrill misses 26-foot three point pullup jump shot
94
8:12
Tobias Harris defensive rebound
94
8:09
Jaylon Tyson blocks Cade Cunningham 's 2-foot running layup
94
8:05
James Harden defensive rebound
94
8:01
Jaylon Tyson makes 7-foot floating jump shot (Evan Mobley assists)
114
7:40
Jalen Duren makes 1-foot layup (Duncan Robinson assists)
116
7:32
Ausar Thompson personal foul
116
7:26
Evan Mobley misses 25-foot three point jumper
116
7:23
Pistons defensive team rebound
116
7:13
Jarrett Allen personal foul
116
7:13
Keon Ellis enters the game for Jaylon Tyson
116
7:01
Duncan Robinson makes 26-foot three point jumper (Cade Cunningham assists)
119
6:46
James Harden misses 26-foot three point step back jumpshot
119
6:42
Cade Cunningham defensive rebound
119
6:40
Jalen Duren makes 2-foot running dunk (Cade Cunningham assists)
1111
6:24
Jalen Duren shooting foul
1111
6:24
Evan Mobley makes free throw 1 of 2
1211
6:24
Dennis Schroder enters the game for Sam Merrill
1211
6:24
Isaiah Stewart enters the game for Jalen Duren
1211
6:24
Evan Mobley makes free throw 2 of 2
1311
6:10
Cade Cunningham makes 18-foot fade away jump shot
1313
5:52
James Harden misses 22-foot step back jumpshot
1313
5:47
Ausar Thompson defensive rebound
1313
5:44
Cade Cunningham misses 25-foot running jump shot
1313
5:40
Dennis Schroder defensive rebound
1313
5:35
Ausar Thompson personal foul
1313
5:35
Craig Porter Jr. enters the game for Evan Mobley
1313
5:35
Ronald Holland II enters the game for Tobias Harris
1313
5:22
Jarrett Allen makes 8-foot floating jump shot (Craig Porter Jr. assists)
1513
5:01
Ausar Thompson makes alley oop layup (Cade Cunningham assists)
1515
4:48
James Harden makes 8-foot driving floating jump shot (Dennis Schroder assists)
1715
4:35
Isaiah Stewart misses 4-foot two point shot
1715
4:34
Craig Porter Jr. defensive rebound
1715
4:23
Craig Porter Jr. misses driving floating jump shot
1715
4:19
Cade Cunningham defensive rebound
1715
4:10
Cade Cunningham misses driving floating jump shot
1715
4:06
Craig Porter Jr. defensive rebound
1715
3:48
Craig Porter Jr. misses 25-foot three point jumper
1715
3:46
Ronald Holland II defensive rebound
1715
3:30
Ronald Holland II bad pass turnover (Keon Ellis steals)
1715
3:25
Keon Ellis makes running layup (James Harden assists)
1915
3:02
Cade Cunningham makes 10-foot fade away jump shot (Duncan Robinson assists)
1917
2:49
James Harden makes 12-foot fade away jump shot
2117
2:40
Dennis Schroder shooting foul
2117
2:40
Cavaliers Full timeout
2117
2:40
Thomas Bryant enters the game for James Harden
2117
2:40
Jaylon Tyson enters the game for Jarrett Allen
2117
2:40
Tobias Harris enters the game for Cade Cunningham
2117
2:40
Daniss Jenkins enters the game for Duncan Robinson
2117
2:40
Ausar Thompson makes free throw 1 of 2
2118
2:40
Ausar Thompson misses free throw 2 of 2
2118
2:37
Keon Ellis defensive rebound
2118
2:23
Thomas Bryant misses 26-foot three point jumper
2118
2:19
Ausar Thompson defensive rebound
2118
2:09
Ronald Holland II makes 24-foot jump bank shot (Ausar Thompson assists)
2121
1:52
Jaylon Tyson misses 24-foot three point jumper
2121
1:48
Ausar Thompson defensive rebound
2121
1:31
Tobias Harris misses 10-foot turnaround jump shot
2121
1:28
Dennis Schroder defensive rebound
2121
1:21
Daniss Jenkins personal foul
2121
1:21
Keon Ellis makes free throw 1 of 2
2221
1:21
Caris LeVert enters the game for Ausar Thompson
2221
1:21
Keon Ellis makes free throw 2 of 2
2321
57.3
Daniss Jenkins makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot (Isaiah Stewart assists)
2324
34.7
Jaylon Tyson makes driving layup (Keon Ellis assists)
2524
34.7
Isaiah Stewart shooting foul
2524
34.7
Jaylon Tyson misses free throw 1 of 1
2524
31.6
Ronald Holland II defensive rebound
2524
15.5
Ronald Holland II makes 25-foot three point jumper (Caris LeVert assists)
2527
0.0
Craig Porter Jr. misses 23-foot three point jumper
2527
0.0
Cavaliers offensive team rebound
2527
0.0
End of the 1st Quarter
2527

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