Pistons outmuscle Cavaliers, score 31 points off of turnovers in Game 1 win

Atlantic76ersCelticsKnicksNetsRaptorsCentralBucksBullsCavaliersPacersPistonsSoutheastHawksHeatHornetsMagicWizardsSouthwestGrizzliesMavericksPelicansRocketsSpursNorthwestJazzNuggetsThunderTimberwolvesTrail BlazersPacificClippersKingsLakersSunsWarriorsScores & ScheduleStandingsThe Bounce NewsletterNBA DraftPodcastsFantasyNBA OddsNBA PicksLatest Mock DraftWhat Makes Up Championship DNA?Player Poll: Who is the MVP?Player Poll: Who Will Win Title?NBA Playoffs Cade Cunningham and the Pistons forced turnover after turnover and crashed the offensive and defensive glass. Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Share article1The Detroit Pistons are peaking at the perfect time, and their playoff surge rolled on with a 111-101 Game 1 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Little Caesars Arena. Detroit set the tone early and never let up, controlling the game from the opening tip. They led for 91 percent of the night and built a lead that stretched to as much as 18 points. It was the Pistons’ first Game 1 win since the 2008 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Orlando Magic. Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 23 points, while Duncan Robinson caught fire from deep, knocking down 5 of 8 from 3 for 19 points. Tobias Harris continued his strong postseason play, adding 20 points and eight rebounds. Cleveland made things interesting late, as Donovan Mitchell and James Harden sparked a fourth-quarter push to tie the game at 93-all. Mitchell finished with 23 points, and Harden stuffed the stat sheet with 22 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists (and seven turnovers), but the comeback fell short. Game 2 is in Detroit on Thursday, where the Pistons will try to protect home court. Here are the key takeaways heading into Game 2: The Cavs need Jarrett Allen and to find a way to stop putting possession after possession on layaway. Allen had three fouls in the first quarter and was a non-factor. The Cavs don’t have anyone on the roster with the physical build or weight to deal with Jalen Duren, but Allen has enough of a presence at the rim to at least make it interesting. With Allen sidelined, Duren was a dominant force – especially with those three consecutive dunks after the Cavs tied the score in the fourth quarter. Beyond that, obviously, Cleveland is not going to be successful in this series giving up 31 points on 20 turnovers. The discrepancy in points off turnovers was more than enough to decide Cleveland’s fate on Monday. And there was a lack of attention to detail at the end of the first and third quarters. Cleveland allowed buzzer-beating 3s to Javonte Green at the end of 1 and to Ron Holland to finish the third quarter. Hold your ground on those possessions, commit two fewer turnovers, and Allen could leave his warm-ups on all night. One other thing to mention here – an injury finally hit the Cavs, who have a habit of getting them but made it through the first round unscathed. Sam Merrill, an important rotation player, was out of the game for good in the second quarter with a left hamstring injury. Hamstrings are tricky. — Joe Vardon On a night where Cade Cunningham was limited to 6-of-18 shooting for 23 points, it was the Pistons’ defense that carried it to a Game 1 win. Detroit forced 20 Cleveland turnovers and converted those into a whopping 31 points. Although James Harden managed 22 points and Donovan Mitchell got to 23, they were a combined 15-of-34 with more turnovers (10) than assists (9). It was a classic defensive showcase from the best defense in the playoffs entering Tuesday, as evidenced by their 101.9 defensive rating. The Pistons have relied on their defense since J.B. Bickerstaff took over last season, and their identity has hinged on it en route to 60 wins. This was a huge Game 1 win for a Detroit team considering its superstar had a subpar night relative to the standard he’s set thus far in the postseason. — Hunter Patterson Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms