CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell tied an NBA playoff record with 39 points in the second half and the Cleveland Cavaliers evened their second-round series against the Detroit Pistons with a 112-103 victory Monday night.
Mitchell matched the mark of Eric “Sleepy” Floyd on a free throw with 27.6 seconds remaining. He had a chance to break the record, set in 1987 against the Los Angeles Lakers, but missed his second foul shot.
Mitchell finished with 43 points, including 15 during Cleveland’s 24-0 run that went from the last 12 seconds of the first half to the first six minutes of the third quarter. Cleveland trailed 56-52 at halftime before taking control.
The 24-0 run was the longest in an NBA playoff game since since Minnesota also scored 24 straight in Game 6 of its Western Conference semifinal series against Denver in 2024. It was also the longest spurt by Cleveland in a postseason game since play-by-play stats were kept in 1997-98. The previous high was 19 in an Eastern semifinal series contest against Boston.
James Harden had his 40th playoff double-double with 24 points and 11 assists. Evan Mobley had 17 points, five blocked shots and three steals as Cleveland remained unbeaten at home in six playoff games.
Caris LeVert had a season high 24 points for Detroit. Cade Cunningham scored 19, the first time he has been held under 20 in 11 playoff games this season, and Tobias Harris added 16.
Game 5 is Wednesday night in Detroit.
THUNDER 115, LAKERS 110
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points, Chet Holmgren made a tiebreaking dunk with 32.8 seconds to play, and Oklahoma City swept Los Angeles out of the second round of the NBA playoffs with a victory in Game 4.
Ajay Mitchell scored 10 of his 28 points in the frantic final period as the Thunder overcame the Lakers’ tenacious effort and improved to 8-0 in the playoffs with their toughest victory of the postseason.
LeBron James had 24 points and 14 rebounds in the final game of the unprecedented 23rd season for the top scorer in NBA history, but he missed a driving bank shot with 20 seconds left that would have put the Lakers ahead.
The 41-year-old James has repeatedly said he hasn’t decided whether to play next season, so there was no ceremony or momentousness around this game. Instead, the Lakers desperately tried to extend their year, only to lose to Oklahoma City for the eighth time this season.
Austin Reaves scored 27 points before missing a tying 3-point attempt with eight seconds left for the Lakers, who advanced one round farther than almost anybody expected after losing NBA scoring champion Luka Doncic and Reaves to significant injuries a month ago.
If this is indeed it for LeBron James, give him credit for one thing: he was unprecedented, even until the very end.
The Oklahoma City Thunder unceremoniously swept James’ Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, May 11 in the conference semifinal round in what might be the final game of James’ storied 23-year career. James has not revealed his future plans, but will turn 42 in December and has been more vulnerable recently about how basketball is affecting his body.
James also has nothing more to prove.
What he did this year had never been seen before. Not only did he start all 60 games he played during the regular season (adding 10 more in the postseason), he rewrote the standard for what’s possible for players 40 and older.
In the 46 games he played after turning 41 on Dec. 30, he averaged 21.1 points, 7.3 assists and 6.4 rebounds per contest. Compare that scoring figure with the next closest player, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who averaged just 10.5 points per game after his 41st birthday.
Take this postseason: even though the Lakers fell well short of their objectives, they were missing All-Star Luka Dončić. And for much of L.A.’s first-round series against the Rockets, Austin Reaves was out, too.
That meant that the Lakers' hopes instantly fell squarely on James, who responded by averaging 23.2 points in the playoffs. Simply put: there has been no other player in history to be so consistently reliable this this stage of a career.
Even in Monday night’s Game 4 loss, James chiseled away to a steady 24 points on 8-of-18 shooting, adding 12 rebounds and 3 assists.
Frankly, that claim could be stretched to his entire career.
James has been available throughout his playing days at a near absurd level. Not only has he avoided major injury, his 61,030 regular season minutes are an all-time record and come out to 42.4 days.
He also entered Monday night with 12,405 playoff minutes, another all-time record.
Forget the discussions about where James ranks compared with Jordan or Kobe or Kareem or Wilt because those conversations tend to be reductive and difficult to quantify.
What’s undeniable is that James has been the premier player of this generation — a 22-time All-Star and four-time Most Valuable Player who won four championships with three different teams. If this was his last game, he was an ambassador of the sport and he elevated the play of his teammates. He outworked his competition and stayed in peak physical condition. He stayed out of controversy and enriched the communities in which he played.
James did have his detractors, as all great players do. But if this was in fact his last game, appreciate the production and longevity. Appreciate the commitment to the sport. Because like Jordan, like Kobe, like Kareem and like Wilt, there will never be another LeBron James.
Dillon Brooks, the Phoenix Suns wing, enforcer, villain and LeBron James pest, was spotted sitting courtside at Crypto.com Arena with a smile on his face as the Lakers entered halftime trailing 49-45. The 30-year-old, fresh off getting swept against the Thunder in the first round, apparently couldn't help but get out to LA to watch his nemesis possibly meet the same fate in the second round.
Brooks and James have a history dating back to the first round of the 2023 playoffs, when he openly taunted the NBA's all-time leading scorer as the two exchanged verbal jabs in the media and got into a confrontation during Game 3, with Brooks later taking jabs at James' age.
"I don't care. He's old. You know what I mean?" Brooks, then with the Memphis Grizzlies, told reporters at the time. "I was waiting for that. I was expecting him to do that [in] Game 4, Game 5. He wanted to say something when I got my fourth foul. He should have been saying that earlier on. But I poke bears. I don't respect no one until they come and give me 40."
After the Lakers took that series in six games, James took to Instagram.
"If you ever see me fighting in the forest with a Grizzly bear," James wrote in his caption. "HELP THE BEAR."
The two were at it again this past December, when Brooks told reporters that James "likes people that bow down. I don't bow down."
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 and Dennis Schroder #8 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talk during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Rocket Arena on May 11, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers tied the series, beating the Detroit Pistons in Game 4.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Mitchell only scored 4 points in the first half. His first bucket came midway through the second quarter. He’d immediately break out of that shell to start the third quarter, scoring 8 points and forcing a Detroit timeout only 90 seconds into the second half.
The run didn’t stop there. The Cavs broke out into a Cavalanche-worthy 23-0 run, and Mitchell’s shot-making led the way. He poured it on until the Pistons finally rolled over, scoring an NBA record 39 points in the second half for one of his best performances to date. Maybe even his best.
Grade: A+++
James Harden
24 points, 11 assists, 4 steals, 2 turnovers
Harden put the Cavs in front early with his scoring, nailing a pair of triples and netting 11 of Cleveland’s first 14 points.
He’d continue to elevate the offense, recording a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists by the four-minute mark of the third quarter. The Beard was in full control tonight.
Mobley isn’t an elite offensive hub, but he’s better than he gets credit for. He’s done a fine job of converting his opportunities in this series, scoring at an efficient rate when handling in the pick-and-roll and creating for others.
“Donovan’s gonna get all the flowers tonight, but Evan deserves just as many,” said Kenny Atkinson. “It seemed like he was swatting everything, maybe the best I’ve seen him defensively, and that’s saying something,”
Evan Mobley is the first EC player since Michael Jordan with
On the other side of the floor, he’s played a role in shutting down Jalen Duren and crushing the Pistons in the paint. Eight stocks speak for themselves. Mobley was everywhere, and Detroit had no solution.
Grade: A+
Jarrett Allen
9 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks
Rocket Arena was chanting ‘Jarrett Allen’ during the 23-0 Cavalanche. That happened just moments before Allen crushed a two-handed dunk. I’m not sure if life gets any better than that.
Good vibes aside, Allen has handled all of the physicality thrown at him this series. He’s battled with Duren and come out victorious more often than not. If he continues to meet the moment, this will be a narrative-reversing postseason for Allen (if it isn’t already).
Grade: A-
Dean Wade
0 points, 5 rebounds
Wade, to some chagrin, stayed in the starting lineup tonight. And for the first time in this series, that lineup won its opening minutes. This was mainly because of Harden, but it was an important stretch that has defined the first few games of this matchup. Wade is valuable when the Cavaliers’ offense is able to withstand him being on the floor.
“I thought Wade took his defense to another level,” said Kenny Atkinson after the game.
Grade: B-
Max Strus
5 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Strus has forced some of the most impactful turnovers I can recall in this series. His Game 3 heroics speak for themselves, but tonight, he forced an eight-second violation on Cade Cunningham at a pivotal junction of the night. His intensity has helped the Cavs form an identity that’s worthy of standing the tests of a difficult playoff series.
Grade: B+
Jaylon Tyson
1 point, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Tyson only played 8 minutes as this just wasn’t his night. He’s struggled to find his range as a three-point shooter in the playoffs and will need to rediscover his touch before earning any more minutes.
Grade: D
Dennis Schroder
7 points, 2 rebounds
Schroder finished as a minus-15. But this is why we always say plus/minus can be wonky. Schroder felt much more impactful, at least to me. His bursts to the rim remain helpful, and he shot 3-4 from the floor.
Grade: C+
Sam Merrill
6 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound
Merrill nailed his first two three-point attempts and had Rocket Arena going crazy. He went 0-6 from the floor the rest of the way.
Still, Merrill’s off-ball activity opens gaps for the Cavs offense to attack. He’s a positive for this reason.
Then the seven-time All-Star completely took over in the second half with an explosive scoring display to propel the Cavaliers to a 112-103 victory, tying the series 2-2.
Mitchel scored 39 points in the second half to tie the all-time NBA playoff record for most points in a half. The Golden State Warriors’ Eric "Sleepy" Floyd set the record on May 10, 1987, against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Mitchell could not find the basket in the first half, shooting just 1-for-8 and tallying just four points as the Pistons took a 56-52 lead into the locker room. But the guard nicknamed “Spida” emerged as an entirely different player after the break.
SPIDA SCORED 39 OF HIS 43 POINTS IN THE 2ND HALF 🤯
IT'S THE MOST POINTS IN ANY HALF IN A POSTSEASON GAME IN THE PLAY-BY-PLAY ERA!
Mitchell went from couldn’t make to couldn’t miss in the third quarter. He scored 21 points in the period, making 8-of-9 field goals, draining two of three 3-pointers and knocking down all three of his free throw attempts.
His scoring tear continued in the fourth with 18 points, shooting 4-of-9 from the field (1-for-4 on 3-pointers) and hitting 9 of 10 free throws.
Mitchell said he apologized to his team at halftime for his low output and his decision-making.
“I set the tone in Game 3 (a 116-109 Cleveland win), came downhill in transition, and I don’t think I did that one time in the first half. So, I came in and told the guys, ‘That’s on me.’ So, I tried to make a statement in the second half.”
Cleveland began the third period on a 23-0 run, largely spurred by Mitchell, but he credited the game plan and the team for the second-half surge.
“Just continue to play together and continue to move the ball, so that’s where it starts. I was also able to get into the paint. We did a great job of getting everybody involved in the second half.”
There were a lot of things to note in this game: A red-hot Donovan Mitchell dropping 39 in the second half, James Harden spraying the ball all over the floor and racking up 11 assists, the way the Cavaliers attacked the Pistons' defense, getting them in rotation (and the way Detroit kept helping off good 3-point shooters for some reason), the Pistons turnovers, and much more.
But this game was decided in the 6:03 stretch at the start of the third quarter, when the Cavaliers went on a 24-0 run to take control.
After scoring just 4 points in the first half, Donovan Mitchell drops a quick 8 points in the first 2 minutes of the 3rd quarter!
Mitchell scored 21 in the third quarter on 8-of-9 shooting, and behind that, the Cavaliers went from down 4 at the half to up 18, and the game was never seriously in doubt again.
Cleveland went on to win 112-103, tying up their series with Detroit 2-2.
A critical Game 5 is in Detroit on Wednesday — Cleveland is 6-0 at home these playoffs and 0-5 on the road.
It was a tale of two halves for Mitchell, who had just four points on 1-of-8 shooting in the first half. It was Harden, with 15 points and six assists — 11 of those points coming early in the first – that kept the Cavaliers in striking distance.
Then Mitchell put on his cape and came out like Superman in the second half, scoring 39 — tying an NBA record for points in a half in the play-by-play era. With a free throw with 27.6 left, Mitchell got to 39, tying him with Eric "Sleepy" Floyd for the honor.
Mitchell finished with 43 points, Harden had 24 points to go with his 11 dimes, and Evan Mobley added 17 for the Cavs.
It was a rough day for the Pistons starters. Cade Cunningham had 19 points on 16 shot attempts with four turnovers, Jalen Duren scored just eight points, and Tobias Harris scored 16 but needed 17 shots to get there.
It was a strong night off the bench from Caris LeVert with 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting, and 15 from Paul Reed on 7-of-9 from the floor, that kept them close.
It looked like it might be the Cavs night from the start. Cleveland forced five early turnovers and that became 11 points going the other way, leading to the Cavaliers being up by as much as 11 early — not coincidentally Harden had 11 early points. But the Pistons righted themselves and quickly walked that down, especially thanks to a fast start from LeVert off the bench, and after a quarter it was Detroit by 3, 24-21.
The second quarter was back-and-forth, with Cleveland doing a much better job of attacking mismatches (including being willing to go at Duran on the perimeter) and getting the Pistons in rotation. Despite that, it was the Pistons by four at the half.
Then Mitchell took over, the Cavaliers went on their run, and changed the feel of this series. It's now a best-of-three.
LOS ANGELES — Clara Massey stood behind her walker and methodically moved in front of Crypto.com Arena after trekking from her nearby apartment. She was wearing a purple Los Angeles Lakers jersey, a purple Lakers cap and sunglasses with yellow frames (or, as any self-respecting Lakers fans would point out, Lakers gold.)
“I just come down, walk around and get the good energy and give the good energy,’’ Massey told USA TODAY Sports.
That pregame energy was mostly pro-LeBron James with the Lakers on the verge of elimination from the playoffs on Monday, May 11 and Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder potentially being James’ last with the Lakers, if not the NBA altogether.
As tipoff grew closer, the moment prompted the following question: Has James' time with the Lakers been a failure?
Despite the fact James led the Lakers to a championship – the 17th in franchise history in 2020 that culminated in the NBA bubble in Walt Disney World in Florida. Despite the fact he became the NBA's all-time leading scorer in front of Lakers fans when he overtook Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Despite the dunks, the 3-pointers and, well, more than a few turnovers.
“I think he did a lot,’’ Massey said. “Won a championship. And he’s still contributing. He’s a pretty strong force.’’
Massey’s fondness for James goes beyond his on-court accomplishments in Los Angeles.
“I think he’s a great basketball player, a great figure in sports,’’ she said, reflecting on the time LeBron James and Bronny spent on the court together during the Lakers first-round series against the Houston Rockets.
“Did someone else do that for their child?’’ she said. “I bet if he could he would teach the world basketball.’’
Higher expectations
Four young men wearing Kobe Bryant jerseys and t-shirts surely would offer a tougher assessment.
“If LeBron can win another championship here, he deserves a statue,’’ Matthew Dominguez of Sylmar, California, said, of the statues outside Crypto.com Arena reserved for Laker greats like Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. “I think he knew what we expected. But we’re so grateful. He doesn’t deserve all the hate.’’
In fact, Dominguez said he hopes the Lakers keep James. That James could be key to the team winning another NBA title, something the fans like Dominguez are craving.
“And if he doesn’t do it for us, do it for Bronny,’’ Dominguez.
'No small feat'
Aiden Rivas, wearing a No. 6 jersey with James on the back, was standing in line outside Crypto.com Arena more than an hour before the doors opened. Speaking of which, Lakers fans might not have been so open to James’ coming to the Lakers, according to Rivas.
They feared Los Angeles might just be another stop as he jumped from one team to another. They assumed he was here to live in Los Angeles more than play for the Lakers.
Those concerns receded, Rivas, 20, told USA TODAY Sports.
“He brought us a ring, and that’s no small feat,’’ Rivas said. “Overall, I think he did a great job of getting us to the playoffs almost every year. That’s huge.
“I remember the times we couldn’t make it to the playoffs and we had Jordan Clarkson.’’
Sorry, Jordan.
Siblings perspective
Jesse and Lizbeth Medina, siblings who live in Los Angeles, sat outside Crypto.com Arena.
Jesse Medina, 25, said of James, “I think LeBron was good for PR, good for fan engagement but Luka (Doncic) will transform the team.’’
Lizabeth Medina, wearing a Kobe Bryant jersey, said of James' time here, “I was expecting another championship.’’
Playoff basketball rolls on without the Phoenix Suns. That doesn’t mean they aren’t watching. In some cases, they’re getting quite the view.
The Los Angeles Lakers hosted the Oklahoma City Thunder for Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Monday night, and a familiar face was sitting in the crowd. Thunder guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luguentz Dort share something in common with Suns forward Dillon Brooks, as all three are members of Team Canada. So, in a game in which SGA and Dort could potentially clinch their second consecutive trip to the Western Conference Finals, it wasn’t surprising to see their national teammate Dillon Brooks sitting baseline at Crypto.com Arena taking in the game.
What made it even more entertaining is Brooks’ ongoing rivalry with LeBron James. The two have had plenty of run-ins over the years, some dating back to Brooks’ time with the Memphis Grizzlies, others happening this past season with Phoenix. When the Amazon Prime broadcast cut to Brooks sitting courtside, iced out in jewelry as LeBron stood at the free throw line, it felt very on brand.
And knowing Brooks, there were probably a few comments exchanged as he rooted for his friends to take down the Lakers.
Dillon Brooks is extension-eligible this upcoming offseason, and it’ll be interesting to see which direction the Phoenix Suns choose to go. Do they get ahead of it now and lock him up early? Or do they wait until next summer, when he becomes an unrestricted free agent and revisit it then?
He was a major part of the identity and culture shift Phoenix experienced this past season, and that carries real value. The question is how much value the organization places on it financially. Until then, it’s nice to see Brooks enjoying the offseason and continuing the Suns tradition of rooting against the Los Angeles Lakers.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the ball over Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons during the fourth quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Rocket Arena on May 11, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers ran the Pistons back to Detroit, tying the series at 2-2 behind a huge second half.
Let’s go over today’s winners and losers.
WINNER – Third Quarter CAVALANCHE
An aspect of this era of Cavalier basketball is that no matter how a game is trending, one four-minute stretch can change everything. While that’s true for both the good and bad — the Cavalanche has earned its name for a reason.
Detroit rolled into halftime feeling pretty good. They had weathered an early storm and controlled the rest of the half behind their defense. They ended the second quarter with a 56-52 lead.
Four minutes into the third quarter, the Pistons still had 56 points, while the Cavs had jumped to 75. That’s a 23-0 run led by Donovan Mitchell, who scored 15 points during that sequence. Rocket Arena turned into a madhouse, and a full-throated ‘Jarrett Allen’ chant capped off the run.
It just takes a couple thousand people yelling Jarrett Allen’s name for him to dunk it. pic.twitter.com/zs3796KVfF
— Jackson Flickinger (@JacksFlickinger) May 12, 2026
This type of heavyweight punch is what makes it hard to count the Cavs out.
WINNER – First Quarter Harden
You can’t ask for a much better start than that.
Cleveland lost both games in Detroit largely because of their slow starts. James Harden made sure that no matter what happened tonight, the Cavs wouldn’t leave with that same feeling.
Harden opened the game on fire. He scored 11 points in the first four minutes, banging three-pointers and even racking up two steals during that stretch. The Cavs defense was successful early on, and Harden surprisingly played a key role in setting that tone.
Sadly, that hot start didn’t spread to the rest of the team (or the rest of the quarter). Cleveland went cold once Harden went to the bench, somehow shooting just 30% from the floor and ending the quarter down by three points.
LOSER – The Caris LeVert Wheel
Cavs fans will be familiar with this. But in case you’re not, the ‘LeVert Wheel’ refers to the idea that on any given night, LeVert will play like any number of former players. For instance, sometimes he’s Michael Jordan, other times he’s closer to Alonzo Gee.
The wheel landed on Jordan tonight.
LeVert had confidence early. His first few jumpers hardly even touched the net. Shot after shot went through the basket as LeVert worked his way to 17 points on 7-12 shooting in the first half. All the while, he gave Donovan Mitchell fits defensively and forced several turnovers on various Cavs drives, including one where he stripped the ball out of bounds off Evan Mobley’s knee.
That type of support from a role player can be enough to steal a game on the road.
WINNER – Donovan Mitchell
We’ve already talked a bit about Mitchell. But he took so many lumps throughout the first round, I think it’s worth focusing on him one more time.
This whole thing was built around Mitchell.
Maybe not originally. The Cavs probably thought that Mobley would have been their best player by now when they first traded for Mitchell. But as Mitchell blossomed into a legit First-Team All-NBA player, and Mobley’s development crawled at a slower pace than expected, it became clear who was the centerpiece of this team.
The Harden trade cemented that. No more two-timelines. Only one. And that would be Mitchell’s.
With all this in mind, it was alarming to see Mitchell struggle to start this postseason. No version of the Cavs competes for a title without a superstar leader in Mitchell. His inefficient scoring and questionable decision-making were a significant concern.
That’s starting to change.
Mitchell found life in Game 2. He carried that over for a monstrous 35 points in Game 3. Then, after a slow start to Game 4, he broke free for 21 points in the third quarter, matching LeBron James and Kyrie Irving for the highest scoring quarter in franchise history. Reminding us of why this team has the expectations it does, in the first place.
“To turn it around the way he did, I’m not sure I’ve seen something like that in the playoffs,” said Kenny Atkinson after the game.
A whopping 39 points in the second half tied an NBA record and brought Mitchell’s total to 43 for the night. It’s his eighth playoff game of 40+ points and his fourth as a Cavalier. His best performances give Cleveland a punch it can’t get anywhere else on the roster.
May 11, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) knocks the ball away from Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) during the first half of game four in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
This one wasn’t all that close.
Everything looked bad at the start of the game as Cleveland got out to a 13-5 run. With two quick fouls on Ausar Thompson, Caris LeVert checked in and started playing his best ball of the season. He helped Detroit reclaim the lead and they took a 24-21 lead at the end of the first quarter. It was a good turnaround after Cleveland led by 11 and had zero fouls called on them.
The off-ball defense from Detroit was poor all game as they lost Cavs shooters multiple times for open catch-and-shoot looks. It was all tied up 38-38 halfway through the quarter until a Tobias Harris three put him in double-digits and gave them a four-point lead a few possessions later. Detroit would take a 56-52 halftime lead.
The Pistons had 10 first half turnovers that let Cleveland stay close while shooting 55% from the field and holding the Cavs to 40%. LeVert, Harris, and Cunningham combined for 43 of Detroit’s 56 points. James Harden had 15 points and Evan Mobley added 11 points.
This game was over as soon as both teams came out of the locker rooms.
Despite shooting 1-for-8 in the first half, Donovan Mitchell came out on fire and never cooled off. Cleveland started the second half with an 8-0 run, all from Mitchell. After JB Bickerstaff called a timeout, the Cavs went on another 8-0 run into another JBB timeout. By the time unsung hero Paul Reed finally put an end to the bleeding, Cleveland went on a 22-0 run.
Bball Paul was the lone bright spot for Detroit in the third quarter. He made all six of his shots for 13 points in the quarter. Mitchell ended up with 21 points in the third, equivalent to the number of points the Pistons scored in the quarter as well.
The final score makes the game look closer than it was. Cleveland was up by 17 with less than three minutes left and a late push by Reed and the third stringers forced the Cavs starters back in late. Detroit would lose 112-103.
This will be a game to forget, and one where the film won’t be pretty. LeVert finished with 24 points, Cade added 19 points, Harris had 16 points, and Reed had 15. Duncan Robinson played 29 minutes to score four points on only two field goal attempts. Ausar Thompson played 12 minutes in the first half and seven minutes in the second while Donovan Mitchell tied an NBA record with 39 second half points.
Jalen Duren was not good. He looked bad from the start of the game and finished with eight points on eight shots while only grabbing two rebounds in 27 minutes. Isaiah Stewart only played seven minutes but grabbed one more rebound. Both bigs were outplayed by third stringer Reed who had 15 points, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal in only 14 minutes.
I dunno, man. We played 11 guys if you don’t include Sasser’s garbage time minutes while Ausar played 19 and Stew played seven. Daniss played 21 minutes and missed all four of his field goal attempts. Leaving Ausar on the bench for six combined points out of Duncan and Daniss is an issue when Mitchell is having an NBA record-tying performance.
It is what it is – it didn’t go well tonight, but the Pistons have homecourt advantage and will look to use that on Wednesday night in Little Caesars Arena. They’ll need to come out with a better performance that tonight if they want to win this series.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 11: Andrej Stojakovic participates in the shuttle run drill during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 11, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Uhhhhhh.
Andrej might not be coming back.
The Illini wing put on a show Monday night at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. A good week for Stojakovic in the Windy City could push him to stay in the NBA Draft rather than return for his second year at Illinois (and his fourth overall in college).
In the maximum vertical jump, Stojakovic finished atop the leaderboard at 41.5 inches.
While he won’t participate in the 5-on-5 scrimmages at the combine, Stojakovic is making a name for himself with his athleticism, which he flashed at times last year off the bench during Illinois’ Final Four run.
It’d be great to have him back in orange and blue next year, but you can’t blame him if he’s able to assure that he’s a high second-round pick and has a real chance at the NBA.
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 11, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 112-103 in Game 4, riding Donovan Mitchell’s 43 points to a tied series back to Motown.
Cleveland started this game hot. They jumped out to a 14-5 lead in the opening minutes as James Harden poured in 11 of those points all on his own. He nabbed two steals and banged home a pair of triples as the Cavs had their best start to a game this series.
That didn’t last long.
The lead was quickly reversed once Harden went to the bench and the Cavs offense went frigid. Some timely shot-making from Tobias Harris and Caris LeVert allowed the Pistons to change momentum and end the first quarter with an advantage. LeVert started the game with 17 points on 7-12 shooting.
LeVert changed the dynamic of this game. Before his run, the Pistons’ offense was having a difficult time finding support for Cade Cunningham. LeVert not only provided aid but practically took the wheel and started driving this thing himself.
Then the third quarter came, and the Cavaliers gave us another example of how quickly playoff basketball can change.
A dominant 23-o run put the Cavs back in front. Donovan Mitchell erupted for 15 points during that sequence, breaking free from a hellish first half where he only scored 4 points. Mitchell’s scoring was complemented by an elite stretch of defense, with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley shutting down the paint.
The Cavalanche is a real phenomenon and it’s maybe what makes them the most terrifying. Just an ability to absolutely pour it on.
An insane 23-0 run to start the 3rd quarter.
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) May 12, 2026
Detroit made a run to keep it within range through the third quarter. But Mitchell continued to apply pressure until the dam finally broke. He ended the night with 43 points to complement Harden’s double-double.
We have to take a moment to shout out both Allen and Mobley, who seem totally unbothered by Jalen Duren. The Cavs bigs have flipped the script by dominating Duren in the paint, combining for 26 points and 13 rebounds while holding Duren to just 8 points and 2 rebounds.
Still, the story of the night is Mitchell erupting for 39 points in the second half. This team is built around the idea of him being an All-NBA superstar. That looked pretty good tonight.
The Hall of Fame coach alluded to as much on Monday, May 11 when he went onto X (formerly Twitter) to question why there is pushback on March Madness expanding from 68 to 76 teams on both the men's and women's side of college basketball starting this upcoming 2026-27 season.
"When I hear people are upset the NCAA expanded to 76 teams, I think "why and who cares?" The best teams advance and more teams get to experience the greatest tournament on earth," the St. John's basketball coach wrote on X.
When I hear people are upset the NCAA expanded to 76 teams, I think “why and who cares?”. The best teams advance and more teams get to experience the greatest tournament on earth.
The expanded tournament won’t impact the first round or any that follow, since games will still tip off from noon to midnight ET on that opening Thursday when 32 teams take the floor. The real impact will come in the days leading up to the first round.
On the men's side, the First Four will expand from eight teams playing four games in Dayton to 24 teams playing 12 games across two sites. Dayton will remain a host for the play‑in round, while the NCAA will announce the second location at a later date.
The 73-year-old Pitino isn't one to be shy about giving his opinions on NCAA-related topics and the current landscape of college basketball. He told a group of reporters, including USA TODAY Sports, at the 2024 Big East Media Day that he wanted college basketball to create 18- to 20-team "super leagues" to "combat football" at the then-height of conference realignment, which was triggered by football.
The May 11 social media post also isn't the first time Pitino has expressed his pro-expansion thoughts. He told CBS Sports' Matt Norlander at Big East Media Day in October of 2025 that expanding the field "can only help" and he'd be on board for it.
"What makes the difference?" Pitino said. "I don't think it could hurt, it can only help. Anytime you get more teams, more excitement, more TV coverage, more things to speak about, more athletes participating, it can only be a good thing.
"For people who say, 'No, we got to keep it.' C'mon. I was around when I think it was 24, 32 (teams) whatever it was. ... In this situation, you talk about eight more games. ... It doesn't hurt anything. It only helps. ... What bad could come from it?"
Pitino has led St. John's to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments (after being left out of the tournament in 2024 as a bubble team), and has led six different programs — others being Kentucky, Louisville, Providence, Iona and Boston University — to the NCAA Tournament.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 30: (L-R) Team Owner Ryan Smith of the Utah Jazz talks with CEO Danny Ainge and President of Basketball Operations Austin Ainge during warmups before their game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Delta Center on January 30, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It happened. The Utah Jazz moved up in the NBA Draft Lottery. After three years of soul-searching, serial-killer-esque bulletin-boarding, and mass panic flowing through the bloodstream of every resident in the greater Salt Lake City area (you remember), all of the tanking has been worth it. An empty viewing experience, hoping your team loses every one of 246 regular-season games, is not good for the spirit, nor is it healthy for a fanbase to see its star players build a white picket fence and lay brick and mortar around their designated seat on the bench.
By any measure, AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson will be the number-one pick. It’s an inevitability, like eating a second potato chip or some vaguely successful movie from the 2000s getting a sequel and/or reboot (looking at you, The Devil Wears Prada 2: It’s All Gucci, Fam, or whatever that movie is called).
This year’s number-two pick is practically as valuable as the one above it.
Though BYU’s star holds the edge, Peterson is likewise considered to be a player of number-one quality. A potential All-NBA mainstay, with an annual appearance on MVP ballots. On the SLC Dunk Draft Board, we ranked Dybantsa and Peterson 1A and 1B, respectively, for one simple reason: they’re both so darn good.
So drafting second overall is almost a blessing. You get all the excitement of picking a potential franchise cornerstone, and none of the pressure of “picking the right guy”. Whether Washington takes Dybantsa or Peterson, Utah can lean back in the tranquility of their war room and take whoever remains.
This year’s number-two pick is practically as valuable as the one above it. That’s a rare luxury.
Of course, our relaxation was rudely interrupted by rumors of a shakeup in the order, as Jake Fischer’s conversation with Michael Winger, president of the Wizards, sparked a thousand aggregations.
[Winger] insisted that this is ‘not a savior moment’ for Washington, given that the franchise just traded for two former All-Stars in Trae Young and Anthony Davis on top of the slew of recent lottery picks it already has accumulated. He added that, in accordance with Wizards general manager Will Dawkins’ prospect evaluations, Washington will not rule out a move downward if Dawkins determines there are two or three players that the Wizards are eager to come away with.”
Ryan Smith’s comments on the Pat McAfee Show only tossed lighter fluid onto the already-aflame dumpster of draft speculation.
“It would be irresponsible if everything wasn’t on the table,” Smith told McAfee on ESPN, though noting that the decision would be Austin and Danny Ainge’s to make.
"Danny Ainge and Austin have a pretty good track record with how they handle the lottery..
I’m here to plant my flag in the earth. Utah Jazz, do not trade up.
Draw the shades. Lock the doors. Disconnect the phone lines. Unplug the internet router. Sequester whoever you must to absolutely ensure that the second overall pick does not leave the premises of the Delta Center until it’s announced over the podium at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. You cannot go wrong with either Darryn Peterson or AJ Dybantsa, so don’t waste your assets when you’re already guaranteed a chance with either of them.
Peterson slots perfectly alongside Keyonte George in the starting lineup, standing at 6’6” in shoes with a scorer’s mentality and a demonic streak on the defensive end. The Kansas star could effortlessly round out Will Hardy’s starting 5, with Ace Bailey the first man off the pine.
If the Jazz want to step up, it will cost them dearly. How far would you go to jump from 2 to 1?
But if Washington goes all alt-rock on us and dodges Dybantsa, you won’t hear any teeth gnashing in the Beehive State. A player who has spent his last two years of life living in Utah, Dybantsa would be a gigantic 6’9” shooting guard, making the Jazz perhaps the tallest starting 5 in NBA history.
And both players could someday be MVPs.
Call me overzealous, but adding either player to an already dangerous core of George, Bailey, Markkanen, Jackson Jr., Kessler, Sensabaugh, and Williams makes the Jazz a top-four team in the Western Conference next season. This was the ultimate goal of the tank all along, right?
Washington’s asking price will be very high — this ain’t no Zaccharie Risacher draft pool, God rest his soul. If the Jazz want to step up, it will cost them dearly. How far would you go to jump from 2 to 1? A future first-round pick? Two? Ace Bailey? Why give Washington anything when you get an elite prospect either way?
Again, I urge you: don’t you dare trade up, Utah.
Sarah Todd stepped in to stamp down any rumors of interest on both Utah’s and Washington’s end. “When they say things like ‘yeah, we’re going to be willing to listen to offers for the pick’, they can’t say anything else, right?”
“Both AJ and Darryn Peterson look like they have the potential to be MVP-type players. […] The Wizards are not going to disappoint their fans; they’re going to pick number one. The Jazz are probably not going to disappoint their fans; they’re going to get an excellent player with the number-two pick.”
Stay out of your own way, Utah, and stay on course. Pick second overall and leave the NBA Draft as a winner.
Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs goes up for the rebound during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
There’s this great trick that Francis Ford Coppolla pulls at the beginning of The Godfather, where he opts to forgo having a narrator and/or title cards to explain the story.
It’s a very purposeful move, motivated partly (I suspect) by the popularity of Mario Puzo’s novel. The original novel was quite the financial success it its own right, sitting on the bestseller list for well over a year, and selling over nine million copies in that time.
But the book features an omniscient narrator, and Coppola didn’t want that degree of separation to come between his film and his audience.
Foreknowledge can inform us, but it rarely moves us. I know this, because no matter how many times I watch the Spurs old championship games, I just cannot fully recapture the feeling.
There’s still joy, but the joy has turned nostalgic. I cannot craft anticipation from a place of perfect knowledge.
That’s what’s so thrilling about the postseason. The Spurs won at a 50-game pace for most of my life, and still, *only* came home with five titles. Only 6 championship berths.
That irregularity, that unpredictability, is where the adrenaline and the exhilaration live.
And that’s why, when Coppolla drops us right into the film, in medias res, mid-conversation with the kingpin of the title, we’re immediately locked in. It’s a perfect opening, with almost no hint of the frivolity of the occasion outside filtering though, so intimate and hushed that it almost feels like we’re eavesdropping, or part of the room.
And that is, I think, the whole point. The film encourages you, from the very beginning, to play witness to the intimacies of a crime family. The voices are warm and domestic. Even the directions and doings of the gathered mafioso are delivered with decorum and a certain air of courtliness.
It wants you to like them. It wants you to get swept up in the affection and the domesticity that’s masking the violence. It does its level best to make you a fan of the Corleones.
Why? Because fandom has a way of thwarting objectivity. I’ve always found the shortening of the word ‘fanatic’ to ‘fan’ to be fascinating.
It’s almost as if those engaged in fandom are incapable of considering that it is a form of fanaticism. As if fanaticism is something that only exists within the context of politics or religion. As if abbreviating the word will somehow change the nature of truth itself.
The truth is that last night Victor Wembanyama elbowed Naz Reid right in the face.
The truth is also that it was absolutely premeditated.
There are in fact a whole list of truths that I could rattle off, such as:
How the officials have allowed Minnesota to more-or-less play prison ball for most of the series.
How Victor was fouled multiple times right before the elbow, in a clear sight-line, with nary a call made to protect him.
How it’s easier on twitter to find stills of all the ways in which Victor has been pushed, pulled, and clawed at, than it is to find videos of him doing cool stuff with the basketball, and there are a lot of those!
How the way this series has been officiated on the side of physicality was just asking for an outburst from somebody, eventually.
How that one elbow from Wemby hardly compares to the whole pantheon of flagrant fouls that it’s currently being compared to by fans of both franchises, and NBA twitter at large.
How it was still the wrong thing to do and ultimately cost the Spurs the game.
How it might have been necessary, for Wemby to send a message about his physical boundaries, and what he is capable/willing to do to protect them past a certain point.
The elbow is an incredibly personal part of the body. We don’t think about that because of how little we see our own, but virtually all of our upper body movements hinge on the engineering marvel that is the Articulatio Cubiti.
Almost every sporting movement is dependent on it, from the very obvious varieties of throwing to even the act of running itself, when we depend on our elbows to assist in the repetition of form and balance.
Or even more intimately, in the act of feeding ourselves and cleaning ourselves (I sincerely hope that I never learn what it’s like to try to use toilet paper without the aid of an elbow), or embracing our loved ones.
All of mythology surrounding the elbow appears to function in extremes, whether it’s the indigenous legends of the Ojibwe talking about the terrifying cannibalistic “elbow witches” of the great lakes and northern plains, who murder their victims with the knives embedded in their olecranons (elbow-tips), or vodoo folklore claiming the act of rubbing elbows with another person can swap the destinies and/or energies of the individuals involved.
Or old urban legends suggesting that children can change gender by kissing their own elbow. Or The Book of Ecclesiastes claiming that “stretching your elbow at dinner” (reaching across the table) is as shameful a thing as the breaking of a vow.
Taoism even goes as far as to assign specific traits to each elbow, with the right elbow serving as a conduit to the power, action, movement, and choices of the individual, and the left to receptivity, emotions, and the receiving of love or support. I guess in that context, throwing the right elbow really was a choice.
And yet, all levity aside, I can’t really convince myself that it was a ‘good’ choice.
For fans in my age group and older, I suspect an elbow to the head is still a pretty sore spot for those of us who can vividly recall the viciously premeditated elbow that Malone delivered with such force that it knocked David Robinson unconscious for the better part of two minutes.
And while it was quickly obvious that Reid hadn’t received a blow on par with that one, it wasn’t an enjoyable flashback to the anxiety of those two minutes of April 8th, 1998, when no one knew what the overall state of the Admiral was/would be yet.
Those are not two minutes that I would wish on any fan-base.
But to that end, I think there’s something we have to acknowledge about this Spurs team, and about Victor, when it comes to the legends of the past: they’re different.
Maybe (probably) because they’re so young, these players carry themselves differently. That “we don’t care”mantra is a markedly different banner to unite under, after years of Spurs teams that (while also probably not caring), did their best to never give the opposition bulletin board material.
They talk trash, even going as far as to (per Express News scribe Jeff McDonald) tell Kevin Durant that they were doubling and tripling him not because he’s good, but because his teammates suck.
Relevant a commentary as it may have been, it takes a special level of audacity to tell a legend of the game that right to his face, in the middle of the game, within earshot of his comrades/co-workers/scapegoats.
Just how hated are these Spurs going to be? And how deserving of that hatred?
There’s a certain blindness that affects a fan. Thunder fans are incapable of seeing their team as a cadre of floppers extraordinaire. Golden State fans were largely incapable of admitting their dynasty hinged on an unprecedented MVP-level addition to a team that had won 73 games. Heat fans were unwilling to admit that the unholy alliance that benefited them forever warped the concept of competitive balance within the league, to the point of the NBA enforcing the most restrictive CBA since the dawn of free-agency.
And these are just a few examples. Fandom bewitches us all. And sometimes it implicates us too.
That’s why Coppola wanted us to feel close to the Corleones. Why Scorsese wanted us caught up in the awe emanating from Henry Hill in Goodfellas. It’s the same trick that David Chase later pulled with Tony Soprano’s therapy sessions and that Vince Gilligan pulled in drawing us into the humble beginnings of a cancer-stricken meth-lord in Breaking Bad.
Everyone is a villain in someone else’s story. That elbow earned permanent (and perhaps justifiable) hatred from someone, in the same way that I’ll probably never stop wishing ill on the Utah Jazz.
And part of that is just in the nature of being a fan — the thrill of us versus them that plays out in virtually every arena. But the contrast is becoming more and more apparent, justifiable reasons or not.
In the context of film, I’m starting to see Tim Duncan as Obi Wan Kenobi, and Victor Wembanyama as Anakin Skywalker.
Duncan, like Kenobi, almost unassumingly defeated the majority of his most impressive foes, and Wemby, like Anakin, came into the fold as the chosen one, and has suffered an emotional outburst.
Will he bring balance to the force? I can’t say that I’d include that elbow under the category of ‘ethical hoops’.
Maybe it was necessary. Maybe it’ll lead to better basketball and better officiating. Maybe players will think twice before messing with Wemby. Maybe it was a one time thing that we’ll largely have forgotten years from now.
Or maybe this Spurs team is shaping itself into a different kind of Silver and Black villain.
I think maybe I’m so deep inside it now, that I have to withdraw, because I cannot be impartial
At this point I’m just hoping that Wemby takes the high ground first. The Imperial March is actually a really beautiful piece of music if you really think about it.
Takeways
Look, I am very notably not a De’Aaron Fox hater. I think he’s taken on the Tony Parker role of blame within the context of losses and is largely undeserving, and I don’t think this loss was on him. However, I did not love that Dylan Harper, who was hotter than the Devil’s hooves, did not get more than 27 minutes, when Fox was clearly in a bit of funk and being targeted by the Wolves in Wemby’s absence. I understand that Harper is a rookie, and that Fox is just as capable of exploding for points, but I’d like to see a little more alternation when someone is pretty clearly the hot hand of the three guards.
It also didn’t help that Keldon was having one of his worst games of the postseason after two games of his very best (on the defensive end), and if that was Mitch’s reasoning for trying to keep Harper playing with the bench, I at least understand that. It wasn’t that they all played badly. Kornet and Bryant specifically did yeoman’s work. But boy was the scoring rough in the second unit, and that may have been the difference since the Wolves (wisely) went with an eight-man rotation.
It was also a rare off night for Julian Champagnie, who couldn’t seem to find his shot and fell victim to being picked on a bit on the defensive end. I think we can forgive him based on his body of work so far, but while he’s a plus defender by most metrics, when Victor is off the court he’s easier to exploit. Fond of him as I am, a lot of his positive effect in the starting unit depends on Victor’s presence. Which, I mean, is hardly a criticism considering Wemby’s effect on the whole team on both ends, but you get what I’m saying.
Also, I just have to rave about his rebounding. He’s been great at grabbing boards all season, but I expected that to take a hit against bigger teams in the postseason. In fact, that was one of my greatest concerns for this team as a whole. But Champagnie is second on the team in rebounding (Kornet is almost matching him in less minutes), which has allowed the Spurs to play small against teams like the Wolves without giving up too much on the boards. It has been pure comedy when someone like Julius Randle has been stuck trying to keep up with Julian’s off-ball movement, to the point that I firmly believe that ‘Yakey Sax’ should be playing in the background whenever it happens. Do yourself a favor and keep an eye out for it.
