Cleveland Cavaliers kept their playoff hopes alive Saturday night with a hard-fought 116-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons in a crucial Game 3 matchup, trimming the series deficit to 2-1.

Backed by an energized home crowd, Cleveland responded with far more intensity and confidence than it showed in the opening two games of the series. Donovan Mitchell delivered the standout performance the Cavaliers desperately needed, finishing with a game-high 35 points and leading the charge on both ends of the floor.

The game turned late in the fourth quarter when Max Strus intercepted a pass from Cade Cunningham and converted it into a go-ahead basket, giving Cleveland a 106-104 lead they would not surrender. Cunningham then committed turnovers on Detroit’s next two possessions, allowing Cleveland to build momentum.

James Harden helped seal the win with a clutch floater and later knocked down a crucial three-pointer over Tobias Harrisafter Detroit had cut the deficit to one point. Harden finished with 19 points and seven assists, providing steady offensive production throughout the night.

Mitchell ultimately secured the victory in the final seconds after grabbing his own missed free throw rebound before calmly converting two more free throws to extend Cleveland’s lead beyond reach.

The Cavaliers also received strong interior performances from Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. Allen scored 18 points, while Mobley contributed 13 points, eight rebounds, and strong defensive play. Both players protected the rim effectively and helped disrupt Detroit’s offense near the basket.

From the opening tip, Cleveland’s stars attacked the paint aggressively instead of relying heavily on perimeter shooting, a major adjustment from Games 1 and 2. That early success appeared to boost the team’s confidence, especially Mitchell’s, as he found rhythm from long range and controlled the pace offensively. He closed the first half with 20 points while shooting efficiently from the field.

The Cavaliers built a double-digit lead in the second quarter behind timely scoring from Harden and energetic play inside from Mobley and Allen. Cleveland’s defense also limited Detroit’s perimeter shooting, holding the Pistons to just 2-for-14 from three-point range in the first half.

Detroit fought back strongly after halftime, using a 28-9 run in the third quarter to briefly regain control of the game. The comeback silenced the Cleveland crowd and raised concerns that the Cavaliers were slipping back into the struggles that plagued them earlier in the series.

But Cleveland responded with resilience, answering with a 9-0 run led by Mitchell to regain momentum heading into the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers then closed the game with poise and defensive intensity, earning a critical victory to keep the series competitive.