Cavaliers-Pistons Game 6 instant reactions. Cavs fail to close out series

[ASFN Admin]

CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers put the Detroit Pistons on the brink of elimination with a ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals on the line, where the New York Knicks are awaiting their opponent.

The Cavs broke through with their first road playoff win in Game 5, giving Cleveland a 3-2 series lead with a chance to send the Pistons home May 15 at Rocket Arena.

In Game 6, the Pistons started the third quarter on a run and kept building that lead en route to a 115-94 win over the Cavs, thus forcing a win-or-go-home Game 7 in Detroit May 17.

Here our instant reactions and analysis from Beacon Journal writers Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich:

Cavs vs Pistons Game 6: Ryan Lewis' instant reaction​

• The Pistons had a golden opportunity to put themselves in control of the series in Game 5 and couldn't capitalize. And now the Cavs had a chance to finish Detroit off and couldn't capitalize. Both sides have left the door open, and both sides have left opportunities floating in the air.
• It's going to be difficult to take down the No. 1 seed when your top scorer, Donovan Mitchell, opens the game 6-for-20 from the floor. Mitchell also struggled from 3-point range in Game 5, but Max Strus picked up the slack. In Game 6, nobody was there to cover for Mitchell, who is now in a position of absolutely having to put together a great Game 7 in Detroit to avoid a tidal wave of negative narratives.

• Ausar Thompson even gave the Cavs a free momentum spike with his flagrant foul on Sam Merrill, but the Pistons came out as the aggressors after halftime and never looked back. The beginning of the second half had been Cleveland's domain all through these playoffs. The Cavs have more firepower, but only if they're running on all cylinders.
• The Cavs simply didn't shoot well enough, and now they've put their season and potentially some jobs on the line in Game 7. It's J.B. Bickerstaff vs Kenny Altman, it's Cleveland-Detroit, it's Mitchell-Cade Cunningham. This Game 7 potentially has some major ramifications for both franchises. Meanwhile, the Knicks are just smiling and waiting.

Cavs vs Pistons Game 6: Nate Ulrich's instant reaction​

• The Cavs responded to Pistons forward Ausar Thompson grabbing the neck of guard Sam Merrill and receiving a Flagrant 1 foul after a replay review with 8:04 left in the second quarter by outscoring Detroit 22-13 for the remainder of the first half.
• The Cavs trailed the Pistons 54-51 at halftime.
• But the wheels came off for the Cavs during a nightmare of a third quarter. The Cavs were outscored 30-19 in the third quarter and trailed 84-70 entering the fourth quarter.
• The Cavs couldn’t muster a sufficient comeback in the fourth quarter and therefore failed to take care of business at home.
• Thompson fouling out with 3:56 left to play offered the Cleveland crowd little consolation.
• It seemed as if whatever could go wrong for the Cavs in the second half did go wrong.
• For example, with 6:12 left in the fourth quarter, point guard James Harden threw an inbounds pass to forward Dean Wade near half court. Wade slipped on the floor and wiped out. Forward Tobias Harris grabbed the ball and slammed a fast-break dunk for a 100-85 Detroit lead with 6:07 remaining.
• Now the Cavs must complete the daunting task of winning a Game 7 in Detroit on Sunday, May 17, to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018 and for the first time since 1992 without LeBron James on Cleveland’s roster.
• Get your popcorn ready. Legacies and jobs are on the line.

When do Cavs play next: Cavaliers-Pistons playoff series schedule, scores​

• Here is all of the scheduling information the NBA has announced thus far about the Cavs-Pistons series in the Eastern Conference semifinals:
• Game 1: Pistons 111, Cavs 101; Pistons lead series 1-0 | Recap | Reaction | Analysis | Story
• Game 2: Pistons 107, Cavs 97 ; Pistons lead series 2-0 | Recap | Reaction | Analysis | Story
• Game 3: Cavs 116, Pistons 109; Pistons lead series 2-1 | Recap | Reaction | Analysis | Story
• Game 4: Cavs 112, Pistons 103; series is tied 2-2 | Recap | Reaction | Analysis | Story
• Game 5: Cavs 117, Pistons 113, OT; Cavs lead series 3-2 | Recap | Reaction | Analysis | Story
• Game 6: Pistons 115, Cavs 94, series is tied 3-3
• Game 7: Cavs at Pistons, time TBD, Sunday, May 17, Prime Video

Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich cover the Cavaliers for the Akron Beacon Journal. The Beacon Journal sports department can be reached at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs Game 6 instant reactions vs Pistons after Detroit forces Game 7

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