James Harden’s late surge lifts Cavaliers to 116-109 Game 3 win over Pistons

The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Detroit Pistons 116-109 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Saturday at Rocket Arena. The victory cut Detroit’s series lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven matchup. James Harden scored seven consecutive points in the final 90 seconds of the fourth quarter, a decisive stretch that preserved Cleveland’s lead.

Harden finished with 19 points — nine of them in the fourth quarter — on 8-of-14 shooting and 3-of-7 from 3-point range. He also had seven assists and three turnovers. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 35 points and added 10 rebounds in 38 minutes.

Cleveland produced a dominant first half, shooting 68.6 percent from the field. That marked the franchise’s highest field-goal percentage in any first half of a playoff game since the 2002-03 season and helped the Cavs build a lead as large as 17 early in the third quarter. Detroit answered with a strong third-quarter run, outscoring Cleveland to erase the deficit and tie the game at 74 before briefly taking the lead in the fourth.

Detroit’s Cade Cunningham recorded a triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, though he also committed eight turnovers in 39 minutes. Tobias Harris added 21 points, and Duncan Robinson contributed 15 points, including four 3-pointers. The game tightened in the closing minutes as turnovers and contested possessions swung momentum. Cleveland outscored Detroit 16-8 in the final segment, with Harden’s seven straight points in the last 90 seconds providing the margin of victory.

The win prevents a 3-0 series hole for Cleveland and shisourcess momentum as the series moves back to Detroit for Game 4.

- Final score: Cavaliers 116, Pistons 109. - Harden: 19 points, 7 assists, 3 turnovers; nine points in the fourth quarter. - Mitchell: 35 points, 10 rebounds in 38 minutes. - Cavs shot 68.6% in the first half, their highest playoff first half since 2002-03. - Cunningham: triple-double 27/10/10 with eight turnovers. - Pistons rallied from a 17-point deficit to tie the game in the third.

Both teams’ turnover control and late-game execution adjustments in Game 4, where Detroit will try to regain series control.