Sexton scores 27, leads Cavaliers past Pistons 126-119

Collin Sexton scored 27 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with just under two minutes to play, and the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Detroit Pistons 126-119 on Monday night.

Both teams were missing star players. Blake Griffin (rest) sat out for Detroit, while Kevin Love was out with a sore back for Cleveland after taking a hard fall in Saturday's loss to Dallas.

Andre Drummond nearly made up for Griffin's absence with 21 points and 21 rebounds, but the Cavaliers hit clutch shots down the stretch against a Pistons team that is fighting for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Cleveland Cavaliers' guard Collin Sexton drives to the basket against Detroit Pistons' guard Reggie Jackson, from Italy, in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 18, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoKen Blaze)

Sexton's 3-pointer gave Cleveland a 115-114 lead with 1:54 left. Following a missed shot, Cedi Osman hit another 3 with 1:24 to play, putting the Cavaliers up 118-114.

Detroit's Reggie Jackson missed a 3 before Sexton knocked down another shot from behind the arc with 39 seconds left to make it 121-114.

Cleveland placed seven players in double figures, including Osman with 21 points and Nik Stauskas with 17.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton drives to the basket between Detroit Pistons guard Bruce Brown and center Andre Drummond in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 18, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoKen Blaze)

Drummond has had 12 games with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds this season.

Wayne Ellington hit seven 3-pointers and finished with 25 points for the Pistons (36-34), who are sixth in the Eastern Conference, a game ahead of Brooklyn and 2 1/2 in front of Miami.

Detroit coach Dwane Casey is monitoring Griffin's workload as the Pistons begin a five-game road trip that will take them to the West Coast. Griffin scored 25 points in 33 minutes during Sunday's win over Toronto.

Cleveland Cavaliers' forward Cedi Osman, from Turkey, shoots over the defense of Detroit Pistons' center Andre Drummond in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 18, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoKen Blaze)

Cavaliers coach Larry Drew said Love was still sore Monday and didn't participate in the team's morning shootaround. Love has played in 12 games since returning from foot surgery,

Detroit routed Cleveland 129-93 on March 2 in the previous meeting between the teams. Griffin scored 14 points while Love sat out because the Cavs were playing on back-to-back nights.

GOOD COMPANY

Cleveland Cavaliers' forward Cedi Osman, from Turkey, celebrates with guard David Nwaba after hitting a three-point basket in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 18, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoKen Blaze)

Drummond has 33 games of at least 15 points and 15 rebounds this season, setting the franchise record previously held by Hall of Famer Bob Lanier, who did it 32 times in 1972-73.

TIP-INS

Pistons: Jackson scored 15 points. Langston Galloway and Ish Smith each had 13. ... F Thon Maker started in Griffin's spot and had seven points with nine rebounds.

Detroit Pistons' guard Glenn Robinson III, right, drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers' guard Nik Stauskas in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 18, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoKen Blaze)

Cavaliers: Brandon Knight scored 16 points. Marquese Chriss had 10 points and 10 rebounds. ... F Larry Nance Jr. (bruised rib), G Matthew Dellavedova (concussion), C John Henson (right wrist) and F Tristan Thompson (sore left foot) remain out.

UP NEXT

Pistons: Visit the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.

Detroit Pistons guard Ish Smith (14) shoots as Cleveland Cavaliers guard David Nwaba defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 18, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoKen Blaze)

Cavaliers: Host the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)