Cade Cunningham has 25 points and 10 assists to lift Pistons past Cavs 107-97 for a 2-0 lead

DETROIT (AP) — Cade Cunningham had 25 points and 10 assists, Tobias Harris scored 21 points and the Detroit Pistons beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 107-97 on Thursday night to take a 2-0 lead in their second-round series.

Game 3 is Saturday in Cleveland, where the Cavs were 4-0 in the first round against Toronto.

The top-seeded Pistons have won five straight games since Orlando put them on the brink of elimination in the first round.

“We're going to keep swinging,” reserve guard Daniss Jenkins said. “We're still trying to prove something to ourselves.”

Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points and Jarrett Allen had 22 points and seven rebounds, bouncing back from a poor performance in Game 1 for the fourth-seeded Cavs.

James Harden, though, missed 10 of 13 shots and was limited to 10 points. Harden had four turnovers, including one with 33 seconds left when the Cavs trailed by just six.

“We just wear on you,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “That’s what our objective is.”

Cleveland's Max Strus scored just three points after he had 19 in the series opener. The Cavs went 0 for 11 from 3-point range in the fourth quarter, with Strus having four of the misses.

“Unfortunately, it was not a night where we shot the ball well — 7 of 32 from 3,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said.

Detroit’s Duncan Robinson had 17 points, making 5 of 9 3-pointers, and Jenkins came off the bench to score 14 points, his third straight game in double figures.

“I don’t think people can keep up with my pace and my speed,” Jenkins said.

Cleveland made the first shot but didn’t lead again until Evan Mobley’s dunk put the visitors ahead 81-79 early in the fourth quarter.

The Pistons led by 11 points in the first quarter and 14 in the second quarter.

“I don’t know what it is with the start of games,” Atkinson said. "They came out super aggressive of course, but it’s the playoffs. Obviously, we haven’t figured that one out. Still back to the drawing board.”

The Cavs scored the first six points of the final quarter and Detroit responded with plays at both ends of the court.

Robinson had a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 9:40 left and Cunningham made a 3-pointer to put the Pistons ahead by nine points with 2:12 to go, sealing the victory.

Cavs reserve guard Sam Merrill missed Game 2 with a hamstring injury after he was hurt in in the series opener.

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Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) drives against Detroit Pistons forward Ronald Holland II (5) during the first half in Game 2 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dennis Schroder, left, passes the ball against Detroit Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins (24) and forward Isaiah Stewart (28) during the first half in Game 2 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jaylon Tyson, left, drives against Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) during the first half in Game 2 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) looses the ball against the defense from Detroit Pistons forward Ronald Holland II during the first half in Game 2 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham takes a shot against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during the first half in Game 2 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

The NCAA will expand its DIvision I basketball tournaments from 68 to 76 teams next season. The change isn't expected to radically disrupt the familiar bracket for most casual fans. Here is a breakdown of some key numbers to know:

0 — The number of mid-major schools that advanced past the first weekend of either tournament the last two seasons.

1 in 9.2 quintillion — The estimated odds against picking a perfect bracket even before adding eight games to the mix.

4 — Games matching No. 12 seeds and No. 16 seeds in the opening round.

8 — The number of teams being added to each tournament (men and women). It's also the number of new games being added to each tourney.

15 — The number of years since the NCAA last expanded the men's tournament (from 65 to 68 in 2011). The women's tourney grew from 64 to 68 in 2022.

120 — Total number of games for the two tournaments over seven days between the bracket announcement and the conclusion of the secound round.

131 — As in $131 million, the amoung of new revenue the NCAA expects to share with tournament participants under the expansion.

300 — As in $300 million, the extra funding the NCAA expects to get from new advertising opportunities tied to expansion, including the addition of liqour ads that had largely been off limits.

2032 — The year the current $8.8 billion broadcast deal between the NCAA and partners like CBS, TNT and others expires, raising the potential for more change.

350,000 — As in $350,000, the value of a NCAA-distributed "unit' for a men's team that reached the tournament.

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FILE - A basketball goes throw the net before an Elite Eight game between Iowa and Illinois in the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

FILE - North Carolina State guard Jr. Paul McNeil (2) rises for a shot during the first half in a First Four college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament against Texas, March 17, 2026, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar, File)

FILE - The Final Four logo is seen on the court prior to the NCAA college basketball tournament national championship game between UConn and Michigan at the Final Four, April 6, 2026, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast, File)