Cade Cunningham scored 25 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, and had 10 assists, leading the Detroit Pistons to a 107-97 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers and a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series yesterday (Philippine time).

Tobias Harris added 21 points, Duncan Robinson put up 17 points and Daniss Jenkins contributed 14 for the Pistons.

Donovan Mitchell poured in 31 points and Jarrett Allen added 22 points and seven rebounds for the Cavaliers.

The Pistons responded with a 10-2 run, capped by a Robinson three-pointer, to regain control.

Cleveland could get no closer than three points as Cunningham helped Detroit pull away.

The Cavaliers committed 20 turnovers in Game 1, and the problem persisted early in Game 2, when Cleveland struggled to handle Detroit’s physical defense. The Pistons used an 11-3 run late in the period to push their lead to 11 points on a Jenkins hoop. Detroit controlled the tempo and energy on both ends to take a 25-18 lead after one.

Mitchell opened the second quarter with a basket that pulled Cleveland within five, but the Cavaliers never could fully capitalize against Detroit’s physical defense. The Cavaliers also missed several open three-point looks that could have shifted momentum. Detroit pushed its lead to as many as 14 points on a Robinson trey with 1:21 left in the quarter and carried a 54-43 advantage into halftime.

Cleveland seized control in the third quarter by ramping up its defensive pressure and finally finding a rhythm offensively. Mitchell sparked the turnaround with 11 points.

The Cavaliers steadily chipped away at the deficit and pulled within 76-75 on James Harden’s pull-up jumper with 17.5 seconds remaining, but Jenkins’ 30-foot three-pointer ended the period and put Detroit up by four. (Field Level Media / Reuters)