Pistons vs Cavaliers Game 3 live score, updates, highlights from 2026 NBA playoffs second-round series

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This Eastern Conference Semifinal series heads to Cleveland. The Pistons hold a 2-0 series lead. Game 3's are rarely a "must win" situation, but in this series that seems almost accurate. Through two games, the Pistons have been the better, more disciplined team. 

Detroit is winning the turnover battle, and Cleveland is shooting entirely too many three point shots considering how few they make. Many of the turnovers are not forced turnovers by Detroit. Cleveland is simply committing bad unforced turnovers at critical moments in games.

Analytics dictates that a high volume of threes leads to more wins. However, in Game 2, Cleveland made only 7 of 32. In Game 2 Cleveland shot 22% while Detroit shot 50% (14 of 28). Live by the three, die by the three only works if a team shoots above a certain percentage. 

Detroit seems to have an answer for everything Cleveland throws at them. Cleveland also has not been able to contain Cade Cunningham at any of phase of the game through the first two.

The Cavs must get more volume scoring from Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. If Cleveland can get what is expected from Mitchell, Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen they can make this a series. However, they have yet to do that in this series. 

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Cavaliers vs. Pistons live updates, highlights from NBA playoffs Game 3

3rd Quarter-11:14: Donovan Mitchell makes a 10-foot turnaround jumper. 

3rd Quarter-11:22: Jalen Duren makes a layup. 

1st Half Team Stats

DETCLEFG18-4824-35Field Goal %38693PT2-147-13Three Point %1454FT10-149-16Free Throw %7156Rebounds2117Offensive Rebounds121Defensive Rebounds916Assists914Steals70Blocks25Total Turnovers98Points Conceded Off Turnovers138Fast Break Points64Points in Paint3228Fouls1510Technical Fouls00Flagrant Fouls00Largest Lead716Percent Led3361

The Cleveland Cavaliers lead the Detroit Pistons 64-48 at the half. 

Donovan Mitchell is the 4th youngest active player to reach 2,000 playoff points, behind only Lebron James, Kevin Durant and Nikola Jokic. 

2nd Quarter-0:11: Evan Mobley makes a driving dunk. Cleveland has built a 16-point lead. 

2nd Quarter-0:27: Isaiah Stewart makes a 1-foot layup. 

2nd Quarter-1:24: Donovan Mitchell makes a 1-foot two-point shot. 

2nd Quarter-2:26: Jalen Duren makes a dunk. 

2nd Quarter-2:40: Jarrett Allen makes a 1-foot dunk. 

2nd Quarter-3:00: Donovan Mitchell makes a 26-foot three-point shot. 

2nd Quarter-3:26: Duncan Robinson makes a running dunk. 

2nd Quarter-4:01: Cade Cunningham makes a 13-foot fade away jump shot. 

2nd Quarter-4:25: Evan Mobley makes a dunk. 

2nd Quarter-4:29: James Harden makes a 22-foot three-point shot. 

2nd Quarter-4:58: Evan Mobley makes a 3-foot alley oop dunk, assisted by Mitchell. 

2nd Quarter-5:05: Cade Cunningham makes a tip shot. 

2nd Quarter-6:22: Jalen Duren makes a driving dunk. 

2nd Quarter-6:39: Sam Merrill makes a 20-foot step back jumper. That gives CLE a 9-point lead, the largest CLE lead in the series. 

2nd Quarter-7:38: Dean Wade makes a 24-foot three-point shot. 

2nd Quarter-8:08: Donovan Mitchell makes a 10-foot shot. 

2nd Quarter-8:23: Daniss Jenkins makes a layup. 

2nd Quarter-10:52: Donovan Mitchell makes a 2-foot dunk. 

1st Quarter Team Stats

DETCLEFG11-2413-18Field Goal %46723PT2-54-7Three Point %4057FT6-82-3Free Throw %7567Rebounds107Offensive Rebounds60Defensive Rebounds47Assists510Steals50Blocks14Total Turnovers46Points Conceded Off Turnovers78Fast Break Points42Points in Paint1816Fouls34Technical Fouls00Flagrant Fouls00Largest Lead73Percent Led6522

The Cleveland Cavaliers lead the Detroit Pistons 32-30 at the end of the 1st quarter. 

1st Quarter-0:05: Evan Mobley blocked Cade Cunningham on a 5-foot shot. With that block, Evan Mobley is now 5th all time in playoff blocks in Cavaliers team history. 

1st Quarter-0:29: Donovan Mitchell makes a 23-foot three-point shot. 

1st Quarter-1:16: Dennis Schroder makes a 25-foot three-point shot. 

1st Quarter-1:38: Cade Cunningham makes a layup. 

1st Quarter-2:27: Caris Levert makes a running dunk. 

1st Quarter-2:44: James Harden makes driving floater. 

1st Quarter-3:18: Dennis Schroder makes a driving layup. 

1st Quarter-3:30: Isaiah Stewart makes a dunk. 

1st Quarter-3:46: Jarrett Allen makes a 4-foot hook shot.

1st Quarter-4:04: Tobias Harris makes a 6-foot turnaround jumper. 

1st Quarter-5:08: Jarrett Allen makes a 2-foot shot. 

1st Quarter-5:39: Dennis Schroder makes a 22-foot three-point shot. 

1st Quarter-6:26: Jarrett Allen makes a 2-foot layup. 

1st Quarter-6:43: Jalen Duren makes an alley oop dunk, Cunningham assisted.

1st Quarter-7:26: Jarrett Allen makes a dunk. 

1st Quarter-7:53: Donovan Mitchell makes a driving layup. 

1st Quarter-8:05: Ausar Thompson makes a 12-foot shot. 

1st Quarter-8:31: Donovan Mitchell makes a 25-foot three-point shot. 

1st Quarter-9:32: Tobias Harris makes a driving layup. 

1st Quarter-10:20: Cade Cunningham makes a 26-foot three-point shot. 

1st Quarter-10:45: James Harden makes a 26-foot three-point shot. 

1st Quarter-11:14: Donovan Mitchell makes a running layup. 

1st Quarter-11:43: Duncan Robinson makes a 24-foot three-point shot. 

Detroit traveled:

We'll see if James Harden in the 'pink lemonade' will render a better result in Game 3

How to Watch Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 3: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons

Saturday, May 9

Tip-off: 3 p.m. ET

TV: NBC/Peacock 

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