NBA Playoffs: Cleveland Cavaliers edge Detroit, Thunder complete sweep of Lakers
Cavaliers take a 2-1 series lead behind Mitchell's scoring and Harden's late-game execution, while the Thunder extend their unbeaten postseason run with a dominant victory over Los Angeles.
In the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers secured a 116-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons at home, moving the series to 2-1 in Cleveland's favour. The win was characterised by superior shooting efficiency from the visitors, who neutralised Detroit's volume of attempts despite the Pistons attempting 17 more field goals than the Cavaliers.
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 35 points and 10 rebounds, while James Harden provided crucial late-game scoring to seal the contest. Harden contributed 19 points and seven assists, finishing with three clutch baskets in the fourth quarter, including a game-sealing three-pointer with 25.9 seconds remaining.
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 131-108 to take a 3-0 series lead, extending their unbeaten postseason run to seven games. The Thunder's dominance was evident even when their primary playmaker, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, sat for significant minutes; the team outscored the Lakers by 23 points in those stretches, largely driven by Mitchell's rim pressure.
Head coach JJ Redick made a notable adjustment during the Lakers' loss, substituting Deandre Ayton for rookie Adou Thiero in the second half due to Ayton's defensive lapses. The Lakers did not use a centre thereafter, a move that highlights the ongoing scrutiny surrounding the center rotation and Ayton's performance, which included recording only one defensive rebound and failing to reach the free-throw line for the second time in the series.
Cleveland's half-court scoring rate was 113.5 points per 100 possessions compared to Detroit's 89.9, despite Detroit dominating the possession game metrics. The Pistons' inability to convert their 17 offensive rebounds into points further contributed to the loss, as Cleveland maintained a high level of offensive execution throughout the contest.
The results underscore the contrasting fortunes of the two series, with Cleveland overcoming a disparity in rebounding to win on the road and the Thunder asserting their status as the reigning champions with a commanding display in Los Angeles.
