Pistons Blow Game 5 To Cavs, Season Now on Life Support

Damn it, man.

I’m sick.

Like REAL sick.

The kind of sick where you stare at the ceiling after the game, wondering why you even care this much about basketball in the first place.

Because my Detroit Pistons absolutely handed Game 5 away Wednesday night at Little Caesars Arena.

HANDED IT AWAY.

The Cleveland Cavaliers walked into Detroit — despite being 0-5 on the road this postseason — and escaped with a 117-113 overtime win to take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Now the Pistons have to go BACK to Cleveland, facing elimination against a Cavs team that hasn’t lost a single playoff game at Rocket Arena.

Lord have mercy.

The Pistons Had This Game WON

This is the part that makes me want to throw my TV into the Detroit River.

The Pistons were up 103-94 with just over three minutes left.

NINE POINTS.

AT HOME.

With the crowd rocking.

With momentum.

With Cade hooping his tail off.

And somehow Detroit still lost.

According to ESPN Analytics, the Pistons had a 96.8 percent chance to win late in regulation.

Ninety-six point eight percent!

That’s like ordering filet mignon at a five-star restaurant and somehow burning cereal at home afterward.

The Cavs closed regulation on a 9-0 run before outscoring Detroit 14-10 in overtime.

Absolute disaster.

Cade Cunningham Deserved Better

Let me make something VERY clear.

Cade Cunningham is a SUPERSTAR.

Period.

The man dropped:

• 39 points

• 9 assists

• 7 rebounds

And he was carrying Detroit’s offense harder than somebody carrying all the groceries in one trip because they’re too stubborn to go back outside.

The workload this man has is ridiculous.

Every possession is "Cade save us.”

“Cade create something.”

“Cade go score.”

“Cade bail us out.”

At some point, somebody else has to consistently help the brotha.

Because asking him to do EVERYTHING every single night is insanity.

Shoutout Daniss Jenkins And Paul Reed

I gotta give credit where it’s due.

Daniss Jenkins showed HEART Wednesday night.

In his first playoff start, the young fella gave Detroit:

• 19 points

• Aggressive shot-making

• Energy

• Confidence

No fear whatsoever.

And shoutout to Paul Reed too.

The man gave Detroit meaningful minutes:

• 10 points

• 8 rebounds

• 2 blocks

At this point, Reed is giving the Pistons more toughness and consistency than some of the starters.

And yes… I said it.

Somebody Put An APB Out For Jalen Duren

WHERE IS JALEN DUREN?!

Seriously.

The brother averaged:

• 19.5 points

• 10.5 rebounds

• Made the All-Star team

During the regular season.

Now?

This man is doing his best Houdini impression in the playoffs.

Wednesday night:

• 9 points

• 5 rebounds

• Minus-16

Over the last three games, Duren has a combined minus-42 plus-minus.

Minus 42?!

Come on, big fella.

That ain’t gonna cut it.

Especially when JB Bickerstaff is slowly starting to trust Paul Reed more in key moments.

That should tell you everything.

James Harden Turned Back The Clock

And unfortunately for Detroit…

James Harden decided he was 27 years old again.

The Beard looked like Houston Rockets Harden Wednesday night:

• 30 points

• 8 rebounds

• 6 assists

• 3 blocks

  
  

This man was hitting shots, making plays, and controlling the game late.

Donovan Mitchell didn’t even have one of his nuclear games either.

He finished with just 21 points after dropping 43 in Game 4.

Evan Mobley stuffed the stat sheet with:

• 19 points

• 8 rebounds

• 8 assists

And Max Strus added 20 huge points off the bench.

Meanwhile, Detroit folded under pressure.

Again.

Yeah, The Refs Missed A Call… But I Don’t Care

Now let’s address the elephant in the room.

Late in regulation, Ausar Thompson clearly got tripped by Jarrett Allen while chasing the loose ball before the buzzer sounded.

And yes, Detroit was already in the bonus.

Meaning Ausar likely goes to the free throw line if the refs make the call.

But you know what?

I’m not blaming the refs.

Because this game NEVER should’ve come down to one whistle.

You’re up nine points late at home.

FINISH THE GAME.

Simple.

Detroit’s Season Is Now On Life Support

Now the Pistons head back to Cleveland for a must-win Game 6.

And somehow…

I still believe they can force a Game 7.

Why?

Because Cade Cunningham is THAT special.

But if Detroit wants this series to come back to Little Caesars Arena, they need:

• Jalen Duren to finally wake up

• Somebody besides Cade to consistently score

• Better ball security

• Toughness late in games

• And they absolutely CANNOT collapse under pressure again

Because if they do?

This season is over.

And after everything this team accomplished this year, that would be a brutal ending.

Detroit vs Everybody.

Now go prove it.