Spyda Mitchell Went NUCLEAR on Detroit in Game 4

I'd like to formally apologize to the entire city of Detroit.

Seriously.

Because after Monday night’s disaster at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers, I've come to one conclusion:

This loss is my fault.

Yep. Mine.

Not Cade Cunningham’s.

Not Jalen Duren’s.

Not even J. B. Bickerstaff’s.

MINE.

And let me explain.

SHOUTOUT TO JAVIER’S

Shoutout to Javier's Downtown Detroit.

Beautiful spot.

Great vibes.

Amazing food.

That’s where my podcast co-host — two-time NBA champion Lindsey Hunter — hosted our

Pistons watch party.

Everything was going GREAT early.

Donovan Mitchell started the game shooting 0-for-6.

FOUR points at halftime.

So naturally, being the loud, emotional Detroit fan that I am, I looked at Lindsey and said the following:

“SPYDA struggling! LET’S GO!”

And Lindsey immediately looked at me like I had just kicked over a grill at the family cookout.

“Tezz… be quiet. Let the game play out.”

Ladies and gentlemen…

I should’ve listened.

Because Spyda Mitchell heard me talking trash from across the damn state of Michigan.

DONOVAN MITCHELL TURNED INTO A SUPER VILLAIN

Good LORD.

This brother detonated in the second half like somebody activated cheat codes.

• 21 points in the third quarter

• 39 points in the SECOND HALF

• 43 total points

FORTY-THREE.

The man was out there looking like NBA Street, Volume 2.

According to ESPN, Mitchell’s 39 second-half points tied the NBA playoff record set by Sleepy Floyd back in 1987.

I wasn’t even alive for that!

I WAS BORN IN 1988!

And honestly?

After what I witnessed Monday night, I almost wish I wasn't alive for THIS either.

THE 24-0 RUN FROM HELL

Now let’s discuss the basketball horror movie that was the third quarter.

The Cavs opened the second half on a…

24-0 run.

TWENTY-FOUR TO ZERO.

Do y’all understand how disgusting that is?

That’s not a run. That’s armed robbery.

Detroit looked so lost offensively, I thought somebody unplugged the controllers.

According to reports, it was Cleveland’s longest playoff scoring run since detailed play-by-play tracking started in the late ‘90s.

Meanwhile, my Pistons were turning the ball over like a bakery serving hot apple pies.

THE TURNOVERS WERE DISRESPECTFUL

20 turnovers.

TWENTY.

And the game started ugly too:

• 5 turnovers in the first five minutes

• Cade had 5 turnovers

• Ausar Thompson had 4

• Duren had 4

At one point I was looking around the watch party asking if anybody in the crowd could dribble.

Because clearly somebody needed to help.

CADE HAD A RARE OFF NIGHT

Now listen…

I’m NEVER going to disrespect Cade.

That young brother is a superstar.

But Monday night?

Cleveland made life miserable for him.

19 points.

6 assists.

5 turnovers.

And every time Cade tried to get downhill, it felt like the Cavs defense was waiting for him like security guards outside a sneaker release.

WHERE DID THE OFFENSE GO?!

Meanwhile, the offense disappeared faster than your paycheck after rent hits.

Tobias Harris cooled off after his strong earlier games.

And outside of Caris LeVert and Paul Reed giving Detroit solid minutes?

It was rough.

LeVert had 24. Paul Reed gave 15 efficient points in limited action.

But Detroit’s offense overall?

That thing was uglier than a gas station bathroom at 2 a.m.

THE FREE THROW DISPARITY HAD JB HOT

Now I gotta say this too.

34 free throws to 12?!

SHEESH.

Mitchell alone took 15 free throws.

And afterward, Coach Bickerstaff was HOT about the officiating.

Now am I blaming the refs entirely?

No.

Because Detroit still played sloppy basketball.

BUT…when one team gets almost triple the free throws?

People gonna talk.

That’s just reality.

AND NOW THIS SERIES IS TIED…

Here’s what hurts the most:

Detroit was up 2-0.

TWO TO ZERO.

And now this thing is tied, heading back to Detroit for Game 5.

Momentum? Gone.

Confidence? Shaky.

Blood pressure? HIGH.

BUT THERE’S STILL HOPE…

Now before Pistons fans jump off the Ambassador Bridge emotionally, let me say this:

The Cavs are STILL winless on the road this postseason (0-5).

And Little Caesars Arena is going to be INSANE Wednesday night.

Detroit has responded to adversity before.

They came back from 3-1 against Orlando.

So the season ain’t over.

But for the love of all things basketball…

PLEASE stop turning the ball over.

And somebody tell Donovan Mitchell I’m sorry.

Because clearly I woke that man up.

FINAL WORD

This series just became a war.

And if Detroit wants to survive?

They better tighten up FAST.

Because Cleveland finally looks awake.

And Spyda Mitchell?

That brother looked like the basketball version of a tornado mixed with bad intentions.

Detroit vs Everybody.

Still.

Always.