Pistons hang on for tight win over Cavaliers / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports Credit Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Hamidou Diallo scored 21 points and Cade Cunningham made four pivotal free throws in the final minute as the host Detroit Pistons topped the Cleveland Cavaliers 106-103 on Thursday.

Player of the Game EFF 22 Hamidou Diallo Points 21 Accuracy 7-11 Rebounds 6 Assists 1

Cunningham finished with 17 points, six rebounds and six assists. Marvin Bagley III and Jerami Grant had 16 points apiece and Rodney McGruder added 12 for Detroit, which won its second game in a row after an eight-game skid. Isaiah Stewart chipped in 11 points and eight rebounds.

Lauri Markkanen led the Cavaliers, who have lost three straight, with 22 points. Brandon Goodwin had 15 points while Evan Mobley and Rajon Rondo tossed in 12 points apiece. Jarrett Allen added 11 points and nine rebounds, and Isaac Okoro also put up 11 points. Rondo handed out a game-high nine assists.

Cavaliers All-Star guard Darius Garland missed the game due to lower back soreness and Caris LeVert sat out due to a right foot sprain.

Down 102-93, Cleveland reeled off 10 unanswered points to take a one-point lead on Markkanen's free throw with 1:01 to go. Goodwin had two baskets and Okoro hit a 3-pointer during that stretch.

Cunningham ended Detroit's drought with two free throws with 46.8 seconds to go. After Allen missed a layup, Cunningham drained two more free throws to make it 106-103 with 28.1 seconds left.

Cleveland then missed a trio of 3-point attempts.

Cedi Osman and Markkanen had nine points apiece as Cleveland led 55-52 at halftime. The Cavaliers scored 33 first-quarter points, but the Pistons' defense clamped down in the second quarter.

Bagley gave Detroit a spark with 12 first-half points. The Pistons made all 12 of their free throws before the break but shot 38.6 percent from the field.

A 12-4 spurt gave the Pistons a 72-67 lead midway through the third quarter. Stewart scored five consecutive points and Grant also contributed five points during that span.

Cleveland regained the lead before the quarter ended as Mobley heated up. He had six points and a block in the final 3:03, and Cleveland held an 82-80 advantage entering the fourth.

The Pistons opened the final quarter with a 10-1 run, including 3-pointers from McGruder and Grant. Detroit's lead increased to double digits, 97-86, on a McGruder 3-pointer with 6:34 to go.

Markkanen's 3-pointer with 4:53 left cut the gap to 98-91.

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