The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Detroit Pistons 116-109 in Game 4, showcasing their ability to match Detroit's physicality. Donovan Mitchell led the charge with 35 points, demonstrating a more aggressive offensive strategy compared to previous games.
Key points
Cavaliers won Game 4 against Pistons 116-109
Donovan Mitchell scored 35 points
Cavs adapted to match Pistons' physicality
Improved offensive strategy led to more scoring opportunities
Max Strus made significant defensive contributions
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 9: Donovan Mitchell #45 and James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talk after the game against the Detroit Pistons on May 9, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 9: Donovan Mitchell #45 and James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talk after the game against the Detroit Pistons on May 9, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
CLEVELAND â Donovan Mitchell chased Detroit Pistons sharpshooter Duncan Robinson around screens to the baseline corner late in the second quarter. Mitchell beat Robinson to the spot and bumped him straight into his own bench as a punishment for making him work so hard defensively. Isaiah Stewart was a few steps away and gave Mitchell a light shove after seeing what happened. Mitchell looked up and then returned the favor before continuing to chase Robinson around the perimeter.
Before the â win over the Pistons, head coach Kenny Atkinson said that he wanted his team to . Plays like that show what he meant.
**Basketball games arenât always won by the more physical team**. Itâs a contact sport that rewards size and strength, but the outcome is ultimately decided by who puts the ball through the hoop more consistently.
That said, in a series like this, doing so is much easier if youâre able to get into the paint and create from there.
The Cavs couldnât do that in the first two games of this series. The offense was stagnant, often relying on the guards to create against a set defense. And when the ball did get kicked out to the perimeter for open threes, the shots werenât falling, as is often the case for an offense that is moving side-to-side instead of north and south.
That changed on Sunday.
**The Cavs were the aggressors in Game 3**. They completed more of their shots in the restricted area and were able to get to the free-throw line more consistently. Both are things they werenât able to do throughout the first two games of the series.
**This was most true for Mitchell**. He went 6-8 on shots at the rim after taking just one there combined in the first two games. A renewed focus on getting downhill woke up what was a dormant Cavsâ offense.
**There was a level of decisiveness from Mitchell that wasnât in the first two games**. Instead of trying to probe the defense for openings in an effort to look for a perfect shot, he attacked whenever he had any sliver of daylight. This included pushing his advantage in semi-transition off missed shots and turnovers.
Hereâs six baskets that Mitchell was able to get by just simply carrying his momentum from the backcourt into the front court. That accounts for nearly half of his made field goals.
Q&A
What was the final score of the Cavaliers vs. Pistons Game 4?
The final score was 116-109 in favor of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
How did Donovan Mitchell perform in Game 4 against the Pistons?
Donovan Mitchell scored 35 points, showing a more aggressive offensive approach than in earlier games.
What changes did the Cavaliers make in their strategy for Game 4?
The Cavaliers focused on being more aggressive, getting into the paint, and creating scoring opportunities, which improved their offensive efficiency.
Who contributed defensively for the Cavaliers in Game 4?
Max Strus played a key role defensively, forcing turnovers and providing energy that helped shift the momentum in the game.
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These arenât fast-break or transition baskets, but they might as well have been from an efficiency standpoint. Mitchell is one of the most difficult players to stop when he has a head of steam. That allowed him to more easily showcase the skills that make him one of the most dominant scoring guards in the league for years.
Detroitâs defense is tough for a 6â2â guard to crack. We know that Mitchell can be lethal with his jumpshot, even though heâs struggled with that through three games. Getting downhill in semi-transition like this offsets some of those concerns. Itâs why he was able to get an efficient 35 points in a game the Cavs desperately needed to win.
**Max Strus provided several things the Cavs desperately needed**. His energy and effort changed the game defensively. Strus forced several turnovers, including an incredible steal off a Cade Cunningham inbound pass that led to a critical two points the other way to break a 104-104 tie.
Plays like that encapsulate who Strus is as a player, and why heâs so valuable to the team.
âThereâs just so many things he does that donât show up in the box score,â Mitchell said.
**One of those things is screen setting**. The Pistons turned the momentum around in the second half by switching more ball screens, similar to what the Toronto Raptors did in the first round. This stalled out Clevelandâs offense at the start of the third quarter before it got going again in the fourth.
Strusâs ability to set hard picks helped get the offense going. The Pistons tried to hide their weakest defender, Duncan Robinson, on Strus. Solid screens forced Detroit to switch, allowing James Harden to get one of his several closing baskets against the matchup he wanted.
You canât see the screen in this video, but this mismatch doesnât happen without it.
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**This showed us what the best version of the Mitchell and Harden backcourt could be**. Harden said it was a âsmall doseâ of their full potential afterward, and you could see why.
Mitchell had it going throughout, but he deferred to Harden in the high-leverage moments to get the job done. Harden delivered by knocking down clutch baskets on three-straight possessions, including the game-sealing three over Tobias Harris.
Harden brought them over the finish line, scoring nine points in the fourth quarter, but had just 10 points leading up to it. He had 10 fewer shots than Mitchell overall and wansât the main focus of the offense.
**Itâs a different role than what weâve seen from Harden over the past decade**, but one heâs completely embraced because he knows what life is like for Mitchell â the guy forced to carry the fate of the team on his shoulders.
âI talked to Don a few times today, and itâs like, âAll right, if you ever feel like tired or you need [a break], you know, Iâm available,â Harden said. âI understand what that feels like when youâre that age, and youâre used to scoring 30 points and you know youâre the guy. So, you got to pick and choose and find your spots where you want to take them and where you want to just let them go. ⊠Tonight was one of those cases where he looked like he needed a break, and he called on my number.â
**Mitchell and Harden are very different players, but have run into similar roadblocks during their careers**. Their playing style has led to incredible regular-season success, but neither has achieved the playoff team success their talent would lead you to believe they should.
Few can relate to the internal weight and frustration Mitchell has felt from playoff losses more than Harden. If theyâre going to break through together, it will be due to performances like this.
âI am who I am, he is who he is, but that what makes us so dynamic,â Mitchell said. âHaving a trust in him and vice versa is why those moments happen.â
**The Cavs passed the test in Game 3**. They responded with the physicality they needed to make this series competitive again. They know how to and can beat this team. Now, they just need to show that they can meet that physicality consistently, and not just once every couple of games.
âAt the end of the day, itâs just 2-1,â Mitchell said. âWeâve got to find a way to win Game 4. ⊠Weâve got another opportunity to play in front of the greatest fans in the league. Hopefully, we get another one.â