Evan Mobley, Donovan Mitchell help Cavs earn resilient label. Opinion

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 13: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers hugs James Harden #1 prior to Game Five against the Detroit Pistons in the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 13, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

May 13, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; A shirt rests on a seat before game five of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

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Cavaliers vs. Pistons, Game 5 photos

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 13: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons high fives teammates prior to Game Five against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 13, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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Cavaliers vs. Pistons, Game 5 photos

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 13: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons high fives teammates prior to Game Five against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 13, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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Cavaliers vs. Pistons, Game 5 photos

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 13: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers hugs James Harden #1 prior to Game Five against the Detroit Pistons in the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 13, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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Cavaliers vs. Pistons, Game 5 photos

May 13, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; A shirt rests on a seat before game five of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

The Cavs seized a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven second-round series, with Game 6 set for 7 p.m. Friday, May 15, in Cleveland. The Cavs are a win away from advancing to meet the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Cleveland overcame a huge mental obstacle by prevailing in Detroit. The Cavs entered Game 5 with a home record of 6-0 and a road record of 0-5 this postseason. They were also 4-13 in playoff games on the road since trading for All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell in 2022.

Resilient and tough are labels the Cavs earned in Game 5.

“Every single minute, every single second counts in games like this, and we stuck with it to the very end,” Mobley said. “We could have let it go and relax, but everyone just came up with big plays down the stretch.”

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley, left, celebrates during Game 5 of a second-round NBA playoff series against the Detroit Pistons on May 13, 2026, in Detroit, Michigan.

Point guard James Harden scored a team-high 30 points and collected eight rebounds, six assists, three blocked shots and a steal in 43 minutes. Small forward Max Strus came off the bench and did Max Strus things. The relentless energy and hustle were accompanied by 20 points, eight rebounds, an assist and a steal in 36 minutes. Center Jarrett Allen posted a double-double (16 points and 10 rebounds).

But Mobley and Mitchell were Cleveland’s most clutch scorers. They repeatedly put the ball through the hoop to fuel an improbable comeback. Mobley produced a team-high seven points in the fourth quarter, and Mitchell scored a team-high seven points in OT.

The Cavs fell behind 103-94 when Pistons forward Tobias Harris made a 3-pointer with three minutes left in regulation. Yet, the Cavs finished the fourth quarter on a 9-0 run courtesy of a floater by Mitchell, a dunk by Mobley on an assist from Mitchell, a 3-pointer by Mobley on an assist from Harden and two free throws by Mobley.

Cavs playoffs: Cavaliers vs. Pistons Game 5 instant reactions

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) is defended by Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson during Game 5 of a second-round NBA playoff series May 13, 2026, in Detroit, Michigan.

The Pistons, meanwhile, had two shot-clock violations in the waning moments of the fourth quarter, the first with 1:34 left and the second with 21.7 seconds remaining. Mobley blocked a shot by forward Paul Reed a second before the first shot-clock violation occurred.

“It's desperation,” Mobley said. “At this point in the game, you need to get stops. I think we did a great job of that. Whoever had the ball, we knew where we wanted to send him, how we wanted to play defense on him, put pressure on him without fouling and then staying home and not overhelping.”

Mobley drained his crucial 3-pointer with 1:22 left and then made two foul shots to tie the score 103-103 with 45.2 seconds remaining. Remember, Mobley has struggled at the free-throw line this season, shooting 60.6% in the regular season and entering Game 5 shooting 64.7% in the playoffs. He shook all of the negativity off and delivered under pressure.

“This is probably his biggest playoff moment, in my opinion,” Mitchell said of Mobley. “You just see he's even-keeled on his face.”

For the record, it’s Mobley’s severely scratched face we’re talking about here.

Mobley finished with 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field (2 of 3 on 3-pointers), eight rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and a steal in 43 minutes. Mitchell tallied 21 points on 7-of-18 shooting from the floor (1 of 8 on 3s), four rebounds and three assists in 42 minutes.

Mitchell experienced a rough shooting night. He had eight points in the first half and six in the second half. He missed his first seven 3-pointers.

Cavs playoffs: Cavaliers vs. Pistons highlights, stats and analysis from a wild Game 5

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, left, drives to the basket against Detroit Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins (24) during overtime in Game 5 of a second-round NBA playoff series May 13, 2026, in Detroit, Michigan.

Mitchell’s only successful 3 had good timing. He made it on an assist from Mobley to put the Cavs ahead 110-105 with 2:39 left in overtime. Then after Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham caught the ensuing inbounds pass, Strus stole the ball and passed it to Mitchell for a layup with 2:29 remaining. The Cavs went ahead 112-105 and tacked on enough free throws in the final two minutes to hold on.

The weight of being winless on the road in the playoffs has been lifted from the Cavs. However, the job isn’t done.

“There's no relief,” Mitchell said. “It's just like, ‘OK. We did what we were supposed to do.’ We came in and stole one [on the road]. Now we’ve got to go out and protect home court.”

One mental hurdle has been cleared. Advancing beyond the second round is next on the to-do list. It’s something the Cavs have failed to accomplish in each of the past three postseasons, and it has eluded Mitchell in all eight of his previous NBA seasons.

Coming off Game 5, there is no rational reason the Cavs should lack confidence.

Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley clutch for Cavs in Game 5 win vs Pistons