Max Strus played a crucial role in the Cavaliers' Game 3 victory against the Pistons by making a pivotal steal that prevented Detroit from taking a commanding 3-0 series lead.
Key points
Max Strus made a pivotal steal in Game 3
Cavaliers were facing a potential 3-0 series deficit
Cade Cunningham was in-bounding the ball for the Pistons
CLEVELAND — The Detroit Pistons were right on the verge of burying the Cavaliers in this series.
Already up 2-0 after taking both games in Detroit, the Pistons had rallied to come back and tie Game 3 with two and a half minutes to go, and they had possession of the ball. In that moment, Detroit had a potential 3-0 series lead — a death sentence for the other side in the NBA — right in their grasp.
And then Cavs guard/forward Max Strus, on the in-bounds play, simply took it from them. In a pretty literal sense, he stole it right from under the Pistons' noses and effectively snatched Game 3 out of the air.
With Pistons star guard Cade Cunningham in-bounding the ball, and with a chance for the Pistons to take the lead, Strus timed the pass perfectly and just about took it right out of Cunningham's hands for a steal. It was as clean of a legal pickpocket as one can ever see on a basketball court.
May 9, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dennis Schroder (8) warms up before game three between the Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Q&A
How did Max Strus impact the Cavaliers' Game 3 win?
Max Strus made a critical steal from Cade Cunningham late in the game, helping the Cavaliers secure their victory.
What was at stake for the Cavaliers in Game 3 against the Pistons?
The Cavaliers faced a potential 3-0 series deficit, which would have been extremely difficult to overcome in the NBA playoffs.
Who was the Pistons' star player during Game 3?
Cade Cunningham was the star guard for the Pistons during Game 3.
What was the score situation when Strus made his steal?
The game was tied with two and a half minutes remaining when Strus made the crucial steal.
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May 9, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; A detail of the lower bowl covered in t-shirts before game three between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
May 9, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) warms up before game three between the Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
May 9, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; A detail of the lower bowl covered in t-shirts before game three between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson speaks at pregame press conference at Game 3 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff speaks at pregame press conference at Game 3 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson speaks at pregame press conference at Game 3 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2), right, warms up next to center Jalen Duren (0) before Game 3 of second round of NBA playoffs between Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0), warms up before Game 3 of second round of NBA playoffs between Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Each chair at Rocket Arena in Cleveland is covered with a white Beat Detroit t-shirt before Game 3 of second round of NBA playoffs on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2), right, warms up before Game 3 of second round of NBA playoffs between Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Game 3 of second round of NBA playoffs between Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2), right, warms up before Game 3 of second round of NBA playoffs between Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
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Cavaliers vs. Pistons, Game 3 photos
May 9, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dennis Schroder (8) warms up before game three between the Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
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Cavaliers vs. Pistons, Game 3 photos
May 9, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dennis Schroder (8) warms up before game three between the Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
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Cavaliers vs. Pistons, Game 3 photos
May 9, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; A detail of the lower bowl covered in t-shirts before game three between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
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Cavaliers vs. Pistons, Game 3 photos
May 9, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) warms up before game three between the Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
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Cavaliers vs. Pistons, Game 3 photos
May 9, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; A detail of the lower bowl covered in t-shirts before game three between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
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Cavaliers vs. Pistons, Game 3 photos
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson speaks at pregame press conference at Game 3 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
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Cavaliers vs. Pistons, Game 3 photos
Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff speaks at pregame press conference at Game 3 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
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Cavaliers vs. Pistons, Game 3 photos
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson speaks at pregame press conference at Game 3 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
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Cavaliers vs. Pistons, Game 3 photos
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2), right, warms up next to center Jalen Duren (0) before Game 3 of second round of NBA playoffs between Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
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Cavaliers vs. Pistons, Game 3 photos
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0), warms up before Game 3 of second round of NBA playoffs between Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
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Cavaliers vs. Pistons, Game 3 photos
Each chair at Rocket Arena in Cleveland is covered with a white Beat Detroit t-shirt before Game 3 of second round of NBA playoffs on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
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Cavaliers vs. Pistons, Game 3 photos
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2), right, warms up before Game 3 of second round of NBA playoffs between Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
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Cavaliers vs. Pistons, Game 3 photos
Game 3 of second round of NBA playoffs between Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
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Cavaliers vs. Pistons, Game 3 photos
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2), right, warms up before Game 3 of second round of NBA playoffs between Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Strus raced the other way and got a layup to fall, putting the Cavs up 106-104 with 2:25 to go. From there, James Harden scored seven crucial points in the final minutes, and the Cavs won 116-109 to not only make the series 2-1, but save their playoff lives in the process.
"We usually label one winning play — that was the winning play of the game, no doubt about it," said Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson. "Got the crowd going, our mojo going."
Cavaliers guard Max Strus drives to the basket against Detroit Pistons forward Duncan Robinson during the second half of Game 3 in the second round of the playoffs, May 9, 2026, in Cleveland.
Cavaliers guard Max Strus drives to the basket against Detroit Pistons forward Duncan Robinson during the second half of Game 3 in the second round of the playoffs, May 9, 2026, in Cleveland.
Max Strus' playoff stats
It was Strus' basketball-larceny that might have swung things in Cleveland's favor before it was too late. Without his blink-of-an-eye swipe, the Cavs might already be hearing the bells of doom, had they gone down 3-0.
Highlights like that, and the passionate, gritty way in which Strus plays, are part of why his teammates and coaches refer to him with such terms of endearment like "maniac" and "psycho." In this sense, they couldn't be bigger compliments.
"He's a maniac competitor," Atkinson said. "It's kind of like a playoff cliche in the NBA, you need guys that are a little bit crazy — in a good way — in the playoffs. Because we needed some wildness tonight and he provides that and, of course, the shooting and the spacing. Without that I don't think we get this win tonight, without his energy and spontaneity."
It's been no secret that for several seasons now, playoff teams have tried to push around and bully the Cavs. At times in the past, they've sought an attitude in the way they play. Strus is someone who can provide that — a much-needed element of edge and volatility.
"You need it. You need somebody that's psycho, kind of crazy, but understanding what their job is and what they're supposed to be doing," Harden said. "He understands it."
Detroit Pistons guard Caris LeVert drives to the basket against Cavaliers guard Max Strus during the first half of Game 3 in the second round of the playoffs, May 9, 2026, in Cleveland.
Detroit Pistons guard Caris LeVert drives to the basket against Cavaliers guard Max Strus during the first half of Game 3 in the second round of the playoffs, May 9, 2026, in Cleveland.
Strus also said postgame that he takes "the most" pride in taking on that role, which often manifests itself as a number of small things that won't show up in a box score. It's why, in a game in which he only scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds, Strus can be viewed as one of its most instrumental players.
"My job is to help win in any form or fashion," Strus said. "Some nights, it's going to be shooting, some night it's going to be defense, some night it's going to be rebounding. Just try to feel out every game.
"I just want to make an impact and find a way to win."
And without Strus and his incredibly timely swipe in Game 3, the Cavs would just about be packing their bags for the summer.
