Max Strus, James Harden hustle plays give Cavs needed grit vs Pistons

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

With 2:39 left in overtime and the Cavs leading by two, Donovan Mitchell drilled a 3-pointer — his first 3 of the entire night — to put Cleveland up 110-105. The ball was inbounded to Cade Cunningham with the Pistons desperately needing to answer on the other end of the floor. Except Cunningham never made it that far with the ball.

Instead, Strus ran behind Cunningham and poked the ball away for a steal, and a moment later hit Mitchell with a bounce pass for an easy layup. Within a matter of seconds, a tight two-point advantage became a commanding seven-point lead. It was the sequence that broke Detroit's back.

"Max Strus' steal. It just came out of nowhere," Atkinson said when asked about the biggest play of the game. "I don't know what the spread was there but I just felt that was — the crowd, like, gasped. It was a huge play. He made so many winning plays tonight but that was the big one."

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus walks off the court after the Cavs defeated the Detroit Pistons in overtime in Game 5 of a second-round NBA playoff series May 13, 2026, in Detroit, Michigan.

Max Strus provides grit to Cavs in playoffs

Strus also made arguably the biggest play of the game with a late steal in Game 3, when the Cavs were down 0-2 in the series. In both cases, they might have saved the Cavs' playoff hopes.

In this case, his impact wasn't only marked by that key swipe.

Strus was brilliant on the offensive end for the Cavs as well, scoring 20 points while making 6 of 8 3-point attempts, along with eight rebounds and his back-breaking steal-and-dish to Mitchell. The six 3s were especially needed considering Mitchell opened the game 0 for 7 from 3-point range, leaving a scoring void.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus (2) defends Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) during Game 5 of a second-round NBA playoff series May 13, 2026, in Detroit, Michigan.

When asked what Strus meant to the team, Mitchell said, "Everything."

"I've said it since we got him here," Mitchell continued. "I think the biggest thing is, he was due to have a game where he made some shots. He was always going to make plays. He's ... made plays throughout this entire series. But it's great to see the shots go in along with the effort."

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden, right, is defended by Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) during Game 5 of a second-round NBA playoff series May 13, 2026, in Detroit Michigan.

James Harden playoff stats

The Cavs have long battled narratives relating to their lack of grit and physicality in the playoffs, as a team that lacks edge and attitude compared to some other contenders in the East. Strus is someone who brings that element to the locker room, along with Dennis Schroder and a few others. Atkinson also put James Harden in that category.

"[Strus] has been a nasty character, and I love it," Atkinson said. "Like, we need that. Dennis is little like that, too. I think it rubs off. James is a tough dude, too. I know that's not his reputation because he's such a skilled player, but there's no — he's tough as nails. It's kind of those three guys."

Strus made the first free throw to make it a three-point lead. He missed the second, offering the Pistons a brief window to tie it at the other end. Except Harden pounced on the rebound off his own miss, forcing another foul and free throws that then made it a two-possession game.

After the game, Mitchell jokingly gave Harden a hard time for missing that free throw. But that one hustle play on the rebound made up for it, and it's the type of key play that has gone against the Cavs in recent playoff exits.

"I don't know — luck, maybe," Harden said with a shrug. "You got to make your free throws. … I felt like it was a few things or a few opportunities that I missed, whether it's free throws, floaters, shots, whatever the case may be, but it's part of the game."

Cavs-Pistons Game 5 has foul call controversy

The Cavs' Game 5 win wasn't without controversy. At the end of the fourth quarter, Ausar Thompson swiped the ball from Mitchell and then had his legs get tangled up with Jarrett Allen. The Pistons angrily pleaded for a foul call that would have given Thompson two free throws, but the whistle never came.

Then, in overtime, Harden drew a foul call near the baseline, though replays showed he might have stepped out of bounds.

NBA referee Tony Brothers addressed both calls with a pool reporter after the game, noting it was ruled incidental contact had been made between Thompson and Allen without either player having possession of the ball. On the Harden call, Brothers stated the foul had occurred prior to him stepping out of bounds.

The Allen-Thompson call, especially, is likely to draw further scrutiny considering the gravity of the moment.

Ryan Lewis covers the Cavaliers for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Max Strus, James Harden provide key plays for Cavs in Game 5 win vs Detroit