Cavaliers gut out win against the Detroit Pistons 110-101

The Cleveland Cavaliers have struggled this season to find any rhythm and came into the game against the lowly Detroit Pistons, who were themselves losers of their previous 16 games, looking to get back in the win column. Cleveland was looking to do so after a terrible home loss to the Portland Trail Blazers two nights prior. 

Fortunately, the Cavaliers were able to respond on Saturday by gutting out a win over the Pistons.

The Cavaliers got the win in the end 110-101, as both Darius Garland and Max Strus poured in 22 points apiece. The Cavs also got good minutes off the bench from Isaac Okoro and Georges Niang who both were a plus-15 while on the floor. Okoro finished with nine points, seven boards, four assists, and four steals. Niang had 12 points, three boards, and two assists.

This battle up in Motown was a game of runs. The Pistons won the first quarter 30-25. However, the Cavaliers stormed back in the second quarter, scoring 29 points and led by six at the break. 

Detroit though wasn’t done as they rushed to a 77-70 lead in the third quarter. Nervous Cavs fans were having their doubts at that point but Cleveland battled back and went on a 15-5 run to finish the third quarter and then scored the first seven points in the fourth quarter to take a 92-82 lead at the 10-minute mark. 

The Cavs held onto the lead 100-97 before pushing the lead back to 109-97 after Donovan Mitchell finished off the Pistons with a three-pointer. Mitchell had a nice night, going for 20 points, to go with four assists, three rebounds and two steals.

The Cavaliers were 10-9 coming into this last battle and in a rather mediocre eighth position in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. It's clear this Cavs team has to find ways to establish more consistency and have better focus throughout games.

There’s still a lot of season left but recently, there's seemingly been rumors that maybe Cleveland head coach J.B. Bickerstaff could be on the hot seat, and potentially fighting for his job. And a loss to Detroit would not have done him any favors.

Bickerstaff hasn’t been able to take an NBA All-Star team that includes Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen beyond a playoff drudging by the New York Knicks last season in the opening round.

This win Saturday night in Detroit will help quiet the crowd wanting Bickerstaff out as the Cavs head coach. At least temporarily, as Cleveland will host the hot Orlando Magic, winners of their last nine prior to a loss on Saturday night to the Brooklyn Nets, on Wednesday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.