In Tuesday's other playoff game, Cade Cunningham scored 23 points as the Detroit Pistons held off a second-half rally to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 111-101 in their NBA Eastern Conference semi-final series opener.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The top-seeded Pistons looked to be cruising to a comfortable win after dominating in the first half and taking a 17-point lead in the third period.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But a spirited Cleveland rally saw the Cavaliers close to within four points before Detroit finally pulled clear again in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Cunningham was one of six Detroit players to finish in double figures, with Tobias Harris adding 20 points while Duncan Robinson bagged five three-pointers on his way to a 19-point haul at the Pistons' Little Caesars Arena.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Daniss Jenkins added 12 points from the bench with Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren scoring 11 points apiece.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 23 points, including four three-pointers, while James Harden scored 22 points with eight rebounds and seven assists.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It was a great team win -- defending the ball, rebounding the ball," Cunningham told NBC television.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We've got a great system in place. You've got somebody that will come in behind you whenever you get tired.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"But it's one win, we've got to come back and do it again."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Detroit had battled into the conference semi-finals after coming back from 3-1 down to defeat Orlando 4-3 in the first round.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Cunningham said the Pistons are anxious to avoid a repeat.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"At home you've got to protect home court. We didn't do that in the last series so we want do that this series," Cunningham said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n