Detroit Pistons 'kept fighting' to rally past Cavaliers, 106-101
Pistons use 13-0 run to open final quarter, overcome 15-point 1st-quarter deficit, LeBron's triple-double
Stan Van Gundy wants the Detroit Pistons in desperation-mode to finish the regular season.
On Thursday night, the coach's message was heard loud and clear.
Reggie Jackson had 21 points, including a clutch jumper with 55 seconds left, helping the Pistons upset the Cleveland Cavaliers, 106-101, in what could be LeBron James' final game at the Palace.
"We want to be tough-nosed, tough-minded and leave it all on the court," Jackson said. "Once the season's over, we'll see where we're at. Every game has to be a playoff game. We can't let up."
Andre Drummond finished with 20 points and 16 rebounds, while Tobias Harris and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope each scored 15 for the Pistons (32-33), who sit a half-game up on Chicago for the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference.
"It was a great win for us, the way we battled back," Harris said. "We kept fighting the whole night. It's very satisfying for everybody in the locker room."
James had 29 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for the East-leading Cavs (42-21), who lost their third straight. He shot 12-of-22 from the field, but was 0-for-6 from three-point range.
"My outside shot wasn't going for me, so I'm able to switch off and go somewhere else," James said. "That's the beauty of me working on all facets of my game. As well as I've been shooting the three ball this year - it didn't go down tonight - I'm able to switch and get into the paint."
The Pistons, who trailed by seven after the third quarter, began the final period with a 13-0 run, which included Drummond's alley-oop dunk from Jackson, to open an 86-80 lead with 8:28 left.
The Cavs crept within 88-85, but Jackson responded with two straight jumpers to help the Pistons regain control. Harris and Stanley Johnson each hit jumpers to give the Pistons a 96-87 edge.
Cleveland fought back, getting a three-pointer from Iman Shumpert and a James lay-up to pull within 101-98 with 1:20 left. Jackson, however, answered with a jumper to push the lead to five.
"We expect Reggie to make those plays," Harris said. "It definitely got our confidence going, to know it's a two-possession game after that."
Behind Kyrie Irving's 11 points and James' 10, Cleveland raced to a big first-quarter lead, going ahead 27-12 on James' dunk. The Pistons called a time-out, and forward Marcus Morris gave his team a "motivational" speech.
"He said, 'Beep, beep, beep.' A lot of F-bombs in there," Harris said. "He might need to go to church on Sunday. He definitely set the tone."
Van Gundy: Pistons worried about making playoffs instead of seeding
The Pistons outscored the Cavs, 33-23, in the second quarter and took a 55-52 lead into halftime. Caldwell-Pope's three-pointer gave the Pistons team a 53-52 advantage with 37 seconds left in the half.
The third quarter went back and forth. The Pistons used a 7-0 run to take a 68-58 edge, but the Cavs answered with an 11-0 spurt to regain a one-point lead. Channing Frye hit three straight three-pointers after a James lay-up.
Cleveland took a 77-71 advantage on James' powerful one-handed slam over Harris, and following Johnson's lay-up, Frye nailed another three to put the Cavs up, 80-73, entering the fourth.
"There's a reason they're the defending champions," Van Gundy said. "They're still playing without Kevin Love, without Kyle Korver. It's a scary team."
The Pistons had trouble containing James when he drove to the basket.
"There's times he's more dangerous as a passer than a scorer, so you're picking your poison with him," Van Gundy said. "He puts pressure on a defense and makes the right play. You could make a very, very, very strong argument that he's the best that's ever played this game."
Irving finished with 27 points and Frye scored 15 for the Cavs.