The Cleveland Cavaliers will return home with a 2-0 deficit against the Detroit Pistons in their second-round series in the playoffs after falling in Game 2, 107-97, at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday.
The Cavaliers took a two-point lead in the early goings of the fourth quarter after Evan Mobley’s dunk, but that was the closest they would get, as the Pistons ran away with their fifth straight victory.
Donovan Mitchell had 31 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals, while Jarrett Allen added 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting, seven rebounds, and three assists.
Cleveland has heavily relied on Mitchell and James Harden on offense, but coach Kenny Atkinson acknowledged that they had success in feeding Allen.
“We just got to keep rewarding him, reward our bigs, keep hitting them in the pocket. Obviously, we’re guard-heavy with our talent and our scoring, but (we should) keep giving those guys the ball,” said Atkinson.
“Keep rewarding them. It helps us on the defensive end. That’s the message to the team.”
Mobley had nine points on 4-of-10 shooting, while Dean Wade scored eight points, including two three-pointers.
Getting Allen, Mobley, and Wade more involved on offense could be a viable strategy when the best-of-seven affair shifts to Rocket Arena on Saturday.
Allen and Mobley, in particular, have been subpar in the playoffs, a far cry from their performance in the regular season.
Atkinson, who is rumored to be in the hot seat, has to devise a plan to give his big men more looks instead of ball-watching and being tentative.