James Harden, Donovan Mitchell propel Cavs to Game 3 win over Pistons despite extreme possession disparity

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James Harden, Donovan Mitchell propel Cavs to Game 3 win over Pistons despite extreme possession disparity

James Harden, Donovan Mitchell propel Cavs to Game 3 win over Pistons despite extreme possession disparity

The Pistons attempted 17 more field goals than the Cavaliers, but somehow still lost by seven points

James Harden, Donovan Mitchell propel Cavs to Game 3 win over Pistons despite extreme possession disparity

The Pistons attempted 17 more field goals than the Cavaliers, but somehow still lost by seven points

The Cleveland Cavaliers refused to go down without a fight. Facing a daunting 3-0 series deficit against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons, the Cavs dug deep and delivered a clutch 116-109 victory in Game 3 on Saturday, proving that momentum can shift in an instant.

Donovan Mitchell was the engine of the offense, posting a dominant 35 points and 10 rebounds. But it was James Harden who stole the show in the final minutes. The veteran guard, who has faced criticism this postseason for his turnovers, found his groove when it mattered most. With the game hanging in the balance, Harden scored three straight buckets down the stretch, including a dagger three-pointer with just 25.9 seconds left that sealed the win.

Here's how he did it: With the Cavs clinging to a two-point lead, Harden isolated on Tobias Harris, stepped back, and drained a mid-range jumper. After Cade Cunningham answered with a thunderous dunk, Harden shook his defender with a crossover and floated one over Jalen Duren. When Cunningham tied the game with a triple, Harden responded by drilling a three in Harris's face, pushing the lead to four and effectively ending the Pistons' hopes.

The stat sheet tells a wild story: The Pistons attempted 17 more field goals than the Cavaliers, yet still came up short. That kind of disparity usually spells doom, but Cleveland made every possession count, shooting efficiently and forcing key stops. For a team that thrives on grit and veteran savvy, this was a statement win.

Now, the series heads back to Cleveland for Game 4 on Monday, with the Cavs looking to even things up. If Harden and Mitchell can replicate this late-game magic, the Pistons might have a real fight on their hands.

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