The Detroit Pistons know exactly what it takes to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers—but executing that formula under pressure is a whole different game. As they head into Monday night's Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, all eyes are on young big man Jalen Duren, who seemed to lose his rhythm in Saturday's 116-109 loss. Can he bounce back and rediscover his swagger when it matters most?

After rallying from a 16-point deficit, the Pistons couldn't quite close the deal in Game 3, cutting their series lead to 2-1. The first half was arguably their worst defensive stretch of the postseason, and costly late turnovers from Cade Cunningham—three in the final minutes—proved too much to overcome. "I didn't think we executed as cleanly as we needed to," head coach J.B. Bickerstaff admitted Sunday. "It's all the small things, the details we've been really, really good at. We just had a few lapses."

For Detroit to seize a commanding 3-1 series lead on the road, they'll need to tighten up on both ends. The Cavaliers found their groove in Game 3, with James Harden shaking off a sluggish start to score seven straight points in the final 90 seconds—including a stepback three with 25 seconds left that sealed the win. Harden finished with 19 points and seven assists on 8-for-14 shooting, while Donovan Mitchell erupted for a game-high 35 points. Cleveland shot a blistering 58.1% from the field, making the most of every possession.

The Pistons actually won the possession battle, putting up 91 shot attempts to Cleveland's 74, but poor defense erased that advantage. In Game 2, Detroit held Harden to just 10 points on 3-for-13 shooting, with a scoreless fourth quarter. To replicate that success, the coaching staff may turn to Ron Holland, the second-year forward who found defensive success against Harden in Game 2 but logged only four minutes in Game 3. Ausar Thompson and Cunningham will also need to step up, as the Pistons look to contain Cleveland's dynamic backcourt and get Duren back on track. It's a must-win mentality—and the perfect time for a young star to find his groove.