After dropping the first two games in Detroit, the fourth-seeded Cavaliers entered Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals in Cleveland with their backs against the wall. They rose to the challenge, defeating the top-seeded Pistons to keep their series hopes alive.
Now, Cleveland has a chance to even the best-of-seven second-round NBA playoff series when Game 4 tips off at 8 p.m. Monday, May 11 at Rocket Arena.
Here are Game 4 predictions from Akron Beacon Journal sports writers Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich:
Ryan Lewis: Cavs 108, Pistons 104
The Cavs have been a tale of two teams in these playoffs: a dreadful 0-5 on the road and a perfect 5-0 at Rocket Arena. That home-court dominance has defined their postseason journey so far. Their struggles away from Cleveland remain the biggest hurdle to reaching the Eastern Conference Finals, and they’ll need to prove they can steal a win in Detroit eventually—but that challenge awaits in Game 5.
In Game 3, the Cavs finally got stellar performances from both Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, a combination that hadn’t clicked since early in the Raptors series. They’ll likely rely on that guard tandem again. Meanwhile, center Jarrett Allen has delivered strong outings in two of the last four playoff games, though consistency would be a huge boost.
Game 4 is in Cleveland, where the Cavs have looked like a different team. Away from Rocket Arena, they’ve resembled a lottery squad, but at home, no Eastern Conference team has been better.
Nate Ulrich: Cavs 111, Pistons 108
Health often plays a key role, and one overlooked factor in Cleveland’s Game 3 victory was the return of backup shooting guard Sam Merrill. After missing the final three quarters of Game 1 and all of Game 2 with a left hamstring strain, Merrill provided a spark in Game 3. He finished with seven points on 2-of-4 shooting from the field (1-of-3 from three-point range) and posted a plus-minus of plus-4 in 14 minutes. He also drew two offensive fouls, taking charges from point guard Cade Cunningham late in the second quarter and from forward Paul Reed midway through the fourth.
Cavs role players have consistently stepped up at home throughout the playoffs, and Merrill is one of the guys Cleveland will count on again in Game 4.