With Mitchell scoring 43 points, the Cavs remain perfect at home. Is the momentum officially back with Cleveland? Yankee Scores breaks down Mitchell’s legendary night.
Second-quarter hero Donovan Mitchell tied an NBA playoff record, scoring 39 points in one half en route to a 112-103 victory over the Detroit Pistons that allowed the Cleveland Cavaliers to even their second-round series at 2-2 on Monday night.
A Half for the History Books
Mitchell scored the 39th point when he hit a free throw with 27.6 seconds left in the half, tying him with Eric “Sleepy” Floyd. Mitchell came within one point of setting the record, which dates back to 1987 in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
🤯 No way he’s just out here casually doing this rn. @spidadmitchell | #LetEmKnow https://t.co/LBblX7tlG3 pic.twitter.com/NjkA7M7ECO
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 12, 2026
The former Utah Jazz star ended with 43 points, scoring 15 as the Cavaliers ripped off a 24-0 run, stretching from the last 12 seconds of the first half until the first six minutes of the third period, in which Cleveland was down 56-52.
The Cavs went 10-for-12 from the floor during the run and nailed three three-pointers while turning five Pistons turnovers into nine points.
🔨 Did it all in one sequence. @serraautopark | #WatchRockSports pic.twitter.com/KOodT3HD9e
— Rock Entertainment Sports Network (@watchrocksports) May 12, 2026
The 24-0 Avalanche
That 24-0 streak was the most since Minnesota had 24 points in a row in Game 6 of their Western Conference semifinals against Denver on April 30, 2024. The run was also the longest by Cleveland since the start of play-by-play statistics in 1997-98, topping their previous best of 19 points in an Eastern semifinals game against Boston.
James Harden recorded his league-leading 40th playoff double-double with 24 points and 11 assists. Evan Mobley scored 17 points to go with five blocks and three steals for Cleveland, who remained unbeaten in the playoffs at home (6-0).
Key Contributors
Caris LeVert scored a season-high 24 points to pace Detroit. Cade Cunningham totaled 19 for the second-lowest output in 11 playoff games this season, while Tobias Harris chipped in with 16.
The series will head to Game 5 in Detroit on Wednesday night.
James Harden started off the game going 11-for-11 with three triples as the Cavaliers built up a 16-5 lead. Detroit responded with a 23-5 run, powered by 10 points from LeVert, while shooting 9-for-13 on the possession span of eight minutes while Cleveland was hitting just 2-for-14 with eight missed three-pointers.
SPIDA SCORED 39 OF HIS 43 POINTS IN THE 2ND HALF 🤯
IT’S THE MOST POINTS IN ANY HALF IN A POSTSEASON GAME IN THE PLAY-BY-PLAY ERA!
CAVS WIN GAME 4 TO EVEN THE SERIES AT 2-2 IN THE EAST SEMIS 🍿 pic.twitter.com/0ZUmxWGRQu
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2026
At its highest, Cleveland built a lead of 21 points in the fourth quarter.
