Mitchell’s second-half explosion helps Cavs tie series with Detroit

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

After Donovan Mitchell kicked off the crucial Game 4 with a disappointing 1-of-8 shooting clip, a worried Cleveland fan base was shown on the big screens of Rocket Arena.

With the Detroit Pistons taking a four-point lead at the half, Mitchell knew something had to change, specifically with the way he played.

Just like a database gobbling information in seconds, Mitchell instantly grasped that “aha” moment in the locker room.

On May 12, 2026, Mitchell then redeemed himself with a performance for the ages after scoring 39 points in the second half, helping the Cleveland Cavaliers pull off a demoralizing turnaround with a 112-103 Game 4 win to equalize their NBA Eastern Conference semifinals series at 2-all.

The once nip-and-tuck affair in the first half suddenly shifted into a Cleveland practice session as Mitchell spearheaded a massive 24-0 Cavaliers surge at the start of the third quarter.

The scoring machine was responsible for 15 of Cleveland’s 24 points as he schooled Cade Cunningham and Caris LeVert’s perimeter defense with his deep bag of offensive tricks.

Mitchell began his third-quarter resurgence with aggressive drives to the basket, and when the Pistons forced him to stay out of the paint, the veteran shooting guard accepted the challenge and buried three 3-pointers that ballooned Cleveland’s lead to 19 points.

Mitchell looked like a microwave out there as he entered a heater and single-handedly outscored Detroit’s core players in the third quarter alone.

Devastated and shocked by the Mitchell effect, the Pistons looked flat heading into the fourth quarter, failing to replicate the energy they displayed in Game 2, when they clawed their way back from a four-point hole to win the game.

Detroit tried to contain Mitchell by sending quick help defense at the elbows, but the experienced stalwart negated the upcoming double by splitting his way at the top of the key with a floater.

Just like what they say, if it’s your night, it will be yours.

From his signature triple-threat isolation scoring to his post prowess, Mitchell just couldn’t be stopped and recorded his best playoff performance so far in the 2025-26 season.

Mitchell erupted for a game-high 43 points built on 13-of-26 shooting, including four treys and 13 free throws, alongside five rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

James Harden also stabilized the Cavaliers with a dominant double-double of 24 markers, 11 assists, three steals, and a block.

On the other hand, LeVert finally showed up for the Pistons with a team-high 24 points, but Cunningham, who averaged 26 points in the first three games, was limited to only 19 markers on 7-of-16 shooting.

Can Cleveland lean on its momentum as the series now shifts back to Detroit in Game 5? Or will the Pistons protect home court and move a win away from securing an Eastern Conference finals showdown with the New York Knicks?