NBA Game Recap - Detroit at Cleveland
Mon Mar 18, 2019 7:00 PM EDT

UTA
116
WAS
95
F
DET
119
CLE
126
F
NY
92
TOR
128
F
DEN
114
BOS
105
F
MIA
116
OKC
107
F
GS
105
SA
111
F
NO
129
DAL
125
F(OT)
CHI
116
PHO
101
F
IND
98
POR
106
F

Cleveland 126, Detroit 119

Mar 18, 2019, 7:00 PM EDT

Final

1

2

3

4

T

Detroit

32

29

27

31

119

Cleveland

25

35

27

39

126

Sexton scores 27, leads Cavaliers past Pistons 126-119
Mon Mar 18, 2019 11:57 PM

CLEVELAND (AP) The Cleveland Cavaliers squeaked by without Kevin Love.

The Detroit Pistons, playing without Blake Griffin, weren't as fortunate.

The Cavaliers made clutch shots down the stretch for a 126-119 win Monday night in a game that featured six ties and five lead changes in the fourth quarter.

Collin Sexton scored 27 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with just under two minutes to play, and the Cavs defeated a Pistons squad that is fighting for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Detroit coach Dwane Casey, whose team beat Toronto on Sunday, was unhappy following the game, especially with the fact that Cleveland shot 58 percent.

"I'm totally disappointed in myself and our team and everyone in our locker room," he said. "Our defensive disposition was nil. Nil."

The Pistons (36-34) are sixth in the East, a game ahead of Brooklyn and 2 1/2 in front of Miami, but their previous visit to Cleveland - when they routed the Cavaliers 129-93 on March 2 - might have played a role in this loss.

"I don't think we came out with a healthy enough respect for our opponent - and we should have," Casey said. "Until we grow up and understand there are no nights we can take for granted in this league, we're not going to be ready for this playoff push."

Love was out with a sore back for Cleveland after taking a hard fall in Saturday's loss to Dallas, while Griffin sat out to rest for Detroit.

Andre Drummond nearly made up for Griffin's absence with 21 points and 21 rebounds, but Detroit's center was also displeased with the outcome.

"We tip-toed around with them the whole game, and they went out and took advantage of it," he said.

Sexton's 3-pointer gave Cleveland a 115-114 lead with 1:54 left. Following a missed 3 by Wayne Ellington, Cedi Osman hit a 3 with 1:24 to play, putting the Cavaliers up 118-114.

Detroit's Reggie Jackson missed a 3 before Sexton knocked down another shot from behind the arc with 39 seconds left to make it 121-114 and complete a 10-0 run.

"Those are the moments people remember - end of the game and you make a big shot," Sexton said.

Cleveland placed seven players in double figures. Osman had 21 points and Nik Stauskas scored 17, including 15 in the fourth.

"We made some tough shots and some clutch shots," Osman said. "We had a really good night."

Drummond has had 12 games with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds this season.

Wayne Ellington hit seven 3s and finished with 25 points.

Casey is monitoring Griffin's workload as the Pistons begin a five-game road trip that will take them to the West Coast. Griffin scored 25 points in 33 minutes Sunday.

Cavaliers coach Larry Drew said Love was still sore Monday and didn't participate in the team's morning shootaround. Love has played in 12 games since returning from foot surgery.

GOOD COMPANY

Drummond has 33 games of at least 15 points and 15 rebounds this season, breaking the franchise record previously held by Hall of Famer Bob Lanier, who did it 32 times in 1972-73.

Drummond wasn't paying much attention to the accomplishment.

"Nah, I'd rather we won," he said. "Winning the game is more important than any individual accolade."

MAKING PROGRESS

Drew thought it was gratifying to see Sexton and Osman hit big shots with the game on the line.

"Those guys have come a long way and you can certainly see the growth in their games," Drew said. "It tells me these guys are starting to get it."

TIP-INS

Pistons: Jackson scored 15 points. Langston Galloway and Ish Smith each had 13. ... F Thon Maker started in Griffin's spot and had seven points with nine rebounds.

Cavaliers: Brandon Knight scored 16 points. Marquese Chriss had 10 points and 10 rebounds. ... F Larry Nance Jr. (bruised rib), G Matthew Dellavedova (concussion), C John Henson (right wrist) and F Tristan Thompson (sore left foot) remain out.

UP NEXT

Pistons: Visit the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.

Cavaliers: Host the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.

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Leaders

Detroit PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
W. Ellington 25 -4 2 1 2 0
A. Drummond 21 2 5 21 2 1
Cleveland PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
C. Sexton 27 11 1 2 2 0
C. Osman 21 11 6 4 1 0

Team Comparison

DET CLE
Points For 119 126
Field Goals 42/94-45% 46/79-58%
Three Pointers 18/44-41% 11/22-50%
Free Throws 17/21-81% 23/27-85%
Offensive Rebounds 19 5
Defensive Rebounds 28 31
Rebounds 54 39
Blocks 4 3
Steals 6 6
Turnovers 11 8
Points Scored Off Turnovers 9 18
Points in the Paint 44 52
Fast Break Points 8 18
Personal Fouls 21 16
Technical Fouls 0 0
Flagrant Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2018-19 Reg Season - DET Leads Series 3-1

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Thu Oct 25 CLE 103 @ DET 110 K. Korver 21 A. Drummond 26
Mon Nov 19 CLE 102 @ DET 113 C. Sexton 18 A. Drummond 23
Sat Mar 2 DET 129 @ CLE 93 L. Kennard 26 C. Sexton 16
Mon Mar 18 DET 119 @ CLE 126 W. Ellington 25 C. Sexton 27

Game Information

Stadium: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Attendance: 18,465
Game Time: 2:7