Eyebrows were raised when the Pistons acted swiftly to sign Tobias Harris as a free agent when Trajan Langdon and J.B. Bickerstaff first arrived. He validated every dollar the Pistons offered - and then some. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

Personnel evaluation is more art than science. Hitting is often about the environment a player comes to and the makeup he brings with him. Ebuka Okorie and the Pistons seem made to flourish. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

When the run on the second wave of playmakers started, Trajan Langdon acted swiftly to get the guy the Pistons really wanted, dynamic freshman guard Ebuka Okorie. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

While you twiddle your thumbs before the Pistons pick at 21, here's some words about why Ausar Thompson is front and center alongside Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren in the Pistons future: www.nba.com/pistons/news...

The possibilities are many for the Pistons at 21, but their desire to add 3-point shooting & playmaking could marry well with the prospects available at that spot. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

By the time Marcus Sasser got over a preseason injury, the Pistons were 18-5. His third season was his most challenging, but whenever his number got called Sasser answered the bell. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

Trajan Langdon has full clarity on what comes next for the Pistons. Making it happen is the tricky part. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

Javonte Green was the finishing touch on the Pistons roster. The fit was obvious, but the rotation spot was not. Green wound up playing all 82 games and earned his every minute. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

The Pistons didn't get the best of Caris LeVert as nagging injuries kept him from hitting top gear, but the skill set fits what Trajan Langdon prioritizes for their future. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

You have to go back to Grant Hill's time in Detroit to find a player who, at 24, was already on a path to the Hall of Fame. The Pistons have another such player today. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

J.B. Bickerstaff and his assistants wondered how they could keep Daniss Jenkins out of the rotation. Turns out, they couldn't. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

“He’s the heart of what we do every single day. That’s who Stew is. That’s how important he is to us and how much we value him.” The longest-tenured Piston, Isaiah Stewart, symbolizes the blue-collar ethos Trajan Langdon and J.B. Bickerstaff prioritize. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

Bob Lanier, Bill Laimbeer and Ben Wallace are the greatest big men in Pistons history. At 22, they were a long way from what they became. Why would anyone think Jalen Duren is a finished product? www.nba.com/pistons/news...

Before Trajan Langdon could make the type of deal Pistons fans want, he had to make a series of moves to put them in position to do so. One of them was picking up Paul Reed for the price of a waiver claim. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

The Pistons have won 104 games since Ron Holland II was drafted two years ago. He's had to earn his minutes, unlike the typical No. 5 pick. The Pistons believe there's much more to tap here. "You guys got to remember, he's still 20 years old." www.nba.com/pistons/news...

Trajan Langdon will consider every path forward, but the Pistons are not about to get reckless www.nba.com/pistons/news...

Four straight weeks of living on the knife's edge caught up to the Pistons all at once. But disappointing? They blew past every reasonable expectation. "There's really nothing disappointing about this group." www.nba.com/pistons/news...

FINAL: Cavs 125, Pistons 94 Counting preseason, tonight was the 100th game the Pistons played this season. It was the one that least represented what they strive to be. They've lived on the knife's edge since losing Game 1 to Orlando four weeks ago. It caught up to them.

END 3Q: Cavs 99, Pistons 73 Pistons have had some remarkable rallies this season. This one would shoot to the top of the list.

HALF: Cavs 64, Pistons 47 Other than missing 8 FTs, a nearly flawless half for Cleveland. Pistons offense was an issue (38.1 percent shooting), but allowing 64 points is not a recipe this team can employ.

The Pistons are now in a committed relationship with trouble. Cavs up 55-35, 2:53 left. Offense is stagnant, but even the few good shots they're generating aren't falling. Pistons are 12 of 36 overall, Cavs are 8 of 19 from 3. The math, it's stacked against them.

Pistons flirting with trouble. Offense spinning its wheels with 26 points on 33.3 percent shooting. Bickerstaff timeout at 7:30 2Q with Cavs up 41-26.

END 1Q: Cavs 31, Pistons 22 Cavs get a 3-point bomb at the buzzer from Donovan Mitchell and are 6 of 13 from 3 after starting 0 of 6. Pistons shooting 40 percent.

A 115-94 road win and the Pistons go to 4-0 in playoff elimination games. Game 7 on Sunday back at Little Caesars Arena. Tipoff TBA, depends on if the Minnesota-San Antonio series ends tonight.

Pistons history suggests you don't get to the podium without acquiring some scar tissue. The Pistons added a layer in a gut-punch Game 5 loss. "First to four wins, though. We know that." www.nba.com/pistons/news...

FINAL: Cavs 117, Pistons 113 (OT) Cavs take 3-2 series lead with 3rd straight win, Game 6 at Cleveland on Friday. A 9-0 run to end regulation by Cavs, who didn't trail in OT. Cade Cunningham 39 points. Cavs shot 38 FTs to 20 for Pistons.

You might not want the game to end that way, but Ausar Thompson has the ball and gets tripped by Jarrett Allen and Tony Brothers decided it was a no call. On to overtime.

A 9-0 Cleveland run to tie at 103 including a big triple from Evan Mobley and two Mobley FTs to tie with 45.2 to play. Pistons ball out of the timeout. Probably discussing a 2-for-1 situation.

Pistons have outscored Cavs 12-5 over first 6:35 of fourth quarter. Cavs three turnovers as Pistons have cranked up defensive ball pressure. A big triple from Daniss Jenkins and Cavs get timeout at 5:25, Pistons lead 95-89.

The Harden whistle is .. something else. Pistons don't have a challenge, or they might win that one as Harden clearly swung his legs out past his body to make contact on a triple.

END 3Q: Cavs 84, Pistons 80 Cleveland outscored the Pistons 32-20 in the quarter and hit 5 of 11 from 3.

Pistons frustration with whistles is growing. Whether justified or not, they can't let this get away from them.

Pistons lose a critical challenge that gives James Harden a 3-point opportunity. He threw off Caris LeVert, but Tony Brothers says LeVert had "knee to knee contact." Unsuccessful challenge.

HALF: Pistons 60, Cavs 52 Key stat: Pistons a 20-2 edge in points off turnovers. Cade Cunningham 20 points, 4 assists. Ausar Thompson 4 points, 5 boards, 5 assists, 4 steals. Tobias Harris started 0 of 6, finishes 5 of 12.

8-0 Cavs run after Pistons opened a 15-point lead and Bickerstaff gets timeout at 4:52 2Q. Run started with a soft foul on Jenkins on a Harden 3. Bickerstaff thought about a challenge, but decision was made for him when refs handed ball to Harden at FT line.

The Pistons are willing themselves, with the help of a raucous crowd, into feeling energetic. Lead is 43-32 at 8:34. Sasser, Stewart are plus 14 in their six minutes. J.B. Bickerstaff's hunch is paying off.

END 1Q: Pistons 29, Cavs 27 Pistons 5 of 9 from 3, including 2 of 2 for Isaiah Stewart. Turnovers: Cavs 6, Pistons 5. Cade Cunningham 10 points.

Marcus Sasser getting some time in the first quarter, first meaningful minutes for him in the postseason

After a wild, up and down 5:20, the first foul of the game leads to the first timeout. Pistons up 9-6. Pistons 3 turnovers, Cavs 4 turnovers. Something to be said for the ability to get off clean shots in the playoffs and Daniss Jenkins has taken 5 of Pistons 12 shots.

If the Pistons needed any extra motivation to win Game 4 and wrap up their series as soon as possible, the Knicks provided it with Sunday's sweep. This week's Pistons Digest: www.nba.com/pistons/news...

It hasn't exactly been one-sided, but the Cavs have led for less than 4 of the 96 minutes played over two games. And when it's mattered most, well, the Pistons have been the clearly better team in building a 2-0 lead. Having Cade Cunningham helps. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

FINAL: Pistons 107, Cavs 97 Pistons take a 2-0 lead to Cleveland for Saturday's Game 3. Cunningham 25 & 10, took just 14 shots. Harris 21, 7 straight 20-plus games. Robinson 17, 5 of 9 from 3. Pistons have won 5 straight playoff games.

Pistons get timeout at 3:26, up 96-91 after a Mitchell missed 3. Ausar Thompson now guarding Harden, Jenkins on Mitchell that trip. Pistons hunting Harden on defense, getting him switched onto Harris and Cunningham as much as possible.

Cade Cunningham getting a little more aggressive, up to 18 points on 6 of 11 shooting. Pistons up 94-89 with 5:14 left and Cavs get timeout.

A 6-0 run for Cavs to start 4Q and they have their first lead since it was 3-0 in the first minute. Pistons timeout at 10:19.

END 3Q: Pistons 79, Cavs 75 A Daniss Jenkins 3 at the buzzer. Cavs scored 32 in 3Q after 43 in first half. The good news is Ausar Thompson should be rested after playing just 12 minutes with 4 fouls. Cade Cunningham has 13 points and 10 assists and has taken just 8 shots.

And after missing on their first 3 trips of the second half, Ausar Thompson's fourth foul comes at 10:33. He's out for Caris LeVert.

HALF: Pistons 54, Cavs 43 Four Pistons with 8 to 11 points and Cade Cunningham isn't one of them, but he has 6 assists. Cavs 3 of 14 from 3 but a 10-3 edge in FTs to keep them in it. Pistons got just 11 minutes from Ausar Thompson with 3 fouls.

Pistons match biggest lead (11) and Cavs get timeout at 2:46, 47-36. Cavs a 12-4 edge in FTAs, helping them stay close. Daniss Jenkins has taken 10 shots (he has 11 points) and Cade Cunningham has taken 4.

In a little more than two minutes since he checked in for Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland II has forced two James Harden turnovers