Cavaliers Avenge Pistons In Central Division Showdown With Mitchell Out And Strong Team Effort

Jaylon Tyson guided the Cleveland Cavaliers to a tight 113-109 victory over the East-leading Detroit Pistons, scoring 22 points as Cleveland responded to last week’s overtime defeat and survived a late push despite missing injured star guard Donovan Mitchell for a fourth straight game.

Anthony Edwards produced another huge display with 41 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves stayed hot in the Western Conference, beating the Memphis Grizzlies 117-110 and extending a strong recent stretch that has strengthened Minnesota’s position near the top four.

Cleveland also leaned on James Harden, who scored 18 points, while Evan Mobley matched that figure and Dennis Schroder added 15. The Cavaliers, who had lost in Detroit in overtime on 27 February, finished their four-game regular-season series against the Pistons with two wins.

The Pistons, previously on a six-game road winning streak, again relied on strong interior play from Jalen Duren. Duren finished with 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Tobias Harris scored all 19 of personal points after halftime as Detroit almost erased an 11-point deficit.

Cade Cunningham created consistently with 14 assists but shot 4-of-16 from the field and finished with 10 points. Detroit cut Cleveland’s lead to a single point in the fourth quarter before Sam Merrill drained a crucial three-pointer that allowed the Cavaliers to keep control late.

Mitchell remained sidelined by a persistent groin strain, leaving Cleveland without a seven-time All-Star once again. Coach Kenny Atkinson said Mitchell is improving but admitted the team still lacks a clear date for Mitchell’s return alongside Harden, who arrived at the trade deadline.

Following the overtime loss in Detroit, an unnamed Cleveland player reportedly commented the Pistons "are not in our class." Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff, dismissed by the Cavaliers in 2024, brushed aside the comment before this rematch, stating: "If you mean it, he said, you don't say it anonymously."

Edwards, recently named Western Conference Player of the Week, dominated the fourth quarter for Minnesota. Edwards scored 13 points in the final period, knocking down three three-pointers as the Timberwolves pulled clear despite a late run from Memphis that briefly reduced the gap.

Minnesota, which rose into fourth place in the West over the weekend, has now won four straight and seven of the past eight games. Julius Randle supported Edwards with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Ayo Dosunmu contributed 14 points from the bench.

Memphis spread its scoring, with Jaylen Wells leading on 19 points and Cedric Coward adding 15. The Grizzlies mounted a 12-2 burst in the closing minute to cut the margin to four, but could not fully overturn Minnesota’s advantage, leaving Edwards to receive loud "MVP!" chants.

NBA results: Hornets reach .500 against struggling Mavericks

The Charlotte Hornets continued a strong mid-season surge by dismantling the Dallas Mavericks 117-90 and returning to a 31-31 record. Brandon Miller led Charlotte with 17 points, while LaMelo Ball added 15 points and nine assists as the Hornets claimed a fifth consecutive victory.

Dallas, now having dropped 14 of its last 16 games, struggled badly from the perimeter. The Mavericks converted just three of 22 three-point attempts and managed only 11 field goals after halftime, despite taking 42 free throws and making 31 thanks to Charlotte’s season-high 31 fouls.

Charlotte’s bench proved decisive, hitting 12-of-21 from long range on the first night of a back-to-back. Brandon Williams scored 18 points for Dallas, but Grant Williams sank four three-pointers for the Hornets, with Josh Green and Sion James making three each and Pat Connaughton adding two.

NBA results: key scores and leaders

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Across these three games on 4 March 2026, Cleveland’s response in Detroit, Edwards’s scoring burst for Minnesota and Charlotte’s balanced shooting display all shaped the playoff picture, underlining how form, health and depth are influencing both conferences as the regular season moves into its final stages.