Dribbles: Undermanned Cavs let one get away vs. Pistons, but message delivered

Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ 122-119 toughie of an overtime road loss to the Detroit Pistons on Friday.

1. This one stings. Not because the Cavs were supposed to win. Frankly, they weren’t supposed to have a chance. But have a chance they did.

2. And this wasn’t some sleepy February stop on the schedule. It was loud. It was physical. It was chippy. There was a 12-minute horn malfunction delay. A couple of fan ejections. Bodies on the floor. Words exchanged. It felt like something we might see again in May.

3. The Cavs were without Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Dean Wade and Keon Ellis. Max Strus hasn’t played all season. That’s a lot of shot creation and late-game calm sitting in street clothes.

4. Yet the Cavs led by six with under 2 minutes left.

5. Cade Cunningham fouled out with 1:51 to go. That’s the Pistons’ closer heading to the bench in a tight game. But the Pistons didn’t skip a beat. You could argue they got better.

6. After an Evan Mobley free throw made it a three-point game — it could have been four — the Cavs did what coaches preach. They fouled up three with time running out.

7. Jaylon Tyson grabbed Daniss Jenkins near half court. The officials ruled Jenkins was in the act of shooting. Three free throws. All good. Tie game.

8. Questionable call? Maybe. But once the whistle blows, you live with it. You have no choice.

9. Detroit then scored on its final eight possessions of regulation. That’s execution under pressure.

10. Jarrett Allen was terrific. Twenty-five points on 10-of-12 shooting. Nine rebounds. He battled Jalen Duren all night and more than held his own.

11. Meanwhile, Mobley looked springy and confident again. He finished with 23 points, 12 rebounds, four threes, and a pair of dunks that brought his teammates to their feet and put Pistons fans of their fannies.

12. Dennis Schroder also deserves credit for battling through an ankle injury. He had 12 assists but also eight turnovers and shot 4-of-15. He was asked to do a heck of a lot more than he’s used to. It was a heavy lift.

13. Craig Porter Jr. handed out 12 assists himself. He had a few fine moments overall. 

1. Duren erupted with 33 points and 16 rebounds for the Pistons. Cunningham scored 25. Ausar Thompson added 18.

15. In overtime, Allen fouled out and the offense tightened. Fewer clean looks. More grinding.

16. Mobley had a decent shot from three at the OT buzzer to tie it. It didn’t drop. Ballgame. But it only partially felt like a loss.

17. “There’s no moral victories,” coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters. He’s right. But context exists.

18. With Mitchell and Harden in uniform, this team still looks like an Eastern Conference favorite. Without them, it nearly walked into the top seed’s building and stole one anyway.

19. The Cavs are 37-24 and head to Brooklyn on Sunday. The Pistons come to Cleveland on Tuesday. Then comes a four-day break.

20. Maybe then the bodies finally reset.

21. After all, if these two see each other again with both sides healthy, this won’t be about luck, horns, or whistles.

22. It’ll be about who’s better. And the Cavs believe they know that answer.