The Cleveland Cavaliers cut the Detroit Pistons’ series lead to 1-2 after winning Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The two teams will face off again on May 12 at 8 a.m. Beijing time at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, where the Cavaliers look to tie the series.
Cleveland has struggled on the road this postseason, going 0-5, but they have been perfect at home with a 5-0 record. Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal believes home-court advantage is the Cavaliers’ biggest asset. “Away from Cleveland, the Cavs look like a lottery team,” Lewis wrote in his prediction. “But at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, no team in the East is better.” He forecast a 108-104 victory for Cleveland.
Fellow Beacon Journal reporter Nate Ulrich highlighted an overlooked factor: reserve guard Sam Merrill’s return from a hamstring injury. Merrill played 14 minutes in Game 3, scoring 7 points with a plus-minus of plus-4, and drew two offensive fouls. Ulrich pointed out that the Cavaliers’ role players have performed exceptionally well at home throughout the playoffs, making Merrill a key factor for Game 4. He predicted a 111-108 win for the Cavaliers.
Both reporters agree that Cleveland will use its home dominance to even the series, but they also noted that the Cavaliers must address their road struggles, as Game 5 will shift back to Detroit.