Detroit — The Pistons were short-handed, waiting on their new additions in the Blake Griffin trade, while also missing the three players who went to the Los Angeles Clippers in the deal.
The patchwork Pistons squad didn’t look half-bad, either.
Actually, they were good for both halves.
The Pistons’ 11-point lead evaporated in the last few minutes of the third quarter but Stanley Johnson led a late surge in the third and the reserves keyed an energetic fourth-quarter effort, sparking the Pistons to a thrilling 125-114 victory over the Cavs before a national-television audience on Tuesday night at Little Caesars Arena.