CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 26 and LeBron James had 20 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Detroit Pistons, 101-91, Friday night at The Palace of Auburn Hills, Mich. Stanley "The Mouth That Roars'' Johnson scored nine for the Pistons.
The Cavs lead the Eastern Conference quarterfinal, 3-0.
Here is a capsule look at the game after DVR review of the Fox Sports Ohio telecast:
KI on fire: Irving shot 11-for-20 from the field. He had four assists and two turnovers and posted a +9 in 39:23.
When Irving plays the way he did Friday, Cavs Nation has every right to wonder what might have been in the 2015 NBA Finals. Irving suffered a fractured left kneecap in Game 1 and the Golden State Warriors won the series in six.
Against the Pistons, Irving made four field goals in the middle of the first quarter to help make sure Detroit didn't ride too much homecourt momentum. The Pistons led, 27-24, after one.
With 43 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Irving made a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer as the shot clock expired to give the Cavs a 98-90 lead. Degree of difficulty for most players: 12.*
Fox Sports Ohio guest studio analyst, and former Cavs coach, Mike Fratello said on the postgame show: "If you think about it, it started with Kyrie and ended with Kyrie. Early on, first quarter, four big buckets to get them out of the gates. In the end, a huge 3-pointer on the out-of-bounds play to close the game out.''
How Irving played was as important as the box-score line. He moved fast but not in a hurry. He didn't become too reliant on dribbling and made countless smart decisions with the ball. He created opportunities for teammates.
Irving did it all while absorbing physical punishment from the Pistons, who have decided to tee off on Irving and LeBron in the series until the referees put a stop to it.
LeBron, speaking with Fox Sports Ohio reporter Allie Clifton on the court after the game, said of Irving: "He's a great point guard. More than that, he's just a great player. I don't think we should continue to put a label on what he is. What he is, is a player. He knows how to play the game.''
Lovefest: Cavs forward/center Kevin Love scored 20 on 10 shots and grabbed 12 rebounds in 38:42. He was 7-of-10 from the field and 5-of-6 from the line. Among his field goals were a fadeaway to the right baseline out of a double-team and a fadeaway at the free-throw line off an inbounds pass (release with 1.5 on shot clock).
Un-King-like, but still superb: LeBron shot 8-of-24 from the field, including 1-of-6 from 3-point range, and committed five turnovers. The misfires and miscues did not prevent him from posting a game-best +17 in 42:55.
"Kyrie was spectacular, Kev was great,'' King told Clifton. "Everyone -- they picked me up. I needed it, given the off-night shooting that I had. I just tried to affect the game in other facets.''
Affect, he did.
Clifton asked LeBron what it took for the Cavs to win.
"Everything,'' he said. "We're a group that's growing, and this is another step in our growth. We kept our composure throughout 48 minutes.''
Whatever: Johnson has manufactured headlines off the court by running his mouth. He took aim at LeBron, saying: "He will have to strap his shoes up tight, every night, because I'm going to strap my shoes up tight.''
In Game 3, Johnson and his tightly strapped shoes came off the bench to play 13:46. He managed a +3, which is a significant improvement over his combined -19 from Games 1-2. (Meanwhile, LeBron, who might or might not have his shoes strapped tightly, is now a +45 for the series.)
Johnson also ripped the Cavs bench, which he deems to be too celebratory. He thinks some Cavs players belong in the stands, maintaining that "only seven or eight players'' play for them.
Fox Sports Ohio analyst Austin Carr said: "This is a young man who doesn't understand what's going on around him. The Pistons only play seven or eight guys themselves.''
Nine Cavs and nine Pistons appeared in Game 3.
Key stretch: The Pistons led, 87-86, with 6:06 left in the fourth quarter when Irving received a handoff from Tristan Thompson and drilled a topside 3-pointer. It snapped Detroit's 8-0 run.
The Cavs intentionally fouled Pistons center Andre Drummond, who, as expected, missed both free throws. Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy subbed out Drummond -- for the final time.
No revelation here: The Pistons are at a serious disadvantage when their best player sits for the final six minutes of a tight playoff game because of issues at the line.
* Simply fantastic: LeBron's pass was deflected out of bounds with 0.7 on the shot clock. Cavs coach Tyronn Lue called timeout and drew up yet another money play.
Matthew Dellavedova inbounded on the baseline, the basket to his left. The Pistons opted not to guard him.
Irving and Love came together topside left and got what they wanted, a switch. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope went with Love as Tobias Harris checked Irving. LeBron screened for Irving near the foul line, and Harris was convinced Irving would dive to the rim. Instead, Irving flared to the right corner. Delly made a ridiculously good whip-pass, and Irving an even better shot as Harris was late to close.
The release actually occurred with tenths of seconds to spare.
Timeout, Detroit.
Fox Sports Ohio play-by-play voice Fred McLeod said: "Are you serious? Ty Lue, you are undefeated in short-shot-clock out-of-bounds plays. ... The air has been taken out of The Palace, 98-90. That's not fair.''
That's a wrap: When the Cavs dribbled out the clock, McLeod said, "A wine-and-gold winner, playoff-style. Stanley Johnson, interestingly enough, is the first man to exit stage right. ... The Cavaliers get it done. That's how you have the final word -- on the floor.''
Carr said: "That's exactly right. Let your play talk for you, not your mouth.''
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