What happened
The Cleveland Cavaliers finally broke through on the road in the postseason, taking Game 5 in Detroit after dropping their previous five away games. James Harden led the charge in what reactions described as a vintage performance, with Cleveland now one win away from advancing to MSG. The win flips the complexion of a series in which the Cavs had failed to win or
Why it matters
Road wins have been the missing piece for Cleveland all postseason — bettors and books had faded the Cavs on the road repeatedly, and that pattern just snapped. With a series lead now in hand, the path to the next round opens up and the Pistons face elimination at home. Cleveland's ability to close on the road, after looking incapable of it for weeks, reshapes how the rest of this bracket should be priced.
What to watch
Watch whether Cleveland can close the series out and whether the road formula — Harden-led offense, late-game execution — travels into the next round. Detroit faces a must-win spot at home to extend the series.