What happened: The Cleveland Cavaliers earned their first road win of this playoff run, ending an 0-5 stretch away from home with a Game 5 victory in Detroit. James Harden delivered a clutch performance down the stretch as Cleveland erased a late deficit and pushed the series toward closeout territory.

Why it matters: The road monkey was the defining flaw of Cleveland's postseason profile and a recurring talking point around the franchise's championship ceiling. Breaking it on the road, in a series-tilting Game 5, reframes the Cavaliers as a team that can win in hostile environments when it matters most.

What to watch: Watch whether Harden can carry that closing-minutes burden into a potential close-out game, and whether Detroit can answer back at home to extend the series.