What happened
James Harden drilled a 25-foot step-back three-pointer with 7:40 remaining in the first quarter, putting Cleveland ahead 10-9 in the early going. The make came inside the opening minutes against Detroit, per an in-game ESPN feed.
Why it matters
The early shot-making matters because Harden has been the swing variable in this Cavaliers-Pistons series, with his Game 5 burst in Detroit shifting series momentum after Cleveland fell behind 2-0. A confident step-back from range early signals he is hunting his pull-up looks rather than deferring, which historically correlates with his higher-scoring playoff outings.
What to watch
Watch whether Harden keeps hunting the step-back over the drop coverage and whether his usage holds up into the second half. Foul trouble and Detroit's perimeter switching will be the key variables to track.