What happened: James Harden delivered a vintage scoring performance to power the Cleveland Cavaliers to a Game 5 win in Detroit. The result puts Cleveland in position to close out the second-round series and advance in the Eastern Conference bracket.

Why it matters: The win matters because Cleveland now needs just one more victory to reach the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2018. Harden's resurgence answers recent criticism of his playoff impact and reshapes the series narrative after Detroit's earlier 2-0 lead. A closeout would validate Cleveland's veteran-led approach against a young Pistons core.

What to watch: Watch for the Game 6 spot and whether Cleveland can close out on the road or force a Game 7. Harden's usage and minutes load will be the key swing factor after recent debate over his role.