A team hoping to jumpstart a return to the Finals, for a chance to erase the bad memories of last year's six-game loss to Golden State. With that in mind, LeBron James and the top seeded Cleveland Cavaliers would host the number eight Detroit Pistons in their Eastern Conference Quarter-Final opener, looking for a fast start on the road to redemption.
The eighth seeded Men From The Motor City make the trip around Lake Erie determined to pull off an upset.
And they lead by four when LBJ finds Matthew Dellavedova, who drives in for a floater that cuts the gap to a deuce. The four time league MVP surrounded by blue jerseys, so he kicks to the Aussie, who takes advantage of the space before burying two of his seven points in this showdown.
Detroit in charge just before half-time, when Kentavicious Caldwell-Pope drills a trey that extends the edge to five. Team-high 21 points for KCP.
The Pistons get sloppy after the break, and James makes the steal before going the other way and spotting Kyrie Irving on the wing, for a three-ball that puts the Cavs on top. Irving would score a game-high 31.
The visitors battle back, and then Andre Drummond gives them the lead again late in the third quarter, and that's what his mom came to see.
Cleveland would go back ahead in the fourth Q, before Reggie Jackson's three-pointer ties the score at 88.
That doesn't last long, and then LeBron sees Kevin Love unguarded in the corner, leading to an easy trey. LBJ with 11 assists for the hosts, as three of Love's 28 points put them up by four, with less than five minutes left.
James would later back his man down in the paint, before banking in the tough bucket for two of his 22 points, as the Cavaliers go on to win by five.
Sunday's other contest in the East featured Luol Deng scoring 31 points, and Hassan Whiteside adding 21, as third seeded Miami blew out number six Charlotte... while out West, Kawhi Leonard's 20 points helped second seeds San Antonio slap around number seven Memphis... and 28 points and 11 assists from Chris Paul propelled the Clippers past the Blazers in the four-five opener.
