3-pointers by Sexton, Osman help Cavs beat Pistons, 126-119 | The Fresno Bee

Before tipoff, coach Larry Drew wondered if the Cavaliers' pride was waning with just 12 games remaining.

After improving their play coming out of the All-Star break, the Cavs had slipped into a funk, dropping three in a row and five of their last six going into Monday night's home game against the Detroit Pistons.

Facing teams with playoff berths or seeding on the line had been part of that. Veteran Channing Frye mused that those who had carried a heavy load during a season marred by injuries were finally wearing down, even if they are under 25 years old.

But the Cavs still had some spectacular plays left in them. Collin Sexton hit two huge 3-pointers in the final 1:54 and Cedi Osman added one of his own as the Cavs pulled out a thrilling 126-119 victory.

Excited fans at Quicken Loans Arena stood for the final 40 seconds as the Cavs (18-53, 12-24 at home) beat another Eastern Conference playoff qualifier. They defeated the Raptors by 25 at home on March 11.

The Pistons (36-34, currently sixth in the East) saw a two-game winning streak snapped, but are 14-6 since Feb. 1.

Sexton put the Cavs ahead for good at 115-114 with 1:54 to go. Osman connected from the right wing with 1:23 remaining and Sexton hit another 3 with 39.6 seconds left to put the Cavs up 121-114.

Seven Cavs scored in double figures, led by Sexton with 27 points. Osman added 21 points, four rebounds and six assists, and Brandon Knight scored 16 with four rebounds and five assists. Nik Stauskas had his best night as a Cav with 17 points, shooting 5 of 7 from the field, 2 for 3 from long range and making all five free-throw attempts, along with two rebounds and two assists. It was Stauskas' most points since he scored 18 for the Portland Trail Blazers against the Orlando Magic on Nov. 28.

Jordan Clarkson added 14 points, David Nwaba contributed 13 points, six rebounds and four assists, and Marquese Chriss scored 10 points with 10 rebounds.

The Cavs shot 58 percent from the field, including 50 percent from beyond the arc.

Wayne Ellington poured in 25 points for the Pistons, and Andre Drummond totaled 21 points, 21 rebounds and five assists.

Before the late heroics, the second quarter showed the Cavs at their best. They rallied from an 11-point deficit at the 8:35 mark to take a three-point lead on Ante Zizic's running dunk with 3:35 remaining in the period. That capped an 11-2 Cavs run that also included a fast-break slam by Nwaba off an Osman assist and Sexton's hanging finger roll off another Osman pass.

The Cavs shot 65 percent in the second quarter and trailed 61-60 at the half. They kept it close after three quarters, with the Pistons leading 88-87 as Osman scored seven in the period and Clarkson six. The stellar plays kept coming, with Sexton feeding Osman on a look-ahead bounce pass for a 73-69 lead.

In the fourth quarter, Nwaba split two Pistons and fired in an 11-foot floater to cut Detroit's lead to one with 6:08 to go.

The Pistons rested six-time All-Star forward Blake Griffin. Coach Dwane Casey said Griffin was banged up, and since Detroit didn't play again until Thursday, it seemed the best time for Griffin to heal before the playoffs, which begin on April 13.

The Cavs were without five-time All-Star forward Kevin Love (sore lower back), center Tristan Thompson (sore left foot), forward Larry Nance Jr. (rib contusion) and guard Matthew Dellavedova (concussion). Love took a hard fall Saturday at Dallas but managed to finish that game.

Drummond's burly presence did not deter the Cavs from driving to the basket as they had a 52-44 edge in the paint and an 18-8 advantage in fast-break points.