Pistons big men dominate Cavaliers frontcourt to take Game 1

When the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied to tie Game 1 of their second-round series, the Detroit Pistons focused on high-percentage shots: Three straight dunks by All-Star center Jalen Duren.

Duren finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while forward Tobias Harris had 20 points and eight boards as the Pistons' starting frontcourt outscored their Cavs counterparts, 50-21. A hard-fought game came down to the Pistons' control of the paint in a 111-101 win.

Detroit Pistons bigs stepped up against Cleveland Cavaliers All-Stars

Forward Duncan Robinson carried the Pistons' long-range attack by shooting 5-for-8 on threes and scoring 19 points. Harris followed up his 30-point effort in Game 7 against the Orlando Magic with his sixth-straight 20-point effort.

Duren struggled early in the Pistons' previous series with a few single-digit scoring games. He closed with a 15-point, 15-rebound effort in Game 7, then put up a dominant effort in Game 1 where he protected the rim, cleaned the glass and didn't commit a single foul. Duren also forced Jarrett Allen to the bench by drawing his third foul midway through the first quarter. Allen would play only 18 minutes and score two points.

During the regular season, Duren's two-man game with Cade Cunningham was a major weapon for the Pistons. They went to it with the game tied late, and Duren responded with three dunks in a row — two on Allen and one on Evan Mobley.