James Harden silenced his critics Saturday with seven clutch points in the final 90 seconds of the fourth quarter, lifting the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 116-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Cleveland cut Detroit's series lead to 2-1.

Harden finished with 19 points and seven assists after shooting just 32 percent, including 1-of-11 from three-point range, across the first two games. He had committed more turnovers (11) than field goals (nine) through Games 1 and 2.

Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 35 points but deferred to Harden down the stretch. The duo combined to outscore Detroit 10-5 over the final 1:29.

"Because he's James Harden," Mitchell said Saturday. "I am who I am. He is who he is, but that's what makes us so dynamic. You can choose.

"Having the ultimate trust in him and vice versa, I think, is why those moments happen."

Detroit had erased a 16-point halftime deficit to force a clutch situation, an area where the Pistons had excelled with four clutch wins this postseason. Harden responded with a step-back jumper, a floater and a 25-foot step-back three-pointer to seal the win.

"It's the James Harden I've seen for how many years he's been in the NBA," Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said. "That's the James we know. We needed it tonight.

"It was the variety of his repertoire that was impressive."

Cade Cunningham posted a 27-point triple-double in defeat.

"I didn't average 30 points in the regular season; you know what I mean? I'm literally here to find my spots, figure out what needs to be done and try to contribute in the best way possible," Harden said. "Chatter is going to be chatter regardless. Whether you do something good, whether you do something bad. For me, still, you give me opportunities in this fourth quarter, and I take advantage of them.

"I've done an unbelievable job throughout the course of my career of just understanding what the job needs to be, especially as I get older and doing whatever it takes to win the game. That's the most important thing."

The Cavaliers are -3.5 point favorites in Game 4 on Monday. The Pistons are -245 favorites to win the series, which gives them approximately a 71 percent implied probability of advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.