Veteran Joe Smith's late 3-pointer gave Cleveland the lead for good in Friday's 79-68 Game 3 victory.

Final score: Cleveland Cavaliers 79, Detroit Pistons 68

Analysis: Detroit came out fast in the first quarter (Lead 8-0), limited Cleveland’s starting backcourt of Mo Williams and Delonte West to 1-of-18 shooting from the field and still lost by double figures tonight. LeBron James once again delivered a big game, but Joe Smith came through with a double-double (19 points, 10 boards) as the Cavaliers are a win away from sweeping the Pistons.

The go-getter: LeBron James (Cleveland) had a game-high 25 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. He’s been a man among boys in this series.
The brick-layer: Tayshaun Prince (Detroit) shot 3-of-10 from the field for seven points and had three turnovers. With various injuries (ribs, back), is a shell of himself.
The stunning stats: Once again, Cleveland was the aggressors and as a result, the Cavaliers attempted 30 free throws and made 19 of them. Detroit attempted only 12 free throws and made 10.
The play: Many will say the two-handed lob dunk James had off a Williams’ assist to give Cleveland a 73-60 lead with five minutes and four seconds left in the game, but Smith hit the biggest shot of the night. With the game tied at 58-58 in the fourth quarter, Smith hit a 3-pointer from the corner off a James assist to give the Cavaliers the lead for good.

What’s next: Game 4 Sunday at 3:30 p.m., The Palace of Auburn Hills.
What to expect: Get the brooms out. This series is a wrap Sunday.