CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The two minutes Larry Sanders played Tuesday night may be among the most intricate and celebrated 120-second stretches in NBA history.

Let's see: Sanders missed his lone shot and committed two fouls in the Cavs' 128-96 win over the Detroit Pistons.

And yet he was greeted by a standing ovation from Cleveland fans; made the subject of a postgame speech by LeBron James; and was the reason coach Tyronn Lue sent a ball boy into the stands to go find general manager David Griffin and ask him Sanders could play at the end of a blowout.

"I had to get permission," Lue explained. "I really just wanted to introduce him to the crowd and have him get in, give him a chance to have a standing ovation. I thought it was good for him. When you go through what he's went through, and you have a chance to get back in the NBA on a pretty good team, I thought it was cool."

If you know Sanders' story, you understand the hullabaloo.

Sanders, 28, hadn't played in the NBA in more than two seasons, as personal issues stemming from marijuana use, anxiety and depression drove him from the sport. His last game was with the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 23, 2014. The Bucks bought him out of his $44 million contract in February, 2015, after he'd been suspended for 10 games and it was apparent he wanted to walk away.

The Cavs signed him Monday to a multiyear deal. This was to be his second chance. Hence the standing ovation.

It was also the root of James' speech to the entire team, about Sanders, in the locker room afterwards.

"We're here to protect him, we're here to be part of his comeback, to be a part of something he's been wanting to do for quite a while now," James said. "We're happy he chose us and it's up to us to make sure this is everything he wanted and more. We're happy to have him."

Sanders said James' words "meant a lot.

"LeBron's reiterated again that they're behind me, they're supportive," Sanders said. "He thanked me for my decision. It was all love. It was a great moment."

Now, about Sanders getting out on the court.

Before the game, both Lue and Griffin made it clear that Sanders was heading for the D-League to get in shape and get back to playing pro ball for a period of days before he really joins the Cavs. He was going to sit on the bench Tuesday and Thursday for Cleveland's home games in uniform, Lue said, because Sanders didn't have a suit jacket with him. But the playing was supposed to happen Saturday in Canton.

And then the Cavs found themselves up by 38 on the Pistons late in the fourth quarter. The best laid plans of Griffin went astray. Sanders checked in with 1:58 remaining.

"He kind of gave me a look and I just started stretching," Sanders said, talking about how Lue signaled to him that he might get in the game. "Hopefully I get used to that look."

And Griffin?

"He said he had two minutes," Lue said.