Pistons Take the Sixth, 115-94

After holding serve on their respective home floors through the first four games of the Eastern Conference Semis, the Cavs and Pistons have now stolen one in the other’s gym – setting up a Game 7 showdown on Sunday in Detroit.

Following Cleveland’s wild final flurry to take Game 5 in Motown on Wednesday, the Wine & Gold had an opportunity to close out the series on Friday night at Rocket Arena. But after a tight first half, the Pistons blew things open in the third quarter and held off the Cavs down the stretch in the fourth, sealing the 115-94 victory and knotting the Second Round slugfest at three games apiece. 

Both teams took double-digit leads in the first half on Friday night, but Detroit led by only three at the break. Each team was shooting 50 percent from the floor, each canned seven three-pointers and attempted 12 free throws. 

But Detroit jumped all over the Cavs to start the second stanza, using a 12-2 run to take a 13-point edge less than three minutes into the third period. Offensively, Cleveland simply couldn’t find its rhythm in the quarter, shooting 25 percent from the floor, including 1-for-6 from three-point range, while committing five turnovers. 

The Pistons would take a two-touchdown lead into the final period and never looked back from there, opening up a 21-point bulge with just over two minutes to play as Cleveland emptied its bench in preparation for Sunday’s winner-take-all matchup in the Motor City. 

“Give (Detroit) credit, they were the better team,” said Coach Kenny Atkinson following the loss. “Sometimes it's that simple. It’s hard to beat a team four times in a row in the NBA. So, give them credit. They were sharp. They shot the heck out of the ball – 16-for-36 on threes, and the 13 offensive rebounds. But really, the story is them being super-sharp, and we weren't.”

The Cavaliers were led by James Harden, who finished with 23 points on 6-for-13 shooting, going 3-of-8 from long-range and 8-for-10 from the stripe. Harden added seven boards, four assists and a team-high four steals, but he also committed eight of Cleveland’s 20 turnovers on the night. 

Miscues proved to be one of the biggest stories of the night – with Detroit converting the Cavs 20 turnovers in 27 points. The Pistons also outmuscled Cleveland in the paint, 48-26, and on second-chance opportunities, 20-13.  

One of the contest’s biggest disparities came in bench scoring, where Detroit’s second unit bested the Wine & Gold’s, 48-19, with Paul Reed and Duncan Robinson finishing with 17 and 14 points, respectively. Robinson returned to the lineup after missing Wednesday’s contest with lower back soreness. Reed has been a sore spot for the Cavs in the series – netting double-digit scoring in all four appearances while shooting 76 percent (22-of-29) from the floor. 

Sam Merrill was the only Cleveland reserve in double-figures with 10 points; Max Strus led all reserves with eight rebounds. 

Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley chipped in with 18 points apiece on Friday – with Mitchell going 6-of-20 from the floor to go with four boards, three assists and a steal and Mobley adding six boards, two assists, two steals and a pair of blocks. Mobley has now blocked multiple shots in every game of the series against Detroit. 

Mitchell was asked postgame about the difference between Detroit before and after intermission. “Force,” said the seven-time All-Star. “That's what's upsetting, but it starts with all of us. Especially that first group. When we got hit in the mouth, we didn't punch back. We have throughout the course of these playoffs, and tonight, we didn't do that. Now we gotta go do that on Sunday.”

The only other Cavalier in double-figures was Jarrett Allen, who finished with 13 points and a team-high-tying eight rebounds, adding a steal and blocked shot in the loss. After not blocking a shot in the first game of the 2026 playoffs, the 9^th-year big man has at least one swat in every game since. 

“We just have to (let this loss) fuel us; let it lead us into this next game,” said Allen. “And understand that our backs are against the wall, and it's all or nothing.”

Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 21 points and eight assists and Jalen Duren had his best game of the series, doubling-up with 15 points, a game-high 11 rebounds and three blocks.  

*** Sunday’s Game 7 matchup at Little Caesars Arena is for all the marbles, with the winner moving on to face New York in the Eastern Conference Finals, tipping off Tuesday night.