Cavaliers Decimate Pistons in Game 7 to Reach Eastern Conference Finals

On May 17, 2026, the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers traveled to Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena and defeated the top-seeded Detroit Pistons 125-94 in a decisive Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The victory propelled Cleveland to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they will meet the third-seeded New York Knicks.

ESPN

Detroit’s run was a surprise after a 14-68 record in 2023-24 and a league-record 28-game losing streak. Under coach JB Bickerstaff, the Pistons forced a Game 7 by winning Game 6, marking their deepest postseason appearance since 2008. Cleveland, rebuilding after the LeBron James era, acquired Donovan Mitchell in a 2022 trade and added James Harden in February 2026. The Cavs had exited in the second round in 2024 and 2025, making this series a test of their post-LeBron overhaul.

Associated Press

Mitchell posted 26 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and zero turnovers, becoming the first guard since Kobe Bryant (2002) with at least 25 points, five rebounds, five assists and no turnovers in a Game 7. Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill each contributed 23 points; Evan Mobley added 21 points and 12 rebounds. Cleveland shot 50.6 % from the field while Detroit managed only 35.3 %. The Cavs outscored the Pistons in the paint 58-34 and built a 31-point margin—the third-largest road win in Game 7 history. The half-time lead was 64-47, and the final lead peaked at 35 points.

ESPN

Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson emphasized the team’s “force on both ends” as the decisive factor, noting that playing with “force” made the Cavs “hard to beat.” President of basketball operations Koby Altman described the February trade for Harden as a calculated risk taken to give the core—Mitchell, Mobley, Allen—a genuine chance at a championship. Mitchell reflected that the squad “didn’t just come here just to win a goal,” adding that the team can “breathe a little” but must stay focused. Forward Jarrett Allen pledged unwavering support, saying he would “follow him into war.”

The Guardian

Despite the loss, Bickerstaff rejected the notion of disappointment, stating, “It’s not a disappointment at all,” and calling the defeat a “tough loss.” Guard Cade Cunningham voiced frustration, describing the game as “sucked” and recalling the sting of losing on home court the previous year. Detroit’s offensive woes—poor shooting and a 58-34 deficit in the paint—were cited as the primary cause of the collapse.

The Guardian

• “We didn’t just come here just to win a goal,” — Donovan Mitchell, Cavs guard

The Guardian

• “He had complete control of the game.” — Kenny Atkinson, Cavs coach

CBS Sports

• “It’s not a disappointment at all,” — JB Bickerstaff, Pistons coach

The Guardian

• “That game sucked,” — Cade Cunningham, Pistons guard

The Guardian

• “I'll follow him into war,” — Jarrett Allen, Cavs forward

Akron Beacon Journal

Cleveland’s next challenge is the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks, who swept the Philadelphia 76ers and will host Game 1 at Madison Square Garden. The series will test whether the Cavs can translate their Game 7 dominance into a championship run.

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