Cleveland Cavaliers @ Detroit Pistons
Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI | Game ID: 42500207
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DET 22 25 26 21 94CLE 31 33 35 26 125
ESPN UpdateESPN Update
Bickerstaff says Pistons will learn from their blowout loss in Game 7 against the Cavaliers
DETROIT -- — The stunning turnaround season for the Detroit Pistons ended Sunday night with a harsh reminder of how difficult the final step can be.
After winning 60 games and earning the top seed in the Eastern Conference, the Pistons were overwhelmed at home by the Cleveland Cavaliers , who rolled to a 125-94 victory in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Detroit, which forced the deciding game with a road win Friday night, never found its footing offensively and struggled to match Cleveland’s physicality and pace from the opening tip. The Pistons shot just 35.3% from the floor, were outscored 58-34 in the paint and trailed by as many as 35 points in the second half.
“It sucked,” All-Star Cade Cunningham said. “Being back home, definitely wanted to get this win for the fans. Reminded me of last year, losing on the home court. It’s not a great feeling.
“So I hadn’t been thinking about the offseason, so my mind’s been racing now, trying to figure out what I got to do, what it’s going to look like.”
The abrupt ending came just two years after Detroit endured one of the worst seasons in NBA history. The Pistons finished 14-68 during the 2023-24 season and set an NBA single-season record with 28 consecutive losses before emerging this year as one of the league’s biggest surprises under coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
Despite the lopsided defeat, Bickerstaff refused to call the ending a disappointment.
“It’s not a disappointment at all,” Bickerstaff said. “Not ever will I be disappointed in these guys. These guys every single day give us what they got. So it is not a disappointment. It’s a loss, and it’s a tough loss. But that adjective will never be used.”
Bickerstaff repeatedly praised the growth and resilience of a roster that rapidly developed into a contender.
“This team is awesome, and they’re a special group of guys,” he said. “I couldn’t be more appreciative of how they allow us to coach them, work with them every single day. The spirit they carry, their willingness to grow, their willingness to sacrifice. It’s a special group.”
Ausar Thompson said the loss will fuel the Pistons moving forward.
“We have to get better as a team, but I’m focused on what I can do to not be in this situation again,” Thompson said. “It sucks, but you can’t take it back. We already lost.”
Cleveland controlled the game almost immediately.
The Cavaliers turned Detroit’s cold shooting into transition opportunities while building a 31-22 lead after one quarter. After the Pistons scored the first two baskets of the second, Cleveland answered with a 24-9 run to take command and carried a 64-47 advantage into halftime.
Detroit pulled within 17 in the third quarter before Cleveland buried any comeback hopes behind a dominant stretch from Donovan Mitchell , who scored 15 of his 26 points in the period.
Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill each added 23 points for the Cavaliers, while Evan Mobley finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds as Cleveland advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2018.
“They had X-factor guys that had the ability to contribute,” Bickerstaff said. “We knew it was going to be a tough series and a tough test for us, but just like we did last year, we’ll learn from it. We’ll put it in our pocket, we’ll get better from it, and next year we’ll grow and be a better team.”
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuHaJeTh 5 7 -1 2 9 22 2 3 67 1 2 50 0 8 8 1 0 1 1 1
DET Cunningham, Duren, Harris, Jenkins, Thompson
in Cunningham, Duren, Harris, Jenkins, Thompson
out ---
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
DuHaJeLeTh 2 6 +1 2 4 50 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1
DET Duren, Harris, Jenkins, LeVert, Thompson
in LeVert
out Cunningham
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuLeRoStTh :56 2 -1 2 2 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0
DET Cunningham, LeVert, Robinson, Stewart, Thompson
in Cunningham, Robinson, Stewart
out Duren, Harris, Jenkins
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuLeRoSaSt 4 7 -8 2 5 40 1 4 25 2 3 67 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 2
DET Cunningham, LeVert, Robinson, Sasser, Stewart
in Sasser
out Thompson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuReRoSaTh 3 4 -2 2 7 29 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 1 0 0 1
DET Cunningham, Reed, Robinson, Sasser, Thompson
in Reed, Thompson
out LeVert, Stewart
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuJeLeRo 1 5 +1 1 1 100 1 1 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 1
DET Cunningham, Duren, Jenkins, LeVert, Robinson
in Duren, Jenkins, LeVert
out Reed, Sasser, Thompson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
DuHaJeLeSa :53 0 -1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1
DET Duren, Harris, Jenkins, LeVert, Sasser
in Harris, Sasser
out Cunningham, Robinson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuHaJeSa 2 4 -1 1 2 50 0 1 0 2 2 100 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 2
DET Cunningham, Duren, Harris, Jenkins, Sasser
in Cunningham
out LeVert
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuHaRoTh 2 9 0 3 5 60 1 2 50 2 2 100 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 2
DET Cunningham, Duren, Harris, Robinson, Thompson
in Robinson, Thompson
out Jenkins, Sasser
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuHaJeTh 4 6 -4 2 5 40 0 2 0 2 2 100 1 1 2 1 1 0 2 3
DET Cunningham, Duren, Harris, Jenkins, Thompson
in Jenkins
out Robinson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuHaJeStTh :46 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1
DET Cunningham, Harris, Jenkins, Stewart, Thompson
in Stewart
out Duren
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuJeLeRoSt :56 3 +1 1 2 50 0 1 0 1 1 100 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2
DET Cunningham, Jenkins, LeVert, Robinson, Stewart
in LeVert, Robinson
out Harris, Thompson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuLeReRoSa 4 10 -4 4 10 40 2 4 50 0 0 0 3 1 4 3 0 0 0 2
DET Cunningham, LeVert, Reed, Robinson, Sasser
in Reed, Sasser
out Jenkins, Stewart
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
HaJeLeSaTh 2 4 -3 1 3 33 1 1 100 1 4 25 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1
DET Harris, Jenkins, LeVert, Sasser, Thompson
in Harris, Jenkins, Thompson
out Cunningham, Reed, Robinson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuHaJeRo 1 0 -6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1
DET Cunningham, Duren, Harris, Jenkins, Robinson
in Cunningham, Duren, Robinson
out LeVert, Sasser, Thompson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuJeRoTh 3 3 -1 1 5 20 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 4 0 1 0 2 2
DET Cunningham, Duren, Jenkins, Robinson, Thompson
in Thompson
out Harris
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuJeSaTh 2 5 0 1 5 20 1 2 50 2 4 50 1 2 3 1 0 1 0 2
DET Cunningham, Duren, Jenkins, Sasser, Thompson
in Sasser
out Robinson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
IiJeLaSaSm 5 13 +3 3 10 30 1 7 14 6 6 100 1 5 6 3 1 0 1 0
DET Holland II, Jenkins, Lanier, Sasser, Smith
in Holland II, Lanier, Smith
out Cunningham, Duren, Thompson
DET KarmaHide StintsShow StintsHide PMShow PMHide KarmaShow KarmaHide ScoresShow Scores
Who
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLECP C. Porter Jr.
DM D. Mitchell
DS D. Schröder
DW D. Wade
EM E. Mobley
JA J. Allen
JH J. Harden
JT J. Tyson
KE K. Ellis
MS M. Strus
NT N. Tomlin
SM S. Merrill
SC Schroder
TB T. Bryant
DETAT A. Thompson
CC C. Cunningham
CL C. Lanier
CL C. LeVert
DJ D. Jenkins
DR D. Robinson
IS I. Stewart
JD J. Duren
MS M. Sasser
PR P. Reed
RH R. Holland II
TH T. Harris
TS T. Smith
CLE/DET the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur