Game ID: 42500207
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Detroit Pistons
Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DET 22 25 26 21 94CLE 31 33 35 26 125
CLE @ DET ScoutingCLE @ DET Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
DET availability going into 5/09 · 1 day's restOUT Huerter missed 5 since 4/29, out tonight
OUT Reed missed 2 since 5/05, returns tonight: 10 min (74% of 13)
OUT Sasser missed 2 since 5/05, out tonight
BACK Holland II back 5/03 after 4, 7 min since (37% of 18)
NEW Cunningham 35 to 42 min over the last 5
NEW Harris 29 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Thompson 27 to 33 min over the last 5
DET availability going into 5/11 · 1 day's restOUT Huerter missed 6 since 4/29, out tonight
OUT Sasser missed 3 since 5/05, returns tonight: 3 min (24% of 12)
BACK Holland II back 5/03 after 4, 6 min since (33% of 18)
BACK Reed back 5/01 after 2, 8 min since (57% of 13)
NEW Cunningham 35 to 41 min over the last 5
NEW Harris 29 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Robinson 28 to 35 min over the last 5
DET availability going into 5/13 · 1 day's restOUT Huerter missed 7 since 4/29, returns tonight: 3 min (18% of 19)
BACK Holland II back 5/03 after 4, 6 min since (34% of 18)
BACK Reed back 5/09 after 2, 12 min since (89% of 13)
BACK Sasser back 5/03 after 4, 2 min since (17% of 12)
NEW Cunningham 35 to 40 min over the last 5
NEW Harris 29 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Robinson 28 to 33 min over the last 5
DET availability going into 5/15 · 1 day's restBACK Huerter back 5/13 after 7, 3 min since (18% of 19)
BACK Reed back 5/09 after 2, 14 min since (102% of 13)
BACK Sasser back 5/11 after 3, 9 min since (78% of 12)
NEW Cunningham 35 to 42 min over the last 5
NEW Harris 29 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Jenkins 21 to 27 min over the last 5
DET availability going into 5/17 · 1 day's restOUT Green missed 2 since 5/13, out tonight
BACK Huerter back 5/13 after 7, 3 min since (18% of 19)
BACK Reed back 5/09 after 2, 14 min since (107% of 13)
BACK Sasser back 5/11 after 3, 12 min since (103% of 12)
NEW Cunningham 35 to 42 min over the last 5
NEW Harris 29 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Jenkins 21 to 27 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 5/09 · 1 day's restOUT Porter Jr. missed 6 since 4/26, out tonight
OUT Tomlin missed 6 since 4/26, out tonight
OUT Nance Jr. missed 6 since 4/26, out tonight
OUT Proctor missed 6 since 4/26, out tonight
BACK Ellis back 5/05 after 3, 8 min since (42% of 20)
CLE availability going into 5/11 · 1 day's restOUT Porter Jr. missed 7 since 4/26, returns tonight: 0 min (2% of 16)
OUT Tomlin missed 7 since 4/26, returns tonight: 0 min (2% of 14)
OUT Nance Jr. missed 7 since 4/26, out tonight
OUT Bryant missed 2 since 5/07, returns tonight: 0 min (3% of 11)
OUT Proctor missed 7 since 4/26, returns tonight: 0 min (3% of 10)
BACK Ellis back 5/05 after 3, 8 min since (42% of 20)
CLE availability going into 5/13 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 8 since 4/26, out tonight
BACK Ellis back 5/05 after 3, 6 min since (29% of 20)
BACK Porter Jr. back 5/11 after 7, 0 min since (2% of 16)
BACK Tomlin back 5/11 after 7, 0 min since (2% of 14)
BACK Bryant back 5/11 after 2, 0 min since (3% of 11)
BACK Proctor back 5/11 after 7, 0 min since (3% of 10)
CLE availability going into 5/15 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 9 since 4/26, out tonight
BACK Ellis back 5/05 after 3, 6 min since (29% of 20)
BACK Porter Jr. back 5/11 after 7, 0 min since (2% of 16)
BACK Tomlin back 5/11 after 7, 0 min since (2% of 14)
BACK Bryant back 5/11 after 2, 0 min since (3% of 11)
BACK Proctor back 5/11 after 7, 0 min since (3% of 10)
NEW Mobley 33 to 38 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 5/17 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 10 since 4/26, out tonight
OUT Proctor missed 2 since 5/13, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 5/11 after 7, 1 min since (8% of 16)
BACK Tomlin back 5/11 after 7, 1 min since (9% of 14)
BACK Bryant back 5/11 after 2, 1 min since (12% of 11)
NEW Mobley 33 to 38 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 5/19 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 11 since 4/26, out tonight
OUT Proctor missed 3 since 5/13, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 5/11 after 7, 2 min since (14% of 16)
BACK Tomlin back 5/11 after 7, 2 min since (16% of 14)
BACK Bryant back 5/11 after 2, 2 min since (20% of 11)
NEW Mobley 33 to 38 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 5/21 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 12 since 4/26, out tonight
OUT Proctor missed 4 since 5/13, returns tonight: 1 min (12% of 10)
BACK Porter Jr. back 5/11 after 7, 2 min since (14% of 16)
BACK Tomlin back 5/11 after 7, 2 min since (16% of 14)
BACK Bryant back 5/11 after 2, 2 min since (20% of 11)
NEW Mobley 33 to 39 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 5/23 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 13 since 4/26, out tonight
BACK Proctor back 5/21 after 4, 1 min since (12% of 10)
NEW Mobley 33 to 38 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 5/25 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 14 since 4/26, out tonight
BACK Proctor back 5/21 after 4, 1 min since (12% of 10)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 107, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Cunningham at 26 and Harris at 15 a game. Without Green (2 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 109, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 31 free throws a game; Mitchell at 30 and Harden at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the line, where Cleveland takes 31 free throws a game to Detroit's 19 and the arc, Detroit at 41 percent from three to Cleveland's 34. Call it Detroit 114, Cleveland 109.
5/09 @ CLE 109-116 — DET notes
DET lost 109-116. DET took 17 more shots (91 to 74), fed by 17 offensive rebounds, but shot 45% to CLE's 58%, 9 of 25 from three, and got to the line 22 times to CLE's 28. Cunningham led with 27 (10 of 27, 2 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Harris added 21, Robinson 15. Q3 was theirs, 33-19, the deficit cut from 16 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 97-76 against them. Jenkins's -28 in 18 minutes was the worst on the floor.
5/11 @ CLE 103-112 — DET notes
DET lost 103-112. DET shot 51% (42 of 83) to CLE's 44%, 10 of 23 from three, and got to the line just 12 times against 27 fouls committed. DET turned it over 18 times to CLE's 13, and CLE turned those into 11 steals. LeVert led with 24 (10 of 16, 3 of 6 from three); Cunningham added 19, Harris 16. Q4 was theirs, 26-22, the deficit cut from 13 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 90-77 against them. Thompson's -27 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
5/13 vs CLE 113-117 — DET notes
DET lost 113-117 in 1 overtime. DET took 15 more shots (95 to 80), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 44% to CLE's 45%, 11 of 33 from three, and got to the line 20 times to CLE's 38. DET turned it over 10 times to CLE's 16. Cunningham led with 39 (13 of 27, 6 of 10 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Jenkins added 19, Harris 13. Q2 was theirs, 31-25, but the other 4 periods went 92-82 against them. They led by as many as 15. Duren's -16 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
5/15 @ CLE 115-94 — DET notes
DET won 115-94. DET shot 52% (43 of 82) to CLE's 39%, 16 of 36 from three, and got to the line 19 times to CLE's 30. Cunningham led with 21 (7 of 19, 5 of 10 from three); Reed added 17, Jenkins 15. The hinge was Q3, 30-19: a lead of 3 became 14, and the lead reached 22. Sasser was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
5/17 vs CLE 94-125 — DET notes
DET lost 94-125. DET shot 35% (30 of 85) to CLE's 51%, 12 of 39 from three, and got to the line 29 times to CLE's 44. Jenkins led with 17 (4 of 12, 2 of 7 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Cunningham added 13, Robinson 13. Q4 was theirs, 21-26, but the other 3 periods went 99-73 against them. Cunningham's -32 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
5/09 vs DET 116-109 — CLE notes
CLE won 116-109. CLE shot 58% (43 of 74) to DET's 45%, 12 of 32 from three, and went to the line 28 times to DET's 22 — 18 points from the stripe to their 18. Mitchell led with 35 (13 of 24, 2 of 8 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Harden added 19, Allen 18. The hinge was Q2, 32-18: a lead of 2 became 16.
5/11 vs DET 112-103 — CLE notes
CLE won 112-103. CLE shot 44% (34 of 78) to DET's 51%, 14 of 41 from three, and went to the line 34 times to DET's 12 — 30 points from the stripe to their 9. CLE turned it over 13 times to DET's 18. Mitchell led with 43 (13 of 26, 4 of 12 from three, 13 of 15 at the line); Harden added 24, Mobley 17. The hinge was Q3, 38-21: CLE came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 13, and the lead reached 21. CLE trailed 52-56 at the half and won the second half 60-47. Mobley was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
5/13 @ DET 117-113 — CLE notes
CLE won 117-113 in 1 overtime. CLE shot 45% (36 of 80) to DET's 44%, 14 of 35 from three, and went to the line 38 times to DET's 20 — 31 points from the stripe to their 18. CLE turned it over 16 times to DET's 10, and DET turned those into 10 steals. Harden led with 30 (8 of 21, 3 of 10 from three, 11 of 14 at the line); Mitchell added 21, Strus 20. The hinge was Q3, 32-20: CLE came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 4. CLE trailed 52-60 at the half and won the second half 65-53. Allen was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
5/15 vs DET 94-115 — CLE notes
CLE lost 94-115. CLE shot 39% (30 of 77) to DET's 52%, 12 of 35 from three, and went to the line 30 times to DET's 19 — 22 points from the stripe to their 13. Harden led with 23 (6 of 13, 3 of 8 from three, 8 of 10 at the line); Mitchell added 18, Mobley 18. Q2 was theirs, 26-27, but the other 3 periods went 88-68 against them. Mitchell's -25 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
5/17 @ DET 125-94 — CLE notes
CLE won 125-94. CLE shot 51% (43 of 85) to DET's 35%, 11 of 34 from three, and went to the line 44 times to DET's 29 — 28 points from the stripe to their 22. Mitchell led with 26 (10 of 22, 2 of 6 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Merrill added 23, Allen 23. The hinge was Q1, 31-22: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 35. Mobley was the night's best plus/minus at +31.
5/19 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 99, shooting 55 percent and 43 from three, 27 free throws a game; Brunson at 27 and Anunoby at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Anunoby (2 straight). 8 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 35 free throws a game; Mitchell at 29 and Harden at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-11 a night and Cleveland plus-0 and the arc, New York at 43 percent from three to Cleveland's 36. Call it New York 118, Cleveland 108, New York by 10.
5/21 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 102, shooting 53 percent and 42 from three, 27 free throws a game; Brunson at 31 and Anunoby at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 108, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 34 free throws a game; Mitchell at 27 and Harden at 20 a game. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-10 a night and Cleveland minus-0 and the arc, New York at 42 percent from three to Cleveland's 34. Call it New York 117, Cleveland 108.
5/23 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 109, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 33 free throws a game; Mitchell at 24 and Harden at 19 a game. One day's rest. New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 101, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Brunson at 28 and Bridges at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-8 a night and Cleveland plus-1 and the arc, New York at 39 percent from three to Cleveland's 33. Call it New York 113, Cleveland 110, Cleveland keeping it close.
5/25 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 111, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 30 free throws a game; Mitchell at 24 and Mobley at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. One day's rest. New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 103, shooting 52 percent and 41 from three, 27 free throws a game; Brunson at 28 and Bridges at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 41 percent from three to Cleveland's 31 and the glass, where New York has been plus-9 a night and Cleveland minus-1. Call it New York 114, Cleveland 110, Cleveland keeping it close.
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
AlHaMiMoSt 5 8 +1 4 6 67 0 6 0 0 1 0 1 6 4 1 0 0 1
CLE Allen, Harden, Mitchell, Mobley, Strus
in Allen, Harden, Mitchell, Mobley, Strus
out ---
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuHaJeTh 5 7 -1 0 6 0 2 3 67 1 2 50 0 8 1 0 1 1 1
DET Cunningham, Duren, Harris, Jenkins, Thompson
in Cunningham, Duren, Harris, Jenkins, Thompson
out ---
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
AlHaMeStWa 3 8 0 1 2 50 2 2 100 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 1 0
CLE Allen, Harden, Merrill, Strus, Wade
in Merrill, Wade
out Mitchell, Mobley
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
DuHaJeLeTh 2 6 +1 2 3 67 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1
DET Duren, Harris, Jenkins, LeVert, Thompson
in LeVert
out Cunningham
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
HaMeMiMoWa 2 6 +2 1 1 100 1 2 50 1 2 50 1 0 2 0 0 0 0
CLE Harden, Merrill, Mitchell, Mobley, Wade
in Mitchell, Mobley
out Allen, Strus
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
CuLeRoSaSt 4 7 -8 1 1 100 1 4 25 2 3 67 0 1 0 0 0 1 2
DET Cunningham, LeVert, Robinson, Sasser, Stewart
in Sasser
out Thompson
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
MeMiMoScWa 4 14 +7 2 3 67 3 5 60 1 2 50 2 3 3 0 0 1 3
CLE Merrill, Mitchell, Mobley, Schröder, Wade
in Schröder
out Harden
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
CuLeRoSaSt 4 7 -8 1 1 100 1 4 25 2 3 67 0 1 0 0 0 1 2
DET Cunningham, LeVert, Robinson, Sasser, Stewart
in Sasser
out Thompson
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
MeMiMoScWa 4 14 +7 2 3 67 3 5 60 1 2 50 2 3 3 0 0 1 3
CLE Merrill, Mitchell, Mobley, Schröder, Wade
in Schröder
out Harden
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
CuReRoSaTh 3 4 -2 2 5 40 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 1 0 0 1
DET Cunningham, Reed, Robinson, Sasser, Thompson
in Reed, Thompson
out LeVert, Stewart
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
AlHaMeMiMo 1 4 0 0 1 0 1 1 100 2 3 67 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
CLE Allen, Harden, Merrill, Mitchell, Mobley
in Mitchell
out Strus
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuHaJeSa 2 4 -1 1 1 100 0 1 0 2 2 100 0 2 1 0 0 0 2
DET Cunningham, Duren, Harris, Jenkins, Sasser
in Cunningham
out LeVert
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
AlHaMiMoSt 3 11 +4 2 3 67 0 0 0 4 4 100 0 2 1 0 0 0 1
CLE Allen, Harden, Mitchell, Mobley, Strus
in Strus
out Merrill
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuHaRoTh 2 9 0 2 3 67 1 2 50 2 2 100 1 1 2 0 0 0 2
DET Cunningham, Duren, Harris, Robinson, Thompson
in Robinson, Thompson
out Jenkins, Sasser
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
AlHaMiMoSt 4 10 +4 3 4 75 0 2 0 4 4 100 1 2 0 1 0 1 1
CLE Allen, Harden, Mitchell, Mobley, Strus
in Harden
out Schröder
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuHaJeTh 4 6 -4 2 3 67 0 2 0 2 2 100 1 1 1 1 0 2 3
DET Cunningham, Duren, Harris, Jenkins, Thompson
in Jenkins
out Robinson
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
AlHaMeStWa 3 9 -2 2 3 67 0 2 0 3 7 43 2 1 2 1 0 1 2
CLE Allen, Harden, Merrill, Strus, Wade
in Merrill, Wade
out Mitchell, Mobley
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
CuLeReRoSa 4 10 -4 2 6 33 2 4 50 0 0 0 3 1 3 0 0 0 2
DET Cunningham, LeVert, Reed, Robinson, Sasser
in Reed, Sasser
out Jenkins, Stewart
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
HaMeMiMoWa 2 10 +5 3 3 100 1 1 100 2 2 100 0 3 2 0 1 0 0
CLE Harden, Merrill, Mitchell, Mobley, Wade
in Mitchell, Mobley
out Allen, Strus
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
CuLeReRoSa 4 10 -4 2 6 33 2 4 50 0 0 0 3 1 3 0 0 0 2
DET Cunningham, LeVert, Reed, Robinson, Sasser
in Reed, Sasser
out Jenkins, Stewart
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
MeMiMoScWa 2 4 0 2 3 67 0 0 0 1 2 50 1 0 1 1 0 1 1
CLE Merrill, Mitchell, Mobley, Schröder, Wade
in Schröder
out Harden
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
HaJeLeSaTh 2 4 -3 0 2 0 1 1 100 1 4 25 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 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
HaMeMoScWa 3 11 +9 4 5 80 0 0 0 3 3 100 0 3 3 2 0 1 3
CLE Harden, Merrill, Mobley, Schröder, Wade
in Harden
out Mitchell
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuHaJeRo 1 0 -6 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 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
HaMeMoScWa 3 11 +9 4 5 80 0 0 0 3 3 100 0 3 3 2 0 1 3
CLE Harden, Merrill, Mobley, Schröder, Wade
in Harden
out Mitchell
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuJeRoTh 3 3 -1 1 2 50 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 1 0 2 2
DET Cunningham, Duren, Jenkins, Robinson, Thompson
in Thompson
out Harris
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
HaMeMoScSt 1 2 +2 1 1 100 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0
CLE Harden, Merrill, Mobley, Schröder, Strus
in Strus
out Wade
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuJeRoTh 3 3 -1 1 2 50 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 1 0 2 2
DET Cunningham, Duren, Jenkins, Robinson, Thompson
in Thompson
out Harris
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
HaMiMoScSt 3 5 -1 0 3 0 1 4 25 3 4 75 3 3 1 1 2 0 4
CLE Harden, Mitchell, Mobley, Schröder, Strus
in Mitchell
out Merrill
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuJeSaTh 2 5 0 0 3 0 1 2 50 2 4 50 1 2 1 0 1 0 2
DET Cunningham, Duren, Jenkins, Sasser, Thompson
in Sasser
out Robinson
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
MeMiMoScWa 1 3 -4 1 1 100 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0
CLE Merrill, Mitchell, Mobley, Schröder, Wade
in Merrill, Wade
out Harden, Strus
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
IiJeLaSaSm 5 13 +3 2 3 67 1 7 14 6 6 100 1 5 3 1 0 1 0
DET Holland II, Jenkins, Lanier, Sasser, Smith
in Holland II, Lanier, Smith
out Cunningham, Duren, Thompson
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
BrElJrToTy 4 7 +1 2 5 40 1 4 25 0 0 0 2 5 2 1 0 2 3
CLE Bryant, Ellis, Porter Jr., Tomlin, Tyson
in Bryant, Ellis, Porter Jr., Tomlin, Tyson
out Merrill, Mitchell, Mobley, Schröder, Wade
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
IiJeLaSaSm 5 13 +3 2 3 67 1 7 14 6 6 100 1 5 3 1 0 1 0
DET Holland II, Jenkins, Lanier, Sasser, Smith
in Holland II, Lanier, Smith
out Cunningham, Duren, Thompson
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
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
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
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.”