NBA Playoffs: Pistons Stifle the Cavs and Force a Decisive Game 7

After losing on their home court in Game 5, the Pistons wasted no time getting revenge. Needing a win to stay alive in the playoffs, the Michigan squad delivered on the road (115-94). Led once again by a dominant Cade Cunningham, Detroit earned a decisive Game 7 in their bid to reach the conference finals for the first time since 2009.

Cade’s showcasing his skills👏

Handles ✅
Midrange ✅
Three ✅

Pistons lead by 12 in Q2 of Game 6! pic.twitter.com/nV0NlQ7oqV

— NBA (@NBA) May 15, 2026

The All-Star guard finished with 21 points, five three-pointers made and eight assists, supported by a fully engaged collective. Six players reached or exceeded 10 points, including Jalen Duren, who had struggled in these playoffs. After being benched for the final 17 minutes of Game 5, the All-Star center delivered his best performance of the series with 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Jalen DUREN

15

PTS

11

REB

0

AST

CLE

94 115

DET

And while he played fewer minutes than in the previous game, Paul Reed once again impressed by dropping a remarkable 17 points (a career-high in the playoffs) in just 16 minutes off the bench. Absent in Game 5, Duncan Robinson also joined the party with 14 points on 4-of-7 from three-point range.

Paul Reed delivered in a must-win Game 6!

17 PTS (career-high in a postseason game)
6 REB

Pistons force Game 7 in the East Semis 🍿 pic.twitter.com/y0IK5VBurj

— NBA (@NBA) May 16, 2026

The Pistons took control from the first half, leading 54-41 at the break, before delivering a blistering 12-2 run to open the second half. Cleveland fought back, pulling within 74-68 in the third quarter, but Detroit immediately responded with a devastating 13-2 run to extinguish the last hopes of Kenny Atkinson’s squad.

On the other side, James Harden had a rough night, scoring 23 points while committing 8 turnovers and recording just 4 assists. Heroic in Games 3 and 4, Donovan Mitchell fell apart when it mattered most, finishing with 18 points on 6-of-20 shooting and a plus/minus of -20. The Cavs suffered their first home loss of the 2026 NBA playoffs.

NBA Playoffs: Stephon Castle and Wembanyama’s Spurs torpedo the Wolves and advance to the conference finals

May 16, 2026

Maxime Bodilis

The two teams will now meet in a decisive Game 7 on Monday. The clash will determine who faces the Knicks in the conference finals — two franchises that already needed seven games to advance in the previous round. A game you absolutely cannot miss!