Cavaliers dismantle Pistons to secure Eastern Conference finals berth
Donovan Mitchell’s 26 points lead Cleveland past the top-seeded Pistons, setting up a Tuesday clash with the New York Knicks in the conference finals.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2018, defeating the top-seeded Detroit Pistons 125-94 in Game 7 of the semifinals on Sunday. The victory eliminates Detroit from the postseason and secures Cleveland’s place as the final team to reach the conference finals, joining the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs in the West.
Led by Donovan Mitchell’s 26 points, the fourth-seeded Cavaliers overcame a hostile environment in Detroit to close out the series. Mitchell was joined by Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, and Sam Merrill in scoring 20 or more points, providing a balanced offensive attack that Detroit’s defence struggled to contain. Cleveland established a 20-point lead in the first half and extended it to 26 points by the end of the third quarter, effectively ending the contest before the final period concluded.
The result marks a significant shift in momentum for Cleveland, which entered the playoffs with a mediocre regular season record and the fourth seed in the East. In contrast, Detroit finished the regular season with a 60-22 record, the best in the conference, but experienced a stuttering playoff run. The Pistons had previously overcome a 3-1 deficit against Orlando and a 3-2 deficit against Cleveland to force this decisive game, having held a perfect 5-0 record in home Game 7s earlier in the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
Pistons star Cade Cunningham acknowledged the disappointment of the loss, stating that the game "sucked" and noting the difficulty of losing on home court. Detroit’s defensive performance was characterised by missed rebounds and uncontested three-point attempts, allowing Cleveland to control the tempo. The Cavaliers’ aggression and Mitchell’s ability to distribute the ball effectively prevented Detroit from regaining the momentum they had shown in previous elimination games.
Cleveland will now face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals, beginning on Tuesday. The Knicks advanced to the finals by sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers 4-0 in their semi-final series. Mitchell emphasised the need for Cleveland to maintain their momentum against a rested New York side, marking the franchise’s ninth conference finals appearance and their deepest run since LeBron James’ final season with the team in 2018.
