Detroit Pistons edge Cleveland Cavaliers in tense Eastern Semifinals opener

The Detroit Pistons defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 105-98 on May 5, 2026, to take a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The contest, played at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, was defined by a dramatic finish where the home side capitalised on a final shot clock challenge to deny Cleveland a comeback victory.

Detroit controlled the early proceedings, building an 18-point advantage at halftime with a score of 60-42. While the Cavaliers managed to narrow the gap during the second half, led by Jalen Duren's 11 points and eight rebounds, the Pistons maintained their composure. Cade Cunningham orchestrated the Pistons' attack with 23 points, supported by 18 points from Tobias Harris.

For Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell led the scoring effort with 20 points, while Jalen Harden contributed 22 points and eight assists. Evan Mobley added 14 points and six rebounds to the Cavaliers' total. Despite these efforts, the team could not overcome the deficit established in the first half, finishing with 98 points to the Pistons' 105.

The game statistics highlight a competitive battle on the boards and in the paint. Cleveland recorded 42 rebounds compared to Detroit's 40, while the Cavaliers shot 45 per cent from the field against 44 per cent for the Pistons. The decisive factor came at the very end, as the Pistons successfully won the final shot clock challenge to seal the win.

Injury reports from the contest noted that Sam Merrill of the Cavaliers was ruled out due to a hamstring issue, while Kevin Huerter of the Pistons was unavailable with a thigh injury. These absences influenced the lineups for both squads throughout the match.

The victory marks a significant step forward for the Pistons in their campaign, while Cleveland faces the challenge of overcoming a slow start to avoid a series deficit. The Eastern Semifinals series will now look to the next scheduled game as both teams assess their performance.