DETROIT — A truckload of storylines and narratives all hang in the balance for this Game 7 on Sunday, May 17.

The Cavaliers and Pistons are meeting for a win-or-go-home Game 7 in Detroit, with a ticket to face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals on the line.

The Cavs earned their first 2026 road playoff win in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals but then squandered an opportunity to end the best-of-seven second-round series at Rocket Arena in Game 6, setting up Game 7.

Tipoff between the fourth-seeded Cavs and top-seeded Pistons occurred at 8:14 p.m. Follow here for score updates, highlights, stats and analysis as the battle unfolds Detroit:

Game 7 is getting a bit chippy.

Following a tie-up for the ball, Jarrett Allen essentially pushed Jalen Duren out of bounds. Earlier, Ausar Thompson lowered his shoulder and just about knocked Sam Merrill’s teeth out.

Some frustration might be building for the Pistons during a truly abysmal offensive showing in the biggest game of their season.

The Pistons crowd, along with J.B. Bickerstaff on the sideline, are all going nuts following two foul calls in which it looked like the Cavs might have embellished — to put it lightly — some contact.

First, Dennis Schroder hit the floor after Duncan Robinson’s hand met his head area. Then, as James Harden was barely touched on the arm, he shot his head back and received the foul call. As the replay was shown, the Detroit crowd erupted, and Bickerstaff marched up and down the sidelined before pleading his case with the refs.

The Pistons cannot hit a shot and the Cavs are getting every call they ask for, which is a bad combo for Detroit.

The Cavs now lead 47-33 with 4:52 left in the first half.

The Pistons have put together a truly terrible offensive showing in Game 7, and the Cavs have used it to open up at 15-point lead. Cleveland is now up 41-26 with 7:20 left in the second quarter.

After Ausar Thompson again looked like he was targeting Sam Merrill with extra contact, the latter is having the last laugh, as Merill has hit three 3s while Thompson is 0-for-3 from the floor, including two misses right at the rim.

Detroit is shooting just 10-for-30 from the floor while losing the rebounding battle 18-13. If those trends don’t turn around soon, the Cavs are heading to New York and the top-seeded Pistons are going home early.

Guard Donovan Mitchell made a near half-court 3-pointer at the buzzer to extend the Cavs’ lead at the end of the first quarter to 31-22. Mitchell banked in the 33-foot shot from the Pistons logo.

Mitchell, center Jarrett Allen and guard Sam Merrill led the Cavs with six points apiece in the first quarter. Mitchell also had three assists.

Guard Daniss Jenkins led the Pistons with six points in the opening quarter.

Merrill and Mitchell made back-to-back 3-pointers before Pistons guard Marcus Sasser answered with a 3 of his own with 5.3 seconds left. But Mitchell stole the spotlight with his wild shot at the buzzer.

After Pistons guard Caris LeVert stole the ball from Cavs center Jarrett Allen, LeVert produced a fast-break layup to tie the score 13-13 with 4:33 left in the first quarter.

Then Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson and small forward Max Strus ripped into official Ben Taylor during a timeout. Atkinson was visibly livid.

The good news for the Cavs is they led 8-7 with 6:34 left in the first quarter, so, thus far, they have avoided the dreaded slow start.

Another positive development for the Cavs is guard Donovan Mitchell has been aggressive out of the gate. He has been driving through the lane and dishing the ball to teammates. He had an assist on three of the Cavs’ first four baskets, an alley-oop dunk by forward Evan Mobley, a dunk by center Jarrett Allen and a layup by Allen.

Below is some pregame information.

Cavs owner Dan Gilbert sent more than 20 buses carrying thousands of Cavaliers fans and team members to Detroit for Game 7, a Cavs spokesperson confirmed.

Gilbert also sent Cavs fans and staff to Game 5 in Detroit and Cavaliers team members to Games 1 and 2 at Little Caesars Arena.

Game 7 between the Cavs and Pistons will be televised nationally by Prime Video.

The local radio broadcast of Game 7 can be heard via WTAM (1100-AM) or WMMS (100.7-FM).

The Pistons had listed guards Duncan Robinson (lower back) and Caris LeVert (right heel contusion) as questionable for Game 7. Both played through their ailments in Game 6, and both will be available for Game 7.

Wing Kevin Huerter was also questionable with a left adductor strain and is available, putting the Pistons at full strength.

For the Cavs, forward Larry Nance Jr. has been ruled out for Game 7 with an illness. He was initially listed as questionable to play. He hasn’t been in the playoff rotation when healthy.

The Cavs are making a change to their starting lineup.

Along with the normal big four of Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, Max Strus will be in the starting lineup, pushing Dean Wade to the bench.

Donovan Mitchell
James Harden
Evan Mobley
Jarrett Allen
Max Strus

The Pistons are starting:

Ausar Thompson
Tobias Harris
Jalen Duren
Daniss Jenkins
Cade Cunningham

Here is a look at the Cavs-Pistons series in the Eastern Conference semifinals:
Game 1: Pistons 111, Cavs 101; Pistons lead series 1-0 | Recap | Reaction | Analysis | Story
Game 2: Pistons 107, Cavs 97 ; Pistons lead series 2-0 | Recap | Reaction | Analysis | Story
Game 3: Cavs 116, Pistons 109; Pistons lead series 2-1 | Recap | Reaction | Analysis | Story
Game 4: Cavs 112, Pistons 103; series is tied 2-2 | Recap | Reaction | Analysis | Story
Game 5: Cavs 117, Pistons 113, OT; Cavs lead series 3-2 | Recap | Reaction | Analysis | Story
Game 6: Pistons 115, Cavs 94, series is tied 3-3 | Recap | Reaction | Analysis | Story
Game 7: Cavs at Pistons, 8 p.m. Sunday, May 17, Prime Video

To play again this season, the Cavs must beat the Pistons in Game 7. If they do, the Cavs will reach the Eastern Conference Finals. Here’s what we know about that schedule:

Game 1: Cavs/Pistons at Knicks, time TBD Tuesday, May 19, TBD network
Game 2: Cavs/Pistons at Knicks, time TBD Thursday, May 21, TBD network
Game 3: Knicks at Cavs/Pistons, time TBD Saturday, May 23, TBD network
Game 4: Knicks at Cavs/Pistons, time TBD Monday, May 25, TBD network
Game 5: Cavs/Pistons at Knicks, time TBD Wednesday, May 27, TBD network, if necessary
Game 6: Knicks at Cavs/Pistons, time TBD Friday, May 29, TBD network, if necessary
Game 7: Cavs/Pistons at Knicks, time TBD Sunday, May 31, TBD network, if necessary

Here are the second-round matchups:

No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons vs. No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers; series is tied 3-3
No. 3 seed New York Knicks vs. No. 7 seed Philadelphia 76ers; Knicks won series 4-0

Here are the first-round results:

No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons vs. No. 8 Orlando Magic; Pistons won series 4-3
No. 2 seed Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers; 76ers won series 4-3
No. 3 seed New York Knicks vs. No. 6 seed Atlanta Hawks; Knicks won series 4-2
No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 seed Toronto Raptors; Cavs won series 4-3

Cleveland Cavaliers playoff history during their Donovan Mitchell era

This is the fourth consecutive season the Cavs have made the playoffs.

Here are the results from their previous three playoff appearances, all of which have occurred since the Cavs traded for All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell in 2022:
2024-25: Lost 4-1 in second round to Indiana Pacers after sweeping Miami Heat 4-0 in first round
2023-24: Lost 4-1 in second round to Boston Celtics after beating Orlando Magic 4-3 in first round
2022-23: Lost 4-1 in first round to New York Knicks

Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich cover the Cavaliers for the Akron Beacon Journal. The Beacon Journal sports department can be reached at BJSports@thebeaconjournal.com.

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