May 17, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) dunks in the first half against the Detroit Pistons during game seven of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Imag es I considered Game 6 a complete team effort in Detroit’s 115-94 win in Cleveland. Things were reversed in Game 7 tonight as Cleveland saw big games from their role players en route to a 125-94 victory. Detroit falls one game short from making it to the Eastern Conference Finals. The game started slow as both teams struggled to find offense. Cleveland took an early 8-7 lead after two Daniss Jenkins three-pointers and a Caris LeVert steal and score tied it up at 13. The Cavs were able to end the quarter on a 9-3 run capped off by a 40 ft buzzer-beater from Donovan Mitchell to take a 31-22 lead over Detroit. Things didn’t look good early in the second as the Pistons missed eight consecutive field goals and Cleveland extended their lead to 15 after another Sam Merrill made three. Merrill would make his fourth three and the foul shortly after and Cleveland was able to reach a 20-point lead. They led 64-47 at halftime. Cleveland was shooting 52% from the field while Detroit shot 38%. Not only did Cleveland’s defense look good, but Detroit’s offense wasn’t doing them any favors either. They struggled to generate good looks and find an impact outside of Cade Cunningham. Cade had 12 points at the half while bench guards Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson each had seven. The reason the Cavs were so far ahead was due to the impact being made by Sam Merrill and Jarrett Allen who both had 15 points. Evan Mobley had 12 while Mitchell had 11 and Harden added six points. Cleveland will be a hard team to beat when Mitchell and Harden aren’t one of their top-three scorers. Things got worse quick. The Cavs started off on an 8-2 run that forced JB Bickerstaff to call a timeout with a score of 72-49. You could see the energy and hope draining from the Pistons players. Halfway through the third quarter, they gave up three consecutive extra possessions to Cleveland: Robinson fouled Harden for free throws, Stew fouled Allen on the boxout, Allen grabbed another rebound off his own missed free throw and was fouled again. It was clear Detroit knew they couldn’t win this game any longer. Cleveland added in an 11-0 run near the end of the third quarter and took a 99-73 lead heading into the fourth. Detroit trailed by 30 for majority of the final quarter and would lose 125-94. Daniss Jenkins was the leading scorer for Detroit with 17 points. Both Cunningham and Robinson had 13 points, though, Cade took 16 shots. Caris LeVert was the only other Piston in double figures. Starters Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, and Jalen Duren all finished with less than eight points. Frankly, nobody on Detroit looked great or stood out. And yet, four Cleveland players finished with 20+ points and none of them were James Harden. This is a rough way to go out. However, Detroit won 60 games, finished as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, and won a playoff series for the first time in 18 years. There’s still a lot to be excited about. This roster has holes, some that were largely shown throughout this postseason, and Trajan Langdon can address those this summer. As much as this loss is going to sting now, this team has come a long way in just the past two years – and the future is something to be excited about. Go Stones. ...read more read less