Pistons 107, Cavaliers 97: Detroit Takes 2-0 Series Lead

The Detroit Pistons beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 107-97 on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Little Caesars Arena, with Cade Cunningham leading Detroit with 25 points and 10 assists in a composed all-around effort. The win gave the Pistons a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter

Detroit set the tone early, taking a 25-18 lead after one quarter. The Pistons were sharper on both ends, limiting Cleveland’s half-court rhythm while getting organized offense from Cunningham and steady interior work from Jalen Duren.

Second Quarter

The Pistons added to their advantage in the second, outscoring the Cavaliers 29-25 to take a 54-43 lead into halftime. Detroit continued to move the ball effectively and found timely perimeter shooting, an early indicator of what would become a major edge over the course of the game.

Third Quarter

Cleveland made its strongest push after halftime. Behind Donovan Mitchell, the Cavaliers won the third quarter 32-25 and trimmed Detroit’s lead to 79-75 entering the fourth. Mitchell’s scoring helped shift momentum briefly, and the Cavaliers looked positioned to make the finish uncomfortable for the home side.

Fourth Quarter

Detroit responded with its most important stretch in the final period, outscoring Cleveland 28-22. The Pistons regained control with efficient shot-making and enough defensive stops to keep the Cavaliers from completing the comeback. Detroit’s execution late turned a tight game into a 10-point result.

Key Performers

Cade Cunningham, Pistons: Cunningham finished with 25 points and 10 assists, setting the pace for Detroit’s offense and delivering the game’s most complete performance. He balanced scoring with playmaking and consistently made the right read in key moments.

Jalen Duren, Pistons: Duren led Detroit with 10 rebounds as the Pistons finished with a 42-36 advantage on the glass. His work around the basket helped Detroit stabilize possessions and maintain second-chance opportunities.

Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers: Mitchell led all scorers with 31 points and added six rebounds. He was Cleveland’s clearest offensive answer, especially during the third-quarter run that brought the Cavaliers back within one possession.

Dennis Schroder, Cavaliers: Schroder paced Cleveland with five assists, but the Cavaliers never found enough offensive flow as a team to consistently pressure Detroit’s defense.

NerdSports Stat: Detroit made twice as many 3-pointers as Cleveland, 14 to 7, and that 21-point gap from deep was larger than the final 10-point margin.

Game Analysis

This game turned on efficiency and shot distribution. Detroit shot 48.8 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from three, compared with 42.0 percent overall and 21.9 percent from deep for Cleveland. Even with the Cavaliers getting to the foul line more often and making 22 free throws, the Pistons’ perimeter accuracy gave them the more stable offensive profile.

Detroit also did a strong job managing the game after Cleveland’s third-quarter surge. Rather than letting the momentum swing fully, the Pistons answered in the fourth with cleaner possessions and better spacing. Cunningham’s control was central to that response, and Detroit’s balanced production helped prevent the offense from becoming too dependent on one player.

For Cleveland, the concern is that Mitchell had to carry too much of the scoring load. The Cavaliers finished with only seven made 3-pointers on 32 attempts, and that lack of outside production made it harder to fully capitalize on their third-quarter rally. They remained within striking distance, but Detroit’s efficiency eventually separated the teams again.

Closing Context

With the win, Detroit improved its overall record to 60-22 and moved ahead 2-0 in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Pistons protected home court in both opening games and now head into the next phase of the series with control, while Cleveland faces added pressure to respond quickly and avoid falling into a deeper deficit.

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