Cavaliers Advance to Eastern Conference Finals

The Cleveland Cavaliers routed the Detroit Pistons 120-89 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on May 17, 2026, in Detroit, advancing to the conference finals for the first time since 2018. Cleveland, the No. 4 seed, led from the opening minutes and closed the series with a 31-point road win over the top-seeded Pistons. The result reset the tone after a home loss in Game 6 and turned a difficult road environment into a one-sided finish.

Donovan Mitchell set the pace with 26 points and eight assists in 31 minutes without a turnover. His playmaking — his most this postseason — paired aggressive drives with timely distribution to bigs and shooters, keeping Detroit’s defense in constant rotation and maintaining control of tempo.

Jarrett Allen delivered one of his most assertive outings of the playoffs with 23 points and seven rebounds. The center demanded touches, finished lobs and dump-offs, and controlled space in the paint on both ends to give Cleveland a dependable interior outlet whenever Detroit loaded the ball.

Sam Merrill provided the perimeter spark, scoring 23 points and hitting five of eight three-pointers. His shooting punished late closeouts and opened driving lanes for Mitchell and secondary handlers, steadying Cleveland whenever the Pistons tried to build momentum.

Cleveland limited mistakes after Game 6 and dictated pace from the opening minutes. The visitors never allowed Cade Cunningham and Detroit to control tempo or crowd energy. Team officials acknowledged Cleveland’s edge in composure and shot-making on the night.

Leaders and lineup balance decide Game 7

Mitchell’s control steadies the offense

In a high-stakes road Game 7, mistake-free guard play is decisive, and Mitchell delivered. He mixed downhill attacks with pocket passes to bigs and kick-outs to shooters, keeping Detroit in scramble mode.

Allen’s presence tilts the paint

Allen’s activity reshaped the shot profile, turning contested twos into dunks and clean looks at the rim. By establishing deep position early and finishing through contact, he forced Detroit to collapse and freed perimeter shooters.

Merrill’s threes stretch Detroit’s coverage

Merrill’s confidence from beyond the arc demanded sharper closeouts and created seams for drive-and-kick sequences. His timely makes supplied the extra scoring threat needed when Detroit shaded attention toward Mitchell.

Road composure carries Cleveland forward

Poise under pressure on the road

The Cavs sustained early execution and low turnovers to flip crowd energy and momentum. Once ahead, they managed possessions, slowed Detroit’s runs and widened the gap to close out the series.

What’s next in the East finals

The win returns Cleveland to the conference stage, four victories from the NBA Finals. The Cavaliers will await their opponent and schedule, which will be set once the other Eastern semifinal concludes.