Pistons Defeat Cavaliers 111-101 in Game 1 as Turnovers Prove Costly for Cleveland

The Detroit Pistons opened their NBA playoff series with a 111-101 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, May 5, 2026, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

Detroit controlled the game for most of the night, leading for 91 percent of the contest and stretching its advantage to as many as 18 points. The win was the Pistons’ first Game 1 victory since the 2008 Eastern Conference semifinals.

A key swing factor was Detroit’s ability to force mistakes. The Pistons generated 20 Cleveland turnovers and converted them into 31 points.

Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 23 points. Duncan Robinson added 19 points while shooting 5-of-8 from three-point range, and Tobias Harris contributed 20 points and eight rebounds.

Cleveland briefly rallied in the fourth quarter behind Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, tying the score at 93-93. Mitchell finished with 23 points, while Harden had 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, but also seven turnovers.

The Cavaliers’ ball security issues and Jarrett Allen’s early foul trouble limited their ability to sustain the comeback. Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday in Detroit.