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may 06 2026DETROIT. The Detroit Pistons made a strong start to their Eastern Conference semifinal in the NBA playoffs, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 111-101 in Game 1 of the series. Cade Cunningham led Detroit to victory with 23 points, well supported by Tobias Harris with 20, in a night when the Pistons ended a historic 12-game playoff losing streak against Cleveland.
The Detroit Pistons' victory on this NBA matchday also carried strong symbolic weight. The team led by J.B. Bickerstaff, former Cleveland head coach, confirmed the enormous competitive growth of a franchise that just two years ago posted 68 losses and a historic 28-game losing streak. Now, as the No. 1 seed in the East and Central Division champions, Detroit has re-established itself as one of the major contenders in these NBA playoffs.
The start of the game made the Pistons' intentions clear. Cade Cunningham set the pace from the first quarter and Detroit took advantage of Cleveland Cavaliers' defensive struggles to build quick leads. Duncan Robinson provided outside energy with 19 points and the home team closed the first quarter leading 37-31.
Detroit's physical intensity continued to make the difference in the second quarter. Tobias Harris punished from mid-range and Jalen Duren began to impose his presence near the basket, allowing the Pistons to reach halftime with a 59-46 advantage. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers suffered especially from Jarrett Allen's quiet performance, limited to just two points and three rebounds after his huge Game 7 against Toronto.
Still, the Cleveland Cavaliers responded after halftime. Donovan Mitchell, who finished with 23 points, led the visiting comeback alongside James Harden, who had 22 points in his first playoff game against Detroit since his arrival in Ohio. Max Strus added 19 points and the Cavs gradually cut the deficit to just three points in the late stages of the third quarter.
However, Detroit found relief just before the final period. Ron Holland connected on a three-pointer at the buzzer to close the third quarter with an 83-76 lead, an important emotional boost for a Pistons team that was beginning to feel the pressure from Cleveland.
The most delicate moment for Detroit came midway through the fourth quarter. James Harden strung together seven consecutive points and tied the game at 93 with just over five minutes to play, putting all the pressure back on the home team.
But that's when Cade Cunningham appeared again. The point guard found Jalen Duren in three consecutive possessions following great interior defense from the center on Harden. Duren responded with three consecutive dunks that definitively changed the course of the game and restored double-digit advantage to the Pistons.
Detroit never let the lead slip away. Cade Cunningham managed the final possessions with maturity and the Pistons closed out a crucial victory to take a 1-0 lead in this Eastern Conference semifinal of the NBA.
The Cleveland Cavaliers also saw another notable streak snapped, as Donovan Mitchell ended his historic streak of nine consecutive playoff debuts scoring at least 30 points. Cleveland, the fourth seed in the East, had reached this round after eliminating the Toronto Raptors in seven games.
For their part, the Detroit Pistons continue to confirm their competitive transformation. After rallying from a 3-1 deficit against the Orlando Magic in the first round, the Michigan team strikes again in an NBA playoff run where they seek to continue establishing themselves as the season's biggest surprise. Game 2 of the series will be played again in Detroit.
