Mitchell, Cavs break through, dispatch Pistons to make ECFESPN News ServicesMultiple AuthorsMay 17, 2026, 10:53 PM ET
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DETROIT — Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points, Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill each added 23 and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 125-94 on Sunday night in Game 7 to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
The fourth-seeded Cavaliers ousted the East’s top seed and will face the third-seeded New York Knicks. Game 1 of that series begins Tuesday in New York.
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Evan Mobley had 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 2018 and the ninth time in team history. It’s their deepest run since LeBron James’ final season with the franchise.
It will also be Mitchell’s first appearance in a conference finals in nine postseasons.
Daniss Jenkins scored 17 points, and Cade Cunningham and Duncan Robinson each finished with 13 for the Pistons, who fell one win shy of their first conference finals appearance since 2008 after forcing the deciding game with a Game 6 victory Friday night.
The Cavs dictated the pace from the opening tip and never allowed the Pistons to gain traction, then blew open a convincing Game 7 performance when Mitchell scored 15 in the third quarter.
Detroit was outscored in the paint 58-34 and made only 35.3% of its field goal attempts, compared with Cleveland’s 50.6%
Cleveland capitalized on the Pistons’ cold shooting in the opening quarter, turning missed shots into transition baskets while building an early advantage. The Cavs led 31-22 going to the second, and after Detroit had the first two baskets, Cleveland quickly seized control with a 24-9 run. The Pistons’ offensive struggles only deepened, and the Cavs continued to shoot efficiently as they built a 64-47 lead into halftime.
The Cavs kept rolling in the second half and led by as many as 35 points. The closest the Pistons got in the half was within 17 in the third quarter.
The 31-point margin of victory was the third largest all time by a road team in a Game 7, according to ESPN Research.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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