Cade Cunningham scores 21 and
Pistons dominate 2nd half to beat Cavs 115-94 and force Game 7
[May 16, 2026]
By JOE REEDY
CLEVELAND (AP) — Cade Cunningham scored 21 points and the top-seeded
Detroit Pistons dominated the second half, beating the Cleveland
Cavaliers 115-94 on Friday night to force a Game 7 in their Eastern
Conference second-round series.
The decisive game is Sunday in Detroit.
“It’s going to be a fun environment for us and we’re excited to get
back to the crib,” Cunningham said.
The Pistons’ 21-point victory tied a 66-year-old NBA playoff record
for the largest Game 6 road win by a team trailing 3-2 in a series.
The St. Louis Hawks beat the Minneapolis Lakers 117-96 in a the 1960
West Division finals.
Jalen Duren had 15 points and 11 rebounds while Daniss Jenkins also
scored 15 for the Pistons, who have won four games this postseason
when facing elimination.
They were down 3-1 to Orlando before winning the last three to
advance out of the first round.
“We did what needed to be done. When we’re at our best, it’s the
defense and the physicality that’s going to carry us,” coach J.B.
Bickerstaff said. “I was pleased that we were allowed to play our
style of basketball tonight where we can be legally physical and
handsy, and just make it difficult on people.”
Cunningham made five 3-pointers as the Pistons went 16 of 36 from
beyond the arc, tied for their most this preseason. Duncan Robinson,
who missed Wednesday's Game 5 with a lower back injury, had four
3-pointers and scored 14 points off the bench.
Paul Reed also had 17 points as Detroit’s reserves outscored
Cleveland’s 48-19.
“It has been a collective effort. We needed every bit of it. Great
team win,” Cunningham said.
[to top of second column] |
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) gestures as he comes back
into the game in the second half of Game 6 of a second-round NBA
basketball playoffs series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Friday,
May 15, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
James Harden scored 23 points for Cleveland, which
suffered its first home loss of the postseason. Donovan Mitchell and
Evan Mobley scored 18 apiece.
“We never really kicked it to that second level. And we need to get
to that third and fourth level. It was never just a consistent flow
at either end of the floor, which is frustrating,” Harden said.
Detroit asserted its will on the offensive boards and took advantage
of Cleveland turnovers. The Pistons converted 13 offensive rebounds
into 20 points. The Cavaliers had 20 turnovers, which resulted in 28
Detroit points.
The Pistons were up 54-41 at halftime and started the second half
with a 12-2 run. The Cavaliers rallied to get within 74-68 before
the Pistons put it away with a 13-2 spurt.
Mobley missed a dunk and Marcus Sasser drove the length of the floor
for a layup at the buzzer to give Detroit a 84-70 lead at the end of
the third quarter.
“It starts with us in the starting lineup. We got hit in the mouth
and we didn’t punch back,” Mitchell said.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
