Detroit Pistons Defeat Cleveland Cavaliers 111-101 in Game 1 of Second-Round Playoff Series

The Detroit Pistons defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 111-101 in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series on May 5, 2026, in Detroit. Cade Cunningham scored 23 points to lead the Pistons, with Tobias Harris adding 20 points and Duncan Robinson contributing 19 points.

The top-seeded Pistons in the Eastern Conference ended a 12-game postseason losing streak against the Cavaliers, a drought that dated to the 2007 Eastern Conference finals.

Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points for the No. 4-seeded Cavaliers, ending his NBA-record streak of scoring 30-plus points in nine straight series openers. James Harden added 22 points, and Max Strus scored 19 points for Cleveland, the defending champions.

The Cavaliers trailed by as much as 18 points but tied the score midway through the fourth quarter. The Pistons led 37-31 after the first quarter and 59-46 at halftime. Cleveland pulled within three points late in the third quarter, but Ron Holland hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to make the score 83-76 entering the fourth.

Early in the final period, the Cavaliers again cut the deficit to three points, prompting Detroit to score eight consecutive points and restore a double-digit lead. James Harden scored seven straight points to tie the game at 93-all with 5:28 left. Jalen Duren then blocked Harden's next shot and dunked on Detroit's next three possessions, each assisted by Cade Cunningham.

Ausar Thompson defended Harden during the second half. Cleveland center Jarrett Allen was limited to 2 points and 3 rebounds, following his 22-point, 19-rebound performance in an elimination game against Toronto. Both teams had won Game 7s two days earlier, on May 3, 2026—the Pistons rallying from a 3-1 deficit against Orlando to advance for the first time since 2008, and the Cavaliers defeating Toronto to reach the second round for the third straight year.

The Pistons won the Central Division by eight games ahead of the Cavaliers in the 2025-2026 regular season, earning 60 victories after losing 68 games and setting an NBA record with 28 straight losses two years prior. The teams split four regular-season games. James Harden played the Pistons for the first time since being acquired by Cleveland.

Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday night in Detroit. B. Bickerstaff, who was fired by Cleveland and hired by Detroit a month later. Cade Cunningham went up for a layup during the Pistons' win.