Cavaliers crush Pistons in Game 7, reach first East finals since 2018
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DETROIT — The Cleveland Cavaliers overpowered the Detroit Pistons 125-94 on Sunday night to win their best-of-seven series and secure a spot in the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in eight years.
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 26 points, including 15 in a decisive third quarter. Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill each had 23, and Evan Mobley added 21 points and 12 rebounds as the fourth seed eliminated the East’s top seed in front of a silenced Little Caesars Arena crowd.
Cleveland will meet the No. 3 seed New York Knicks in Game 1 on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.
Daniss Jenkins paced Detroit with 17 points, while Cade Cunningham and Duncan Robinson scored 13 apiece. The Pistons, aiming for their first conference finals appearance since 2008, shot just 35.3% from the field and were outscored 58-34 in the paint.
The Cavaliers set the tone early, turning missed shots into transition opportunities to build a 31-22 lead after one quarter. A 24-9 surge early in the second stretched the margin to double digits, and Cleveland entered halftime ahead 64-47. The visitors’ advantage ballooned to 35 in the second half; Detroit never drew closer than 17.
The 31-point win ranks as the third-largest road victory in a Game 7, according to ESPN Research.
The trip to the conference finals is the franchise’s ninth overall and its deepest postseason run since LeBron James’ final season with the team in 2018. It also marks Mitchell’s first appearance in a conference finals after nine playoff campaigns.
Source: ESPN
