The Cleveland Cavaliers powered past the Detroit Pistons 125–94 on Sunday night at Little Caesars Arena, ending a four-year quest by securing a spot in the Eastern Conference finals.
Guard Donovan Mitchell paced Cleveland with 26 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, marking the first time in his career he has advanced beyond the second round. Center Jarrett Allen added 23 points, while reserve Sam Merrill came off the bench to score 23 and bury five three-pointers.
The victory capped a season in which the Cavaliers aggressively upgraded their roster, acquiring James Harden at the trade deadline to bolster a nucleus that had fallen in the conference semifinals the previous two postseasons. On Sunday, that group appeared fully synchronized—healthier, calmer and deeper.
Cleveland seized control early, building a 17-point halftime cushion and never allowing Detroit to draw closer than single digits. When the Pistons trimmed the margin in the third quarter, Mitchell and Allen quickly responded, restoring a comfortable lead and erasing any suspense.
Detroit entered the playoffs as the East’s top seed after a 60-win regular season and had forced the decisive game with a gritty series comeback. Guard Cade Cunningham led a resilient effort throughout the postseason, but the Pistons came up short in the finale.
“Obviously not the way we would’ve liked to end it,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “The Cavs just outplayed us tonight. I gotta give them credit.”
For Cleveland, Sunday’s performance delivered long-awaited validation; for Detroit, it marked a painful conclusion to an otherwise standout year.
Source: Hoops Wire
