Mitchell leads Cavaliers past Pistons in decisive Game 7 road win
mitchell-leads-cavaliers-past-pistons-game-7-road-win
The Cleveland Cavaliers delivered a dominant 125-94 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, May 18, 2026, at Little Caesars Arena, sealing their spot in the Eastern Conference finals.
Key moment
Cleveland built a double-digit lead in the opening quarter and never trailed, turning the series decider into its most complete performance of the season.
Stat leaders
Donovan Mitchell: 26 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 0 turnovers
Jarrett Allen: 23 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block
Sam Merrill: 23 points, 5-of-8 from three-point range
Evan Mobley: 21 points (7-of-10 FG), 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks
Mitchell repeatedly drove past multiple defenders and found open teammates early, freeing Allen and Mobley for uncontested dunks and sparking an offense that shot 54 percent. The All-Star guard has now reached the conference finals for the first time in his nine-year career.
Coaching move pays off
Head coach Kenny Atkinson inserted Max Strus into the starting lineup in place of Dean Wade. The switch balanced the rotation without sacrificing scoring; Wade scored five quick points, and Strus’ spacing helped Cleveland’s starters open the floor.
Bench X-factor
Merrill, who averaged 6.1 points during the series, supplied 14 in the first half alone. His perimeter shooting and multiple dives for loose balls swung momentum whenever Detroit threatened to rally.
Pistons contained
Cleveland’s defense limited Cade Cunningham to 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting, including 0-for-7 from deep, and held Tobias Harris without a field goal. James Harden finished with 9 points but added 6 assists and several late rebounds.
What they said
“He kept this thing together when things weren’t going great,” Atkinson said of Mitchell. “His leadership carried us on the court.”
Mitchell added, “This isn’t the end. We still have more to do.”
Next up
The Cavaliers, who have played every other day for seven straight games, open the conference finals Tuesday against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Detroit’s season ends after a 60-win campaign under former Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
Source: Hoops Wire
