The Detroit Pistons defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 111-101 on May 5, 2026, at Little Caesars Arena. This victory marked the end of a 12-game postseason losing streak against the Cavaliers and gave the Pistons a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 23 points. His performance was crucial as Detroit built a lead of 18 points during the game. James Harden contributed 22 points for Cleveland but could not secure a win.
The Pistons had struggled in recent postseason appearances, losing six straight Game 1s before this triumph. They rallied from a 3-1 deficit against Orlando in the first round, marking their first playoff advancement since 2008.
Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points, ending his NBA-record streak of scoring over 30 points in nine consecutive series openers. The Cavaliers reached this round after defeating Toronto in seven games, continuing their playoff presence for the third consecutive year.
The next game is scheduled for Thursday night in Detroit. The Pistons will aim to extend their series lead while the Cavaliers look to bounce back.
