DETROIT – No drama. No last-minute heroics. The Cleveland Cavaliers went into Little Caesars Arena and dismantled the Detroit Pistons 125-94 in Game 7, ending the series with the kind of statement win that felt appropriate for the No. 4 seed that just ousted the East’s best team.
Donovan Mitchell finished with 26 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds. He saved his best for the third quarter – 15 of his points came in that stretch, breaking open a game Detroit still had hope of keeping close. The Cavaliers led by as many as 35 before the final buzzer.
Four scorers above 20, no weaknesses exposed
Jarrett Allen (23 pts) and Sam Merrill (23 pts) matched Mitchell’s production, while Evan Mobley added 21 points and 12 rebounds. Cleveland’s depth has been the story of this series, and Game 7 was no different. The Pistons, who had clawed back to force this game with a dominant second half in Game 6, found no answers.
Daniss Jenkins led Detroit with 17 points. Cade Cunningham and Duncan Robinson each scored 13, but the Pistons’ offense never found rhythm against Cleveland’s length and activity. The 31-point margin tells the story cleanly.
Cleveland’s ninth Eastern Conference Finals
The win puts Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals for the ninth time in franchise history – and the first since 2018. They will face the third-seeded New York Knicks, a team that watched this Game 7 from a distance. OG Anunoby returned to full practice on Saturday and is expected to be ready for Game 1.
For the Cavaliers, it’s validation of a long rebuild. For the Pistons – who were the East’s top seed – the loss opens hard questions about where this young core goes from here.
