NBA Playoffs: Pistons End Cavaliers’ Home Unbeaten Run, Force Game 7

Cade Cunningham, Pistons Stave Off Elimination, Set Up Winner-Takes-All Game 7 vs Cavs

The Pistons used a 22-4 second-quarter run to take control and ended Cleveland’s perfect home playoff record.

Jalen Duren added 11 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 3 steals in Detroit’s must-win Game 6 victory...

Cade Cunningham dropped 21 points to lead the Detroit Pistons past the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-94 on Friday, staving off elimination and forcing a winner-takes-all Game 7 in the Eastern Conferenc semifinals.

The top-seeded Cavaliers entered the game up 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, but Detroit came out firing on the road and built a double-digit lead early that Cleveland never closed.

Cleveland had been perfect at home in Rocket Arena this postseason, but now they’ll have to win in Detroit on Sunday to keep their playoff run alive in the decisive Game 7.

Cade's showcasing his skills👏

Handles ✅
Midrange ✅
Three ✅

Pistons lead by 12 in Q2 of Game 6! pic.twitter.com/nV0NlQ7oqV 

— NBA (@NBA) May 15, 2026

Cunningham led the scoring with 21 points, hitting five threes, while Jalen Duren anchored the defense with 11 rebounds, 3 blocks, and a steal.

Six Pistons finished in double digits. Paul Reed chipped in 17 off the bench, and both Duren and Daniss Jenkins added 15 points each.

“We're just playing our brand of basketball, coming out competing, trying to execute our system to the best of our ability, and we're together,” Cunningham said afterward.

“We stick together through everything, so it's a great win for us.”

The Pistons are relentless 😤

Paul Reed finishes through contact after a wild sequence!

Detroit leads by 10 in Q3 of Game 6 🍿 pic.twitter.com/7E3Pm9nsHG

— NBA (@NBA) May 16, 2026

James Harden paced Cleveland with 23 points, while Donovan Mitchell was held to 18.  

The Cavs came out hot and built a six-point lead in the first quarter, but Detroit quickly found their rhythm and took control.  

YOU KNOW THE PISTONS WON AGAIN pic.twitter.com/6VBe4vRWEb

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 16, 2026

A 22-4 run in the second put the Pistons up 39-27. Cleveland trimmed it to 54-51 by halftime, but Detroit responded with a 30-19 third quarter to pull away again.

Up 14 heading into the fourth, Detroit never let Cleveland back in it, holding a double-digit lead the rest of the way to seal the win.