Cavaliers Eliminate Pistons 125-94 in Game 7 to Advance to Eastern Conference Finals

Behind a game-high 26 points from Donovan Mitchell and total physical dominance in the paint, Cleveland destroyed the East's top seed to advance to the next round.

Photo: AP

The Cleveland Cavaliers delivered a masterclass performance under absolute pressure. In a decisive Game 7 on Sunday night, the Ohio squad completely dismantled the Detroit Pistons with a crushing 125-94 victory on the road, completing a stunning upset against the Eastern Conference's top seed to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks.

Entering the floor as the fourth seed, the Cavaliers dictated the tempo right from the opening tip-off. Cleveland capitalized heavily on Detroit’s early shooting struggles, turning misses into fast-break opportunities to build a 31-22 lead by the start of the second period. Though the Pistons scored the first two baskets of the second quarter, Cleveland immediately slammed the door with a devastating 24-9 run. Detroit’s offensive drought deepened, allowing the Cavs to head into the locker room with a commanding 64-47 halftime advantage.

The second half turned into a complete blowout. Donovan Mitchell, who finished as the game’s leading scorer with 26 points, erased any hopes of a Detroit comeback by pouring in 15 points in the third quarter alone. Cleveland's lead ballooned to as many as 35 points, with Detroit only managing to pull within 17 during the third frame. The Cavaliers physically overwhelmed the Pistons in the paint by a 58 to 34 margin and shot an efficient 50.6% from the field, compared to Detroit's dismal 35.3%.

Alongside Mitchell's brilliance, Cleveland's balanced attack saw Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill score 23 points apiece, while Evan Mobley anchored the interior with a double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds. For the Pistons, Daniss Jenkins led the effort with 17 points, followed by Cade Cunningham and Duncan Robinson with 13 points each. With this victory, Cleveland makes its ninth Conference Finals appearance in franchise history and its deepest postseason run since LeBron James' final year with the team in 2018. Additionally, this marks Mitchell’s first-ever trip to the Conference Finals in his nine career postseasons.