By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Cleveland Cavaliers advanced to their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2018 by defeating the Detroit Pistons, 125–94, in the last game of the second round in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google.
Sunday’s clash at Little Caesars Arena flipped the script on the home-court advantage, as Donovan Mitchell went for 26 points, while Sam Merrill and Jarrett Allen added 23 points each, and Evan Mobley posted a 21-point, 12-rebound double-double. Defense set the tone early, helping them establish a nine-point lead by the end of the first quarter, before blowing the game completely open during the second quarter. The hosts were stunned further in the second half as the Cavs continued to pour it on, peaking at 35 points.
From a European perspective, the team coached by Kenny Atkinson kept both Dutch Tristan Enaruna and French Olivier Sarr out of the lineup, leaving German guard Dennis Schroder as the only active European player to see court time in this finale. The 32-year-old point guard logged 18 minutes off the bench, contributing two points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal. On the injury front, the only unavailable player between both sides for the decider was Larry Nance Jr., who was ruled out due to an illness.
This contest marked the 159th Game 7, but only the fourth time in NBA history, and the first time in ten years, that both teams in a Game 7 had played a full seven-game series in the previous round. History favored the Pistons, as the franchise held a perfect 5–0 record in Game 7s at home, which included their first-round victory against the Orlando Magic.
NBA Playoffs 2026
Eastern Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
Detroit Pistons – Orlando Magic 4-3 (101-112, 98-83, 105-113, 88-94, 116-109, 93-79, 116-94)
Cleveland Cavaliers – Toronto Raptors 4-3 (126-113, 115-105, 104-126, 89-93, 125-120, 110-112, 114-102)
New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks 4-2 (113-102, 106-107, 108-109, 114-98, 126-97, 140-89)
Boston Celtics – Philadelphia 76ers 3-4 (123-91, 97-111, 108-100, 128-96, 97-113, 93-106, 100-109)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
Detroit Pistons – Cleveland Cavaliers 3-4 (111-101, 107-97, 109-116, 103-112, 113-117, 115-94, 94-125)
New York Knicks – Philadelphia 76ers 4-0 (137-98, 108-102, 108-94, 144-114)
Finals (best-of-seven)
New York Knicks – Cleveland Cavaliers
Western Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Phoenix Suns 4-0 (119-84, 120-107, 121-109, 131-122)
Los Angeles Lakers – Houston Rockets 4-2 (107-98, 101-94, 112-108, 96-115, 93-99, 98-78)
Denver Nuggets – Minnesota Timberwolves 2-4 (126-115, 114-119, 96-113, 96-112, 125-113, 98-110)
San Antonio Spurs – Portland Trail Blazers 4-1 (111-98, 103-106, 120-108, 114-93, 114-95)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 (108-90, 125-107, 131-108, 115-110)
San Antonio Spurs – Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2 (102-104, 133-95, 115-108, 109-114, 126-97, 139-109)
Finals (best-of-seven)
Oklahoma City Thunder – San Antonio Spurs
NBA Finals 2026 (best-of-seven)
Eastern Conference and Western Conference champions