NBA schedules Game 6 for Cavaliers–Pistons and Spurs–Timberwolves on May 15

The NBA’s Friday playoff slate has narrowed to two Game 6s, with the Detroit Pistons at the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7 p.m. Eastern and the San Antonio Spurs at the Minnesota Timberwolves at 9:30 p.m. Eastern. The league schedule lists both games for May 15, with Cleveland and San Antonio each holding 3-2 leads in their conference semifinal series. Cleveland moved in front on May 13 with a 117-113 overtime win in Detroit. NBA.com’s game summary said the Cavaliers closed on a 13-0 run spanning late regulation and overtime, and Donovan Mitchell’s 3-pointer put Cleveland ahead by seven with 2:39 left in the extra period. Cade Cunningham finished with 39 points and nine assists for Detroit, according to the same summary. (basketball.realgm.com) San Antonio took its 3-2 lead on May 12. NBA.com’s recap said Victor Wembanyama led a “pivotal Game 5 win” as the Spurs controlled the paint against Minnesota, sending the series back to Minneapolis for Game 6. ### Why is Cleveland hosting Game 6 if Detroit was the higher seed? (nba.com) Detroit opened the series at home as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference bracket, while Cleveland entered as the No. 4 seed. ESPN’s playoff listings show the Pistons won Games 1 and 2 at home before the Cavaliers answered with wins in Games 3, 4 and 5. Under the 2-2-1-1-1 format, Game 6 shifts back to the lower seed’s home floor because Cleveland hosted Games 3 and 4. (nba.com) The Friday listing from RealGM places Game 6 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. NBA.com’s schedule page also shows Detroit at Cleveland on May 15 with a Game 7, if necessary, set for May 17. ### What changed in Cavaliers-Pistons after Detroit’s 2-0 start? Detroit won the first two games, 111-101 on May 5 and 107-97 on May 7, according to ESPN’s series pages. (espn.com) Cleveland then cut the deficit with a 116-109 win in Game 3, tied the series in Game 4, and took the lead in overtime in Game 5. (basketball.realgm.com) James Harden and Mitchell have figured prominently in Cleveland’s turnaround. NBA.com’s Game 5 recap said Harden led the Cavaliers to the road win that put them ahead 3-2, while Mitchell hit the late 3-pointer that stretched the overtime margin. (espn.com) ### What is on the line in Minneapolis? San Antonio can close out the Timberwolves with a road win on Friday night. NBA.com’s schedule page lists the matchup as West semifinals Game 6, with the Spurs leading 3-2, and marks a Game 7 for May 17 if Minnesota extends the series. Minnesota’s home date matters beyond the series itself because Oklahoma City is waiting in the Western Conference finals bracket. (nba.com) ESPN’s playoffs page says the Thunder remain alive as the next opponent for the winner of Spurs-Timberwolves. (nba.com) ### Where can viewers find the official schedule and next dates? NBA.com’s official schedule page carries the May 15 listings and the if-necessary Game 7 dates for both series. ESPN’s schedule and playoff pages also show the same two games on Friday’s slate. Sunday, May 17, is the next scheduled date if either trailing team wins Friday. (espn.com) NBA.com’s schedule page lists Game 7s for Cavaliers-Pistons and Timberwolves-Spurs on that date, while Oklahoma City remains idle until the Western series is decided. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2)