Pistons stave off elimination, force Game 7 vs Cavaliers with Game 6 win

The Detroit Pistons kept their season alive on Friday, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-94 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals to level the series at 3-3. Cade Cunningham scored 21 points, Jalen Duren had 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Detroit turned a close game into a rout with a dominant second half. The NBA’s official playoff page lists Game 7 for Sunday, May 17, at 8 p.m. ET in Detroit, with the winner moving on to face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals. ### How did Detroit push this series to a seventh game? Detroit broke the game open after halftime, outscoring Cleveland 60-40 in the second half and winning by 21 points at Rocket Arena. The Pistons shot 52.4% from the field, made 16 of 36 three-point attempts, and finished with a 43-40 rebounding edge, according to NBA box score data. (nba.com) Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 21 points and eight assists, while Duren gave the Pistons interior production with 15 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Paul Reed added 17 points off the bench, Daniss Jenkins scored 15, and Duncan Robinson hit four three-pointers for 14 points. The Associated Press reported that Detroit “dominated the second half,” and Cunningham said after the game, “It’s going to be a fun environment for us and we’re excited to get back to the crib.” (nba.com) ### Where did the Cavaliers lose control? Cleveland finished with 20 turnovers and shot 39.0% from the field in its worst offensive performance of the series by points scored. (nba.com) Donovan Mitchell scored 18 points on 6-of-20 shooting, while Evan Mobley also had 18 and James Harden led the Cavaliers with 23 points. The Cavaliers were within reach at halftime, but their offense stalled after the break. (apnews.com) Max Strus went 2 for 9 from the field, Dennis Schröder did not score, and Cleveland made 12 of 35 shots from three-point range. ### Why is Game 7 notable for this matchup? The series has swung repeatedly. The NBA playoff page shows Detroit won the first two games, Cleveland answered with wins in Games 3 and 4, the Cavaliers took Game 5 in overtime for a 3-2 lead, and the Pistons responded in Game 6 to force the decider. (nba.com) Friday’s result also sends the series back to Detroit, where the top-seeded Pistons will host the deciding game. (nba.com) The winner will advance from the Eastern Conference semifinals to meet the Knicks in the next round, according to the NBA bracket. ### What does Detroit have going into Sunday? Detroit enters Game 7 with Cunningham producing across the series. (nba.com) The NBA playoff page lists Cunningham as Detroit’s series leader at 25.7 points and 8.3 assists per game through six games. The Pistons also got broad scoring support in Game 6. Six Detroit players scored at least 10 points, and the bench helped widen the margin as Cleveland’s starters struggled to protect the ball and find consistent shooting. (nba.com) ### What happens next, and when? Game 7 is set for Sunday, May 17, at 8 p.m. ET in Detroit, according to NBA.com. The NBA playoff bracket lists the series winner as the team that will face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals next week. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2)