Pistons force Game 7 with 115-94 win over Cavaliers

The Detroit Pistons extended their season on May 15 with a 115-94 road win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. NBA.com listed the series as tied 3-3 after Detroit’s victory at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, with Game 7 scheduled for Sunday, May 17, in Detroit at 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video. Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 21 points, according to the NBA’s game summary, and the Pistons pulled away in the second half after a close opening quarter. The result kept alive a postseason run in which Detroit has already won multiple elimination games. ### How did Detroit force the series back to Michigan? (nba.com) Detroit opened up the game after the first quarter and controlled the second half, finishing with a 21-point win. The NBA’s official recap said the Pistons “dominated the second half,” while Sporting News described the game as one in which Cleveland never recovered after Detroit created separation. (nba.com) The Pistons shot 43-for-82 from the field and 16-for-36 from 3-point range, while Cleveland shot 30-for-78 overall, according to Sporting News’ live game file. Detroit also outscored the Cavaliers 48-19 in bench points, the NBA recap said. (nba.com) ### Which players set the tone in Game 6? Cunningham scored 21 points and made five 3-pointers, the NBA recap said. Jalen Duren added 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Daniss Jenkins also scored 15 for Detroit. Duncan Robinson, back after missing Game 5 with a lower back injury, scored 14 points off the bench with four 3-pointers. (sportingnews.com) Donovan Mitchell scored 18 points for Cleveland on 6-of-20 shooting, Sporting News reported. Sporting News also said Detroit had four starters in double figures and got 31 combined bench points from two reserves, underscoring the balance that carried the Pistons through Game 6. (nba.com) ### What made the result stand out beyond the score? The NBA’s official recap said Detroit’s 21-point margin tied a 66-year-old playoff record for the largest Game 6 road win by a team trailing 3-2 in a series. The comparison cited by the league was the St. Louis Hawks’ 117-96 win over the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1960 West Division finals. (sportingnews.com) J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit’s coach, told reporters after the game that “the defense and the physicality” carried the Pistons when they were at their best. Cunningham said the team was “excited to get back to the crib” for the decider in Detroit, according to the NBA recap. ### How unusual has Detroit’s playoff path been? (nba.com) Detroit has now won four postseason games while facing elimination, according to the NBA recap. The Pistons were also down 3-1 against Orlando in the first round before winning the final three games of that series to advance. Sporting News’ series schedule shows Detroit won Games 1 and 2, dropped Games 3, 4 and 5, then answered with the Game 6 win in Cleveland. (nba.com) That sequence set up a winner-take-all finish after Cleveland had moved within one victory of the Eastern Conference finals. ### When is Game 7, and what does it decide? Game 7 is scheduled for Sunday, May 17, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, with the NBA listing an 8 p.m. ET start on Prime Video. Sporting News’ updated playoff bracket also lists the Pistons-Cavaliers series at 3-3 and shows the winner advancing to face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals. (sportingnews.com) The NBA’s playoff schedule page says the Eastern Conference finals matchup will be Detroit or Cleveland against New York, with dates to be announced after the semifinal concludes. Sunday’s game will determine which team joins the Knicks in that round. (nba.com)