Pistons force Game 7 with 115-94 Game 6 win over Cavaliers

Detroit extended its season on Friday, May 15, with a 115-94 win over Cleveland in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The result tied the series 3-3 and sent it back to Detroit for a deciding Game 7, according to the NBA’s official playoff bracket. New York has already advanced to the Eastern Conference finals and will face the winner next, the bracket shows. The score mattered because Cleveland had taken the previous three games and entered Friday with a chance to close the series. Instead, Detroit answered with its most lopsided win since the opening two games of the matchup and regained home court for the final game. The NBA’s playoff page described it as Detroit forcing Game 7 at home after a strong bench effort. ### How did Detroit turn a close series back in its favor? Friday’s 21-point margin stopped a Cleveland run that had flipped the series after Detroit’s early lead. The Cavaliers had won Games 3, 4 and 5, including a 117-113 overtime victory on May 13 that put Detroit on the brink, according to the NBA playoff page. Detroit’s response in Game 6 was to hold Cleveland under 100 points for the first time in the series. (nba.com) The 3-3 series score now reflects a matchup that has swung repeatedly. Detroit opened the series by knocking out Orlando in seven games, while Cleveland reached the semifinals by eliminating Toronto in seven, the official bracket shows. That left Friday as another elimination game for both teams’ playoff path. ### What do the official NBA pages show about Cade Cunningham’s night? (nba.com) Cade Cunningham finished as Detroit’s leading scorer with 21 points, according to the NBA playoff page. NBA.com’s roundup also paired Cunningham with Jalen Duren, listing Duren at 15 points and 11 rebounds in the Game 6 win. The league’s recap highlighted Cunningham as the central offensive figure as Detroit evened the series. (nba.com) The official box-score page confirms the game and date but does not display full stat lines in the excerpt available here. The NBA playoff page, however, repeatedly identified Cunningham as Detroit’s top scorer in the win and said the Pistons received major help from the bench. ### What changed after Cleveland had a chance to clinch? (nba.com) May 13 was the turning point Cleveland hoped would end the series, when the Cavaliers closed regulation on a 9-0 run and then outscored Detroit 14-10 in overtime to take a 3-2 lead, the NBA said in its Game 5 recap. That gave Cleveland two chances to finish the matchup. Friday’s loss meant the Cavaliers used the first and now must win on the road in Game 7. (nba.com) Detroit, by contrast, moved the series back to Little Caesars Arena. The bracket lists Sunday’s game in the Pistons’ series line and shows the matchup scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Pacific time on Prime Video, which corresponds to 8:00 p.m. Eastern in Detroit. ### Who is waiting in the next round? New York is already through to the Eastern Conference finals, according to the NBA playoff bracket. (nba.com) The bracket shows the Knicks advancing 4-0 from their semifinal series and waiting for either Detroit or Cleveland. That means Sunday’s winner moves directly into the conference finals against New York. (nba.com) The Western Conference finals are also set, with Oklahoma City and San Antonio listed on the bracket for a Monday, May 18, opener. ### When and where is Game 7? Sunday, May 17, is the date the NBA lists for Game 7 between Detroit and Cleveland. The official bracket places the game in Detroit and lists a 5:00 p.m. (nba.com) Pacific start on Prime Video. Detroit will have home court for that final game because the series returned there after Friday’s win. The winner will advance to face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals, according to the NBA’s official playoff bracket. (nba.com)