Pistons slight favorites for Game 7

The Detroit Pistons entered Sunday’s Game 7 against the Cleveland Cavaliers as slight betting favorites in an Eastern Conference semifinal that will decide New York’s next opponent. ESPN’s NBA futures page listed Detroit at +1800 to win the championship and Cleveland at +4500 before the game, while the NBA’s playoff bracket showed the series tied 3-3. The NBA’s official playoff schedule listed Game 7 for 8 p.m. Eastern on May 17 at Detroit, with Prime Video carrying the broadcast. The league’s bracket page showed the winner advancing to face the Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals after New York swept Philadelphia 4-0 in the other semifinal. ### How did this series get to a winner-take-all game? (espn.com) The NBA’s schedule page showed Detroit opening the series with back-to-back wins, 111-101 in Game 1 and 107-97 in Game 2, before Cleveland answered with three straight victories. Cleveland took Game 3 by a 116-109 score, won Game 4 112-103 and edged Game 5 117-113 in overtime. Friday’s Game 6 sent the matchup back to Michigan. (nba.com) NBA.com’s playoff schedule listed Detroit’s 115-94 win in Cleveland on May 15 as the result that tied the series 3-3 and forced Sunday’s deciding game. ### What did the betting market show before tipoff? ESPN’s futures board on Sunday put Detroit behind only Oklahoma City, San Antonio and New York in championship pricing. (nba.com) The Pistons were listed at +1800, while Cleveland was listed at +4500. ESPN’s conference futures page also showed Detroit at +195 to win the East and Cleveland at +700. Those prices left New York as the Eastern Conference favorite at -145 before Game 7. (nba.com) AZCentral’s Game 7 preview reported that Detroit was favored for Sunday night’s matchup. The same outlet said the game would determine which team moves on to meet the Knicks in the conference finals. (espn.com) ### Where is Game 7, and how can viewers watch it? NBA.com listed the game as Cleveland at Detroit, giving the Pistons home court for the deciding matchup. (espn.com) The league schedule set the start time at 8 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, May 17. USA Today’s television listing said there was no traditional TV channel for the game and directed viewers to streaming. (azcentral.com) NBA.com’s series page and playoff schedule both listed Prime Video as the carrier. ### Who is already waiting in the East finals? New York had already secured its place before Detroit and Cleveland played Sunday night. (nba.com) NBA.com’s series page showed the Knicks beating the 76ers 4-0, and the league schedule listed the East finals pairing as “DET/CLE vs. (3) New York.” ESPN’s playoff tracker also described the Knicks as already through to the conference finals. (usatoday.com) That left Detroit and Cleveland playing for the final remaining spot in the Eastern bracket. ### What comes next after Sunday night? The NBA’s playoff schedule said the Eastern Conference finals matchup will be Detroit or Cleveland against New York, with game dates still listed as to be determined as of May 16. (api-hub.nba.com) The same schedule set the NBA Finals to begin on June 3 on ABC. Sunday’s result will complete the conference finals field. (espn.com) NBA.com’s bracket already shows Oklahoma City facing San Antonio in the West finals beginning May 18, while the East side remains open until Pistons-Cavaliers Game 7 is decided. (nba.com)