Cavaliers clinch series, beat Pistons in Game 7 to advance to conference semifinals

The Cleveland Cavaliers closed out Detroit 125-94 on Sunday night in Game 7 at Little Caesars Arena, capping a comeback from a 2-0 series deficit and moving into the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2018. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 26 points, while Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill added 23 apiece, according to the NBA's game summary. The fourth-seeded Cavaliers will face the third-seeded New York Knicks in the next round, with Game 1 scheduled for Tuesday in New York. On the same day, the NBA announced that Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had won his second straight Most Valuable Player award. ### How did Cleveland finish off Detroit in Game 7? Cleveland opened separation in the third quarter, when Mitchell scored 15 points and the Cavaliers turned a competitive game into a rout, according to the NBA recap. Evan Mobley finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds as Cleveland controlled the game from the opening tip and never allowed Detroit to recover. The 125-94 final gave Cleveland four wins in the last five games of the series after Detroit took the first two. The Cavaliers became the first team in the matchup to win on the road since the series opened, and they did it in a game that ended Detroit's bid for its first conference finals appearance since 2008. ### Which Cavaliers carried the scoring load? (nba.com) Donovan Mitchell's 26 points led Cleveland, but the margin came from balance as much as star power. Jarrett Allen scored 23, Sam Merrill scored 23, and Mobley posted a 21-point, 12-rebound double-double, according to the NBA game summary. Mitchell said after the game that Cleveland had not set its goal at merely reaching this round. "We're just one step closer," he said, according to the Associated Press report carried on NBA.com. (nba.com) ### What did the loss look like for Detroit? Detroit got 17 points from Daniss Jenkins, while Cade Cunningham and Duncan Robinson finished with 13 each, according to the NBA recap. (nba.com) Cunningham, who had helped force Game 7 with a Game 6 win, said the defeat felt similar to last year's home playoff loss. "That game sucked," Cunningham said, according to the Associated Press account. The top-seeded Pistons finished one win short of their first trip to the conference finals in 18 years. The series had swung sharply after Detroit's 2-0 lead, with Cleveland taking control as the matchup moved deeper into May. ### When do the Cavaliers and Knicks start? The NBA schedule lists Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals for Tuesday, May 19, in New York. (nba.com) Game 2 is set for Thursday, May 21, before the series shifts to Cleveland for Game 3 on Saturday, May 23, and Game 4 on Monday, May 25. The bracket now has Cleveland and New York on one side and San Antonio against Oklahoma City on the other. (nba.com) The Western Conference finals open Monday, May 18, in Oklahoma City. ### Why was Sunday also an awards day for the NBA? The NBA announced Sunday that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the 2025-26 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player award, his second straight MVP. The league said he became the 14th player to win back-to-back MVPs and the 18th to win at least two overall. (nba.com) Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points per game this season, according to the NBA's awards release, and he is due to open the Western Conference finals against San Antonio on Monday night. (nba.com) NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is expected to present him with the trophy at that game, the league said. Tuesday, May 19, is the next date on Cleveland's calendar, when the Cavaliers open the Eastern Conference finals against the Knicks in New York. (nba.com) The NBA schedule lists a 5:00 p.m. Pacific start for Game 1. (nba.com)