NBA schedules Cavaliers-Pistons Game 6

The NBA’s official playoff schedule showed two conference-semifinal Game 6s on Friday, May 15, with the Detroit Pistons visiting the Cleveland Cavaliers and the San Antonio Spurs visiting the Minnesota Timberwolves. (nba.com) The league’s playoff schedule page listed Detroit at Cleveland for Friday and San Antonio at Minnesota at 9:30 p.m. Eastern on Prime Video. Cleveland entered its game leading the series 3-2, and San Antonio also held a 3-2 lead entering the night. Friday’s setup left those two series as the only conference-semifinal matchups still on the floor. (nba.com) The New York Knicks had already finished off Philadelphia 4-0 in the East, and the Oklahoma City Thunder had swept the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 in the West, according to the NBA’s bracket page. ### Why was Cavaliers-Pistons Game 6 on the schedule Friday? The NBA’s May 15 playoff schedule listed “Detroit at Cleveland” as Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The league’s series page showed Cleveland ahead 3-2 after five games, which made Friday a potential closeout game for the Cavaliers and an elimination game for Detroit. (nba.com) Game 5 pushed the series to that point. NBA.com’s playoff schedule showed Cleveland winning Game 5 by a 117-113 score in overtime, trimming Detroit’s early 2-0 series lead into a 3-2 Cleveland advantage. (nba.com) ### What exactly did the league list for Friday night? The NBA’s playoff schedule page, updated May 15, showed two semifinal games for Friday. The first was Detroit at Cleveland, marked as live on Prime Video, and the second was San Antonio at Minnesota at 9:30 p.m. Eastern, also on Prime Video. (nba.com) USA Today’s playoff schedule page matched that lineup, saying the Cavaliers would host the Pistons and the Timberwolves would host the Spurs in a Friday-night doubleheader. NBC Sports’ bracket page also listed Detroit at Cleveland at 7 p.m. (nba.com) Eastern and San Antonio at Minnesota at 9:30 p.m. Eastern. ### Where did the series stand before tipoff? Cleveland’s series page on NBA.com listed Donovan Mitchell as the Cavaliers’ leading scorer in the matchup at 28.5 points per game through five contests. (nba.com) The same page listed Cade Cunningham at 25.7 points and 8.2 assists per game for Detroit. San Antonio’s 3-2 edge over Minnesota meant both Friday games carried the same stakes. A win by Cleveland or San Antonio would end its series, while a loss would force a deciding Game 7 on Sunday. (usatoday.com) ### Were these really the only semifinal games left that night? The NBA’s bracket showed only two unfinished conference-semifinal series as of Friday’s schedule update. New York had already advanced to the Eastern Conference finals, and Oklahoma City had already advanced to the Western Conference finals. (nba.com) That left Cavaliers-Pistons and Spurs-Timberwolves as the remaining second-round games on May 15. USA Today and other updated bracket pages reflected the same two-game slate for Friday night. (nba.com) ### What happens if either team loses Friday? The NBA schedule listed Game 7 in the Cavaliers-Pistons series for Sunday, May 17, at Detroit, if necessary. The same schedule listed Game 7 in the Spurs-Timberwolves series for Sunday, May 17, at San Antonio, also if necessary. (nba.com) The next round is already partially set. NBA.com’s playoff schedule showed the Eastern Conference finals as Detroit-or-Cleveland against New York, and the Western Conference finals as San Antonio-or-Minnesota against Oklahoma City, with dates still listed as to be determined. (usatoday.com) (nba.com)