Pistons force Game 7 with 115–94 win in Cleveland

Detroit kept its season alive on Friday with a 115-94 win over Cleveland in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The victory tied the series 3-3 and sent it to a deciding Game 7, according to NBA.com. Rocket Arena hosted Game 6, where the Pistons shot 52.4% from the field and made 16 of 36 from 3-point range. Cleveland shot 39.0% and committed 20 turnovers, the official box score showed. ### How did Detroit turn a close game into a rout? Detroit led 54-51 at halftime before breaking the game open in the third quarter. The Pistons outscored the Cavaliers 30-19 in that period and pushed the margin to 14 entering the fourth, according to the NBA play-by-play and box score. Cleveland's offense stalled after the break. (nba.com) The Cavaliers finished with 15 assists against 20 turnovers, while Detroit posted 25 assists and nine steals. The Pistons also finished plus-21 overall. ### Which players set the tone for Detroit? Cade Cunningham scored 21 points in 42:01 and added eight assists for Detroit, the official NBA box score showed. (nba.com) Jalen Duren had 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Paul Reed added 17 points in 16:12 off the bench. Duncan Robinson scored 14 points and made four 3-pointers. Daniss Jenkins also gave Detroit 15 points and three 3-pointers in 30:36. Ausar Thompson added 10 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals. Detroit had seven players score at least eight points. ### What went wrong for Cleveland? James Harden led Cleveland with 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Donovan Mitchell scored 18 points on 6-for-20 shooting, according to the NBA box score. (nba.com) Evan Mobley added 18 points and Jarrett Allen had 13 points and eight rebounds. The Cavaliers did not get enough efficient perimeter scoring. (nba.com) Max Strus shot 2-for-9, Dennis Schröder went scoreless in 15:19, and Cleveland made 12 of 35 from beyond the arc. The team also turned the ball over 20 times, compared with 17 for Detroit. ### Was the result driven by shooting, depth or defense? Detroit's numbers showed all three. (nba.com) The Pistons shot 43-for-82 overall and 44.4% from 3-point range, while Cleveland went 30-for-77 and 34.3% from deep. Detroit also won the rebounding margin 43-40. The bench gap was also significant. Paul Reed and Marcus Sasser combined for 26 points for Detroit, and Robinson added 14 as a reserve. (nba.com) Cleveland got 10 points from Sam Merrill and little else from its second unit. ### What does the series look like heading into Game 7? The NBA's playoff schedule lists the series as tied 3-3 after Detroit won the first two games, Cleveland took the next three, and Detroit answered in Game 6. (nba.com) The results were 111-101 and 107-97 for the Pistons in Games 1 and 2, then 116-109, 112-103 and 117-113 in overtime for the Cavaliers in Games 3 through 5. Sunday's Game 7 is scheduled for May 17 at 8 p.m. ET, with Cleveland at Detroit on Prime Video, according to NBA.com. The winner advances to the Eastern Conference finals against New York. (nba.com)