Cavaliers Rout Pistons 118-88 in Game 7 to Reach Eastern Conference Finals

The Cleveland Cavaliers routed the Detroit Pistons 118-88 in a road Game 7 on Sunday night at Little Caesars Arena, sending Cleveland to its first Eastern Conference finals since 2018 and setting up a series against the New York Knicks.

Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 26 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, while Sam Merrill added 23 points in Cleveland’s balanced attack. The Cavaliers seized control with efficient offense and a clear edge on the glass, shooting 40 of 76 from the field, or 52.6%, compared with Detroit’s 29 of 77, or 37.7%. Cleveland also out-rebounded the Pistons 62-46, finished with 29 assists and committed just nine turnovers.

The game decided an Eastern Conference semifinal series that had been tied 3-3, with the winner advancing and the loser going home. Cleveland broke it open after halftime, outscoring Detroit 35-26 in the third quarter to turn a tight, high-stakes matchup into a rout on the road. The Cavaliers’ ball movement and rebounding advantage kept Detroit from mounting any sustained response, and the Pistons finished with 20 assists and 13 turnovers.

The result sends Cleveland back to the conference finals for the first time since 2018, the last time the franchise advanced as far as the NBA Finals. The Eastern Conference finals determine which team will represent the East in the NBA Finals, and this year’s matchup is now set: Cavaliers vs. Knicks.