Updated NBA Playoff Bracket 2026 Picture, Schedule After Pistons Force Game 7 vs. Cavs
For the second consecutive round, the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers will play a Game 7.
The Pistons were able to stave off elimination in Cleveland on Friday night with an 115-94 win over the Cavs in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Here's a look at the results from Friday's playoff games, as well as the upcoming schedule.
May 15 Playoff Results
- Detroit Pistons 115, Cleveland Cavaliers 94 (Series tied 3-3)
- San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (Spurs lead 3-2; Game 6 starts at 9:30 p.m. ET)
Upcoming Schedule
- Game 7: Cavaliers at Pistons (Sunday start time TBD)
- Game 7: Timberwolves at Spurs (Sunday start time TBD; if necessary)
Friday Highlights
Pistons 115, Cavaliers 94
If there was any doubt that Duncan Robinson would have impacted Game 5 if he had been able to play, Friday was a perfect showcase for his influence on the Pistons.
Robinson, who was unavailable on Wednesday due to a back injury, had 14 points on 4-of-7 three-point shooting off the bench in Game 6.
The Pistons as a team shot 44.0 percent from behind the arc in the win after going 11-of-33 two days earlier.
Bench scoring was 48-18 in favor of the Pistons, with Robinson and Paul Reed accounting for 31 of those points.
It seemed early like the Pistons were going to take control, much like they did in the first half of Game 5. Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson combined to score Detroit's first 10 points of the game, leading to the Pistons opening up a 12-point lead early in the second quarter.
The Cavs fought back to cut the deficit to 54-51 at halftime. Dean Wade, Sam Merrill and Max Strus helped power the comeback with 14 of the team's 26 second-quarter points.
After the Cavs used a third-quarter surge to make their Game 5 comeback, the Pistons returned the favor by coming out of the break to take control of Game 6.
Detroit outscored the Cavaliers by 11 to end the third quarter up 84-70. Given the stakes of this game for the Pistons, Ausar Thompson was terrific with 10 points, nine rebounds (five offensive), four steals and one block.
Even Jalen Duren, whose postseason has been largely disastrous, showed signs of life with 15 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
On the losing side, the Cavs star players did not step up with a chance to close out the series at home.
James Harden, whose Game 6 history has been well-documented, didn't have his worst performance in this particular scenario. But it's not one that will go on his career highlight reel. Despite having an efficient scoring night with 23 points on 6-of-13 shooting, he had twice as many turnovers (eight) as assists (four).
Donovan Mitchell isn't doing much better in changing the narrative around his playoff career. Since his run of three consecutive 30-point games from Games 2-4, he has a total of 39 points on 13-of-38 shooting in the last two games.
