Updated NBA Playoff Bracket 2026 Picture, Schedule After Cavs Eliminate Pistons in Game 7
Well that was anticlimactic.
The Cleveland Cavaliers absolutely smoked the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, 118-91, winning Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on the road and setting up a conference finals matchup against the New York Knicks.
Ironically enough, this year's NBA Conference Finals will be a rematch of the Christmas Day games, as noted by Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press:
The Cavaliers have literally never gone this far without LeBron James on the roster:
Donovan Mitchell (26 points, eight assists, seven rebounds), Jarrett Allen (23 points, seven boards), Evan Mobley (21 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, two blocks) and Sam Merrill, of all people (23 points off the bench, 5-of-8 from three) were all brilliant in the win.
The Pistons played dreadfully, meanwhile, as Cade Cunningham (13 points, 5-of-16 from the field) and Tobias Harris (five points, 0-for-6 from the field) both came up small.
So both conference finals are now set. Out West, the two top seeds (No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder and No. 2 San Antonio Spurs) are set for what should be a fantastic battle. The Eastern Conference Playoffs been more far more unpredictable, with the well-rested Knicks—they last played a week ago on May 10—facing a Cavs team that has gone to seven games in both its playoff series.
Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals will be on Tuesday night. Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals will be Monday night at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
