SAN ANTONIO, TX - FEBRUARY 4: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 4, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The basketball world has been expecting the San Antonio Spurs to meet the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. Both teams took care of business in the first two rounds to face off in one of the most highly anticipated matchups in recent memory.
For the first time in the playoffs, the Spurs will start the series on the road. San Antonio split their games in OKC this year. The Spurs were 4-1 against the Thunder in the regular season. You can essentially throw out the regular-season matchups between these two teams, as most of them were not played at full health, and both teams are a lot better since the last time they played each other. The Thunder are undefeated in the playoffs so far, and the Spurs have been at another level since February.
San Antonio has played well on the road in the playoffs, going 4-1. Stealing a game in Oklahoma City is going to be a tall task, but this team has stepped up to every occasion so far this postseason. Winning Game One in this series would be a major feat and would signal that the Spurs can seriously win this series.
Spurs Injuries: De’Aaron Fox – Questionable (ankle), Luke Kornet – Questionable (foot)
Thunder Injuries: Thomas Sorber – Out (knee)
What to watch for:
Limiting turnovers
The Thunder’s best offense is their defense. When OKC can turn teams over, they get a lot of open shots in transition. They forced 16.7 turnovers in the regular season. They are excellent at playing physical at the point of attack and getting into passing lanes to force steals. They’ll want to do this a lot against San Antonio, because scoring in the half-court against Victor Wembanyama will be difficult. Producing easy looks in transition will be a priority for OKC.
The Spurs can be susceptible to turnovers, primarily when facing extreme physicality on the perimeter. Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama can do a bit too much with the ball when pressured, leading to turnovers on the other end. When they beat OKC in the regular season, the Spurs kept the turnovers low. They’ll need to take care of the ball to give themselves a chance to win this series.
Three-point shooting
The recipe for beating the Thunder in the regular season was not letting them get easy looks inside and forcing some of their so-so shooters to beat you from deep. If Alex Caruso or Lu Dort took a lightly contested three, that was a win for the Spurs. If those players are hitting shots, defense becomes much harder for the Spurs. Alternatively, San Antonio will need to hit their three-point shots to keep OKC honest. The Thunder will direct a lot of defensive attention to Wembanyama in half-court offense. Guys like Julian Champagnie and Devin Vassell can provide some relief if they hit shots.
Wemby vs. Chet
It’s the rivalry that everyone says isn’t a rivalry. Wembanyama wants to destroy Chet Holmgren every time he steps on the basketball court. Anyone watching can understand that, no matter what they say off the court. This is the highest stakes competition Wembanyama has faced Holmgren in since FIBA play. It’s going to be interesting to see how that chip on Wembanyama’s shoulder manifests itself in this series.
Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Knicks -6.5; over/under is 216.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: Knicks host first series matchup
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks host the Cleveland Cavaliers to start the Eastern Conference finals. New York went 2-1 against Cleveland during the regular season. The Cavaliers won the last regular season matchup 109-94 on Wednesday, Feb. 25 led by 23 points from Donovan Mitchell, while Jalen Brunson scored 20 points for the Knicks.
The Knicks are 35-17 against Eastern Conference opponents. New York has a 9-4 record in one-possession games.
The Cavaliers have gone 33-19 against Eastern Conference opponents. Cleveland is second in the Eastern Conference scoring 119.5 points per game and is shooting 48.2%.
The Knicks' 14.2 made 3-pointers per game this season are the same per game average that the Cavaliers give up. The Cavaliers are shooting 48.2% from the field, 2.2% higher than the 46.0% the Knicks' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Brunson is averaging 26 points and 6.8 assists for the Knicks. Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 17.4 points over the last 10 games.
James Harden is averaging 23.6 points and eight assists for the Cavaliers. Mitchell is averaging 26.2 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 44.4% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 8-2, averaging 120.4 points, 44.7 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 8.5 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 51.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 101.0 points per game.
Cavaliers: 6-4, averaging 111.1 points, 42.4 rebounds, 22.5 assists, 7.7 steals and 5.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.6 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: OG Anunoby: day to day (hamstring).
Cavaliers: Larry Nance Jr.: out (illness).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Donovan Mitchell also made six rebounds and made eight assists [Getty Images]
The Cleveland Cavaliers thrashed top seeds the Detroit Pistols 125-94 in their series decider to secure a place in the NBA Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2018.
Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points, Sam Merrill and Jarrett Allen 23 and Evan Mobley 21 for the Cavaliers, while Daniss Jenkins was the Pistons' highest scorer with 17.
Cleveland, who lost the first two games of the series, raced into a 20-point lead in the first half before wrapping up a 4-3 series win at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
The fourth seeds will face third seeds the New York Knicks for a place in the NBA Finals, with game one at Madison Square Garden in New York at 01:00 BST on Wednesday.
"This is fantastic. But we've got to be more disciplined," Mitchell said.
"We shouldn't have to wait to get hit, to get punched in the mouth and face a go-home situation."
Detroit, who finished the regular season with a 60-22 record, have not reached the Eastern Conference finals since 2005.
The Cavaliers or Knicks will play the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.
The Western Conference finals begin at 01:30 BST on Tuesday in Oklahoma.
Gilgeous-Alexander wins second straight MVP
Oklahoma guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became the 14th player in NBA history to win back-to-back Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards.
The 27-year-old is the first player to do so since Denver Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic in 2021 and 2022, and the first guard since Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry in 2015 and 2016.
"It's special - not really for me personally but more so for the city and organisation," Gilgeous-Alexander said.
He received 83 first-place votes and won with 939 points in a ballot of 100 voters.
Jokic finished second and Spurs centre Victor Wembanyama third.
After signing a four-year contract extension worth a reported $285m (£214m) in the off-season, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points, 6.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 68 games as Oklahoma finished the regular season with a 64-18 record.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 17: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts after his team defeated the Detroit Pistons 125-94 in Game Seven of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 17, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the first time since 2018, the Cavs are heading to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Cavaliers went all-in on this core when they traded Darius Garland — who admitted after the season that his toe still wasn’t right — for a decade-older James Harden. It’s too early to say the gamble has completely paid off. We can at least say they’ve reached the minimum for this season not to be labeled a disaster.
This team took a step forward this postseason.
Going into training camp, head coach Kenny Atkinson wrote 11-15 on a whiteboard. That was the Cavs’ postseason record in the previous three seasons.
The current version that won tonight was comprised mostly of the same players as those previous teams, but this group is different.
They faced adversity and responded in a way that we simply haven’t seen before. After falling behind 0-2 against a 60-win team, they strung together three impressive victories that showcased different skills. And then, after a demoralizing Game 6 loss that was all too reminiscent of previous postseason collapses, they responded with a win that showed that this team is, in fact, not the same.
That difference starts with their star player.
“It’s been almost a decade of running into the same issue,” Donovan Mitchell said after Game 7 when asked what it means to get to the conference finals. Some of those issues were self-inflicted. Some weren’t.
Before the game, Kenny Atkinson said that Mitchell being more of a playmaker has been an emphasis this postseason, even though this hasn’t come to fruition yet. He wanted Mitchell to “hit singles” and make the easy pass.
Mitchell did that. He picked up three helpers in the first three minutes of the game by easily reading where the help defense was coming from and then making the pass to the open man.
When he’s doing that, the game opens up for him and everyone else — especially the bigs.
Atkinson had dinner with Dan Gilbert on Saturday night, and he gave Atkinson some advice: “The spark for this is Jarrett Allen.”
This resulted in Atkinson drawing up the first play for Allen, and the rest is history.
Allen finished off a few easy dump-offs in the paint in the opening three minutes, two of which came from Mitchell.
The more you feed Allen, the more force he plays with. We saw that as he continually attacked the basket in the short roll and around the rim. And when he’s playing with that energy level on offense, he carries it over to the defensive end as well.
“His energy, his effort, rebounding, drawing contact wherever he played like that,” Evan Mobley said. “It’s a whole different team for us.”
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Allen played with an edge that we don’t typically associate with him. He repeatedly took it to Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart, and Paul Reed, pushing them off their spots. Allen was the aggressor until he finished with 23 points and seven rebounds.
After being the star of two straight Game 7’s, maybe it’s time to bury the notion that Allen can’t come up big in the playoffs.
“This is just who he is,” Mitchell said. “He was phenomenal for us, even before I got here. I’m glad people are starting to see how he really is.”
Once one big is attacking inside with that much force, it makes it easier for the other one to get going.
Mobley has consistently elevated his game this postseason. That continued as he was forceful in his attacks on the basket both as a roller and off-the-dribble. He did this while keeping his eyes up and looking for his teammates, which allowed him to finish with six assists.
The Cavs are an inside-out team. If they’re able to get to the basket, the three-ball opens up.
Sam Merrill was the biggest beneficiary of this as he knocked down four triples in the first half when the game was still up for grabs. That took the life out of a building that was already on oxygen at that point in the game.
“He was unbelievable,” Atkinson said. “We weren’t rolling until he came in the game.”
Merrill ended the night with 23 points on 5-8 shooting from three.
This was an all-around impressive team performance that was made possible by Mitchell’s approach.
He didn’t punch the ticket to his first-ever conference finals by dominating the ball scoring at an impressive clip. Instead, it was because he did all the little things he hadn’t done at a high level in any of his previous postseason runs with the team.
This was the most complete game we’ve seen from Mitchell, considering the moment. He was helpful in every facet of the game.
Mitchell’s willingness to move the ball only made it easier for him to score. He had a playoff-high eight assists. The threat to pass to one of the bigs or kick it out to a shooter in the corner forced Detroit’s defenders to stay home, which opened up driving lanes to the basket, as evidenced by his 26 points on 10-22 shooting.
This was paired with Mitchell being a disruptive defender. He was forceful at the point of attack, and he held up well when switched onto Cade Cunningham or one of Detroit’s forwards. This was in addition to being helpful off-ball as he picked up a steal and a block.
This performance was fitting. Mitchell has been the steadying force all year. He’s the reason why the Cavs were in a position to do anything in the first place.
“He kept this thing together,” Atkinson said. “When things weren’t going great, he was the beacon, the light, his leadership carried us on the court. … And when things weren’t going great, he was the person everyone looked to his positivity. I would have said this even if we lost.”
Mitchell has all the talent in the world, which typically only shows through in his incredible scoring. However, games like this show you that he could be the best guard in the league if he consistently made an effort like this on all aspects of the game.
The New York Knicks will be a formidable matchup, but not an impossible one. If you can get this version of Mitchell, the one that’s locked in defensively and trying to find his teammates for open looks, the Cavs have a good chance of winning the conference.
The organization appears to be on the backend of its championship run years, with aging players such as Stephen Curry and Draymond Green on the roster.
The Warriors could either use the pick to address a need or focus on their future.
If the Warriors use the pick, it will be the first time the organization has drafted a player since 2023, when the team picked Brandin Podziemski.
Green and veteran center Al Horford will have player options to return to the team. Forward Kristaps Porzingis and guard Gary Payton II will be among the top unrestricted free agents.
Here are predictions from sports experts in their mock drafts for the Golden State Warriors:
“F–k Stephen A,” Tatum said, according to video clips from the stream. “Stephen A, Stephen B, Stephen C. Like my offer still stands: You want me to be quiet and stop streaming, well I want you to be quiet and get off these networks. Because you’re not using your platform to do real journalism.”
Jaylen Brown responded to Stephen A. Smith. Screengrab via X/@ItsKingSlime
The beef between the two high-profile names in sports and sports media dates back to the end of Boston’s season, when Brown — tasked with being the Celtics’ anchor for most of the year until Jayson Tatum returned — called it his “favorite” of his career.
Smith then said Brown “needs to be quiet” and “go on vacation” unless he was trying to get traded, which then prompted Brown to write in an X post that he’ll be quiet when Smith retires.
Warning: Adult Language
Celtics star Jaylen Brown goes OFF on Stephen A Smith for questioning why Jayson Tatum wasn’t on his stream and making his own narratives about why the 2025-2026 Celtics season was JB’s favorite
“What type of journalism is this?… F*CK Stephen A… My offer still wants. You… pic.twitter.com/XAqaJ6YJYZ
Jaylen Brown is pictured during the Celtics’ May 2 playoff game. NBAE via Getty Images
“Tell this motherf–ker to retire because he’s the face of clickbait media at the point,” Brown said Sunday while streaming, “and maybe with his retirement we can spark a movement to get the rest of these motherf–kers out of here — or to also have some type of … forget journalistic integrity, actual integrity in order to hold themselves accountable to the bulls–t takes they put out.”
Stephen A. Smith is pictured April 21. FilmMagic
Brown collected a career-best 28.7 points per game during the regular season and made a fourth consecutive All-Star Game, but the Celtics, even with Tatum back in the lineup, were bounced in the first round by the 76ers.
He was also fined $50,000 for criticizing referees while on his livestream following their season-ending loss to Philadelphia, claiming that the officials have an “agenda.”
So instead of another deep playoff run, and instead of another chance to win another championship with the current core, Brown’s saga with Smith began.
And after the latest exchange Sunday, it doesn’t seem to be something that’ll disappear quickly.
On paper, the Cleveland Cavaliers had the most talented roster in the East this season, they just didn't always (or even often) play like it.
They did in Game 7 on Sunday.
Cleveland was in complete control from the start on the Pistons' home court. Donovan Mitchell wasn't settling for 3s, he was driving and touching paint on every drive — and with not nearly enough resistance from Detroit.
Donovan Mitchell goes on the attack and finishes at the rim to put the Cavs up big ️
Mitchell finished with 26 points, outscoring Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and Tobias Harris — combined. The Pistons looked like a young team that was not ready for this moment. Also one just having an off night shooting.
The result was a blowout Cavaliers win, 125-94, in which the game felt like a formality for much of the second half. Cleveland took a 10-point lead two minutes into the second quarter, and its lead never dipped into single digits again.
Cleveland now advances to face New York in the Eastern Conference Finals, which will start Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.
If the Cavaliers play in that series like they did in Game 7, they can push the Knicks.
Everything started for the Cavaliers with their big men — Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen combined for 44 points, 19 rebounds and three blocks. And those numbers do not do justice to their impact in this game. The Pistons want to be physical, win the battle in the paint and play inside-out, but Mobley and Allen completely outplayed Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart and Paul Reed.
It also helped that Sam Merrill came in off the bench on fire, finishing with 23 points on 5-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc.
It was Mitchell who set the tone on the night, and in addition to his 26 points he added eight assists and seven rebounds. Cleveland was up 17 at the half, but Mitchell came out in the third quarter, scoring 15 in the frame, and slamming the door on a Detroit comeback.
The entire Detroit roster struggled to score: Cunningham had 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting, Harris was 0-of-6 for five points, and Duren was 3-of-7 for seven points. Daniss Jenkins led the Pistons with 17 points, and Duncan Robinson had a quality game off the bench with 13 points, including three 3-pointers.
Cleveland was executing its game plan from the start. Not only did they focus on driving into the heart of the Pistons' defense, but they also moved the ball and had 18 assists on 22 shots in the first half, and shot 52.4% in the first half with eight made 3-pointers.
This was not the physical, imposing Pistons that won 60 games, or even the same team from Game 6. In the opening minutes, Detroit generated multiple transition opportunities only to just miss the shot (or throw the pass away). Those came back to bite them as the Cavaliers got hot, shooting 6-of-13 from 3-point range in the first quarter, including this one from Mitchell at the buzzer.
Detroit heads into this offseason with questions about finding a reliable second shot creator and scoring option to put next to their All-Star (and fifth in MVP voting) Cunningham. They also face questions about how much to pay their other All-Star, Jalen Duren, who was brilliant during the season but struggled in key games in this series.
Cleveland now heads to New York for even a bigger task.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots on Detroit Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins (24) in the first half during game seven of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena.
DETROIT (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points, Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill each added 23 and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 125-94 on Sunday night in Game 7 to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
Evan Mobley had 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 2018 and the ninth time in team history. It’s their deepest run since LeBron James’ final season with the franchise.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots on Detroit Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins (24) in the first half during game seven of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
“We didn’t just come here just to win a goal,” Mitchell said about making the conference finals for the first time in his career.
“Even last year. when we lost to Indiana, we had our goals set on getting to the (NBA) Finals. We’re just one step closer. It’s been almost a decade of running into the same issue. … As a team, we can breathe a little bit, but the same token, we can only breathe for about 12 hours, and then get right back to it.”
Daniss Jenkins scored 17 points, and Cade Cunningham and Duncan Robinson each finished with 13 for the Pistons, who fell one win shy of their first conference finals appearance since 2008 after forcing the deciding game with a Game 6 victory Friday night.
“That game sucked,” said Cunningham, who was held 16 points under his playoff average. “Being back home, wanted to get this win in front of our fans. It reminded me of last year, losing on home court. It’s not a great feeling.”
Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) drives against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus, right, during the first half of Game 7 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Sunday, May 17, 2026. AP Photo/Duane Burleson
The Cavs dictated the pace from the opening tip and never allowed the Pistons to gain traction, then blew open a convincing Game 7 performance when Mitchell scored 15 in the third quarter.
Detroit was outscored in the paint 58-34 and made only 35.3% of its field goal attempts, compared to Cleveland’s 50.6%
Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell hugs head coach Kenny Atkinson as he leaves the game against the Detroit Pistons during the fourth quarter of Game 7 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Sunday, May 17, 2026 AP Photo/Duane Burleson
“When we play with force, it’s really a key. Like, force on both ends with our talent, we’re really hard to beat,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said. “The question we got to answer, we talked about it a lot, is we can’t have force letdowns like Game 6, where we were not the forceful team. But tonight we were, that was a whole difference, our force on both ends.”
Cleveland capitalized on cold shooting by the Pistons in the opening quarter, turning missed shots into transition baskets while building an early advantage. The Cavs led 31-22 going to the second, and after Detroit had the first two baskets, Cleveland quickly seized control with a 24-9 run. The Pistons’ offensive struggles only deepened and the Cavs continued to shoot efficiently as they built a commanding 64-47 lead into halftime.
The Cavs kept rolling in the second half and led by as much as 35 points. The closest the Pistons were able to get in the half was within 17 in the third quarter.
“We knew that start was monumental, the start that they knew that we were here, and that we were going to give them some problems,” Atkinson said. “The beginning of the game, that was key, and then coming out of halftime was the same message: ‘We got to win this first five minutes to put them on their on their heels.’”
DETROIT, MI - MAY 17: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round Two Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 17, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers watched the Fro dominate another Game 7, beating the Detroit Pistons and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
I said it in my recap. I repeated it in winners and losers. And, I’ll say it one more time.
I think we just watched the best and most mature game of Donovan Mitchell’s playoff career.
He didn’t unload the clip and go down swinging like years past. No, Mitchell started the game with three straight assists, working his way downhill and giving it up to his teammates to set the tone. The Cavs’ offense flowed methodically through Mitchell as he weaved in and out of possessions without ever dominating the ball.
Mitchell was a playmaker, only until the perfect moment for him to seize full control arrived. He scored 15 points in the third quarter, building a huge lead and slamming the door on any realistic chance of a Pistons comeback.
Grade: A+++
James Harden
9 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 turnover
This is the first game of the series where I didn’t notice Harden. That’s… actually a good thing.
Harden shot 2-10 from the floor and 0-6 from downtown. That could be frightening in other circumstances. But he only turned it over once, and dished out 6 assists while comfortably playing without the ball. The process was better than the results, and the Cavs finally gave him enough support to where this type of performance can somehow register a plus-30 in the boxscore.
Evan Mobley has grown up quite a bit in this postseason. He gradually found his stride versus Toronto and showed every bit of that growth in Game 7 against the Pistons.
Mobley once again dipped his hands in every cookie jar tonight. He did a little bit of everything, dominating the paint, dishing out assists, and shutting down numerous Detroit possessions with his defensive versatility. The numbers from his last four games of the series say it all.
Grade: A+
Jarrett Allen
23 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block
What more can I say?
The lights don’t get brighter than Game 7. Allen has seemed totally unbothered by the stakes this postseason, matching or exceeding any physicality that’s thrown at him. He muscled Jalen Duren out of bounds and forced a jumpball at one point in this game — only to later punish the rim with consecutive dunks in the third quarter.
The Cavs play their best basketball when Allen does stuff like this. Let’s keep that going and officially exorcise some demons in Madison Square Garden.
Grade: A+
Dean Wade
5 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist
Wade was moved out of the starting lineup in favor of Max Strus. That worked out well for the Cavs, and Wade himself. He looked more comfortable with less pressure on him coming off the bench. Wade nailed his first three-point attempt and then cut to the rim for a tough finish shortly after.
Grade: B+
Max Strus
9 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals
This grade is vibes-based. Nothing I tell you about his box score will accurately represent the impact Strus had. I’ll focus on the way he battles for every loose ball, getting his hand on nearly every available rebound, even if he doesn’t secure it himself.
This is the type of game you want from Schroder. Obviously, being part of a 30-point win makes that easy to say. But Schroder was steady through the night, keeping the offense flowing while being a pest defensively. He didn’t step outside of his comfort zone, and that’s worth a lot.
Grade: B
Sam Merrill
23 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal
Merrill finally found his groove, burying the Pistons in Game 7 with his three-point shooting. He connected on four triples in the first half and bent Detroit’s defense out of shape the rest of the way. His shooting forced them to stay attached, and that opened the floodgates for everyone else.
He also took a TOUGH charge on Ausar Thompson in the first half. He earns credit just for getting back up after that.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 17: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts after a made basket against the Detroit Pistons during the third quarter in Game Seven of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 17, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers did it again, capping off a thrilling series by crushing their opponent in Game 7. Credit to the Detroit Pistons — but the Cavs are all winners tonight.
Let’s go over today’s winners.
WINNER – Donovan Mitchell
The best players in the league aren’t immune to criticism — they respond to it.
This game started with a good omen. Donovan Mitchell drove downhill twice in a row, using his gravity to draw multiple defenders before throwing a pair of dimes to Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. In just a handful of minutes, Mitchell exceeded his assist total from the previous game and showed a ‘pass first’ mentality that hasn’t been present throughout the postseason.
Mitchell had 6 assists by halftime, already more than he’d collected in any game this postseason. He’s taken flak for his process in the playoffs. He hasn’t always struck the correct balance between scoring and playmaking. That wasn’t an issue tonight. He set the table throughout Game 7, and his teammates had a feast.
There’s value to hitting singles. Safe plays that get a runner on base and apply pressure on a defense can turn into runs. Mitchell took that approach tonight, giving up the ball early and trusting the offense to flow into a quality shot. That made all the difference.
The Cavs had a comfortable lead going into halftime, but the game was far from over. We’ve seen the Pistons claw back to avoid elimination four times already this postseason. I think Mitchell understood what was at stake — and promptly stepped on their throat to close it out. He erupted for 15 points in the third quarter, getting to the basket and making sure there’d be no more resurrections.
Mitchell entered this game with his legacy on the line, and left it with arguably the most sustainable version of a masterclass that we’ve seen from him in the playoffs. Spida ends with 26 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, and 0 turnovers.
The Pistons had managed to avoid a full-on Sam Merrill invasion throughout the previous six games of this series. He’d been kept in a box, unable to break free and do any significant damage from behind the arch. Detroit probably wishes that it could have remained true for one more game.
Merrill started the game by burying his first three-pointer from the corner. A moment later, he drilled another one from the same spot. Add two more three’s, including a four-point play, and Merrill had conjured a game-high 15 points in the first half on 4-6 three-point shooting.
Sammy finished with 23 points.
Take that, Ausar Thompson.
WINNER – The Bigs
Physicality? We got that. Toughness and mental resilience? Check. The Cavs bigs have taken your narratives, crumpled them up, and stuffed them into the trash over Jalen Duren’s head
Allen and Mobley aren’t your typical bruising bigs. But the idea that they can’t handle playoff physicality has been thoroughly debunked in two rounds. They bested an immensely physical Raptors team in the first round, then did it again to a Pistons team that prides itself on toughness.
Cleveland’s bigs set the tone immediately in Game 7, combining for 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in the first half. If you remember, Allen had 22 points and 19 rebounds himself in Game 7 versus the Raptors. Dominating multiple games where the lights are brightest should earn Allen (and Mobley) a ton of goodwill moving forward.
Allen finished tonight with 23 points and 7 rebounds. Mobley added 21 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.
Mobley racked up 20 stocks in the final four games of the series. Monster.
Of course, all of that charitability can be erased quickly. This is a ‘what have you done for me lately’ type of business. But we’d be mistaken not to congratulate the bigs for stepping up to the challenge multiple rounds in a row. The season would be over if it weren’t for them.
Mitchell Robinson provides the ultimate test on Tuesday.
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 25: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks on December 25, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers won’t be able to celebrate their Game 7 victory over the Detroit Pistons for long. They’ll have less than 48 hours to turn around and play the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday.
All games in the Eastern Conference Finals will be on either ESPN or ABC.
The schedule is as follows:
Game 1 in New York: Tue., May 19, 8 PM on ESPN
Game 2 in New York: Thur., May 21, 8 PM on ESPN
Game 3 in Cleveland: Sat., May 23, 8 PM on ABC
Game 4 in Cleveland: Mon., May 25, 8 PM on ESPN
Game 5 in New York: Wed., May 27, 8 PM on ESPN
Game 6 in Cleveland: Fri., May 29, 8 PM on ESPN
Game 7 in New York: Sun. May 31, 8 PM on ESPN
Games five through seven will only be played if necessary.
The Cavs haven’t had more than one day between games since playing Game 5 on April 29 in the first-round series against the Toronto Raptors. That won’t happen here either, as they’re scheduled to play every other day in this series.
The Cavs and Knicks faced off just three times during the regular season, with the home team winning each one. Cleveland won their most recent and only matchup that featured James Harden on Feb. 24, 109-94.
Right now, FanDuel currently has the Knicks favored to win the series as they’re -240 to come out of the East. The Cavs are +190 to win the series.
We now have the full picture of the final four teams in the NBA.
The No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers stunned the top-seeded Detroit Pistons Sunday, May 17 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals 125-94, setting up a showdown against the No. 3 New York Knicks in the conference finals.
It was evident, pretty quickly after tip-off Sunday night in Detroit, that the Cavaliers had moved on from their Game 6 letdown. Cleveland played with more force and intention, relentlessly attacking the paint and outworking the Pistons on the glass.
Congratulations, Cleveland. Now you get to run into the buzzsaw that is the Knicks
This is the kind of performance Cleveland will need to consistently produce in order to have a chance against New York, which has easily been the hottest team in the East thus far in the postseason.
The Cavaliers were far more active from the jump and won nearly every hustle metric.
Yet, there were still flaws in Cleveland’s game. James Harden scored just 6 points in the first half and finished the game with just 9 on 2-of-10 shooting. At times, he appeared more focused on trying to draw fouls than get clean looks. Perimeter shooting was inconsistent; removing Sam Merrill’s 5-of-8 night, the rest of the Cavs went just 6-of-26 (23.1%) from deep.
The Knicks will be fresh and rested and have homecourt advantage. They’re the most cohesive team in the East, the one with the most continuity. Cleveland did do a far better job of protecting the ball, committing just 11 turnovers, but the Knicks are far better than Detroit. The Cavaliers will need to be even more efficient.
The Pistons, simply put, cannot win when shooting this poorly. That wasn’t even their biggest issue
Going back to last season, this Detroit squad has lacked reliable and consistent shooting, which has made it difficult to sustain offense. It has also made things difficult for Cade Cunningham, where he has often had to play the role of savior.
Detroit’s starters combined to shoot just 14-of-48 (29.2%) from the field, contributing just 47 combined points. Cleveland’s starting five, by the way, dropped 88 combined points.
Somehow, Detroit’s defense was even worse
Detroit suffered uncharacteristic breakdowns, struggling to communicate on switches, leaving players streaking to the rim unobstructed. There were some solid individual efforts — Ausar Thompson was effective, as always — but Detroit’s effort and persistence on defense simply wasn’t there.
They were a step slow, a step late and that sluggishness carried over into other parts of their game. After a tremendous regular season, a loss like this exposes serious limitations and shows how far this team still is from being legitimate contenders in the conference.
In January 2023, Donovan Mitchell scored a career-high 71 points. This game may have been even better.
Mitchell erased the narrative that he cannot elevate his team to a conference finals with a complete game that showcased how dangerous he can be.
Mitchell used his gravity to draw additional defensive attention, at times almost as a decoy, working his way into the paint to then find open teammates. With those open looks, Cleveland converted easier buckets, but it also opened up the entire offensive rhythm for the Cavaliers; in the first half, Cleveland generated 18 assists on 22 made field goals, with six of those coming from Mitchell.
Mitchell finished the game with 26 points and 8 assists, both of which were game highs, and added 6 rebounds. He set the tone and was, unquestionably, the best player on the floor Friday night.
Game 7 Jarrett Allen shows up
In the final game of the first round of the playoffs, Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen was a menace, dropping 22 points and 19 rebounds against the Raptors.
Friday night, Allen was stellar once again in a Game 7, impacting winning.
Not only did he attack and create his shot down low, he also got to the line, leading all players with 13 free throw attempts. Allen was also active on defense, contesting shots. His 3 offensive rebounds were tied for a game-high.
Allen scored 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting, adding 7 rebounds.
Against the height and low-post presence of the Knicks, Cleveland will need much of the same.
May 17, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) dunks in the first half against the Detroit Pistons during game seven of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
I considered Game 6 a complete team effort in Detroit’s 115-94 win in Cleveland. Things were reversed in Game 7 tonight as Cleveland saw big games from their role players en route to a 125-94 victory. Detroit falls one game short from making it to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The game started slow as both teams struggled to find offense. Cleveland took an early 8-7 lead after two Daniss Jenkins three-pointers and a Caris LeVert steal and score tied it up at 13. The Cavs were able to end the quarter on a 9-3 run capped off by a 40 ft buzzer-beater from Donovan Mitchell to take a 31-22 lead over Detroit.
Things didn’t look good early in the second as the Pistons missed eight consecutive field goals and Cleveland extended their lead to 15 after another Sam Merrill made three. Merrill would make his fourth three and the foul shortly after and Cleveland was able to reach a 20-point lead. They led 64-47 at halftime.
Cleveland was shooting 52% from the field while Detroit shot 38%. Not only did Cleveland’s defense look good, but Detroit’s offense wasn’t doing them any favors either. They struggled to generate good looks and find an impact outside of Cade Cunningham. Cade had 12 points at the half while bench guards Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson each had seven.
The reason the Cavs were so far ahead was due to the impact being made by Sam Merrill and Jarrett Allen who both had 15 points. Evan Mobley had 12 while Mitchell had 11 and Harden added six points. Cleveland will be a hard team to beat when Mitchell and Harden aren’t one of their top-three scorers.
Things got worse quick.
The Cavs started off on an 8-2 run that forced JB Bickerstaff to call a timeout with a score of 72-49. You could see the energy and hope draining from the Pistons players. Halfway through the third quarter, they gave up three consecutive extra possessions to Cleveland: Robinson fouled Harden for free throws, Stew fouled Allen on the boxout, Allen grabbed another rebound off his own missed free throw and was fouled again. It was clear Detroit knew they couldn’t win this game any longer. Cleveland added in an 11-0 run near the end of the third quarter and took a 99-73 lead heading into the fourth.
Detroit trailed by 30 for majority of the final quarter and would lose 125-94.
Daniss Jenkins was the leading scorer for Detroit with 17 points. Both Cunningham and Robinson had 13 points, though, Cade took 16 shots. Caris LeVert was the only other Piston in double figures. Starters Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, and Jalen Duren all finished with less than eight points.
Frankly, nobody on Detroit looked great or stood out. And yet, four Cleveland players finished with 20+ points and none of them were James Harden.
This is a rough way to go out. However, Detroit won 60 games, finished as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, and won a playoff series for the first time in 18 years. There’s still a lot to be excited about. This roster has holes, some that were largely shown throughout this postseason, and Trajan Langdon can address those this summer.
As much as this loss is going to sting now, this team has come a long way in just the past two years – and the future is something to be excited about.
CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 24: James Harden #1 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers high five during the game against the New York Knicks on February 24, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers have punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they’ll take on the New York Knicks in a series that starts on Tuesday.
New York’s path to the Conference Finals was far less stressful than Cleveland’s. Their first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks went six games, but the Knicks were firmly in control of that series except for a few standout showings from CJ McCollum. They then took care of business against a worn-out Philadelphia 76ers team by sweeping them in a matchup that never felt competitive.
The Knicks have been elite on both sides of the ball throughout this postseason, but are a far different test than what the Cavs have faced so far. They’ll be going from two straight rock fights to a shootout.
The Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons challenge opponents with their brute force. Conversely, the Knicks beat you with more finesse and skill. That’s a style the Cavs are more equipped to play, even if New York is more talented than either of their previous opponents.
Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns define the Knicks on both ends of the floor for better or for worse.
Their offense is dynamic because of this duo. Brunson is one of the most electric scoring guards in the league, who is efficient at all three levels. You can do things to make it difficult for him to get to his spots, but you can’t take Brunson’s scoring away entirely. He’s going to get his points.
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Towns’s shooting changes any offense he plays with. He’s one of the few legit stretch fives in the league, as he knocked down 36.8% of his 4.1 outside attempts a game. You simply have to stay with him on the perimeter. And unlike other stretch bigs, he’s elite at beating mismatches inside. Towns has one of the best post games as a scorer and a playmaker. So if you send help, he’s going to find one of New York’s open shooters on the perimeter.
On top of that, they have high-level wings in OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges. Both are elite shooters and can beat teams off the dribble.
In short, the Cavs haven’t faced an offense with this many weapons. Containing them will be far more difficult than locking down their previous opponents.
However, the Cavaliers also haven’t faced a defense that their guards and bigs can attack as easily as New York’s.
New York has the second-best defensive rating in the postseason (106.1) and has held their opponent under 105 points in seven of their 10 postseason games. That’s unbelievably impressive. That said, a closer look under the hood shows that maybe there’s some fool’s gold there.
The Knicks gave up the second-most threes in the regular season and are giving up the fourth-most among playoff teams. In the regular season, their opponents knocked down 36.6% of their threes against them (21st). In the playoffs, they’re hitting just 32.2%. Shooting that poorly is why the Knicks have given up so few points so far.
Evaluating three-point defense is difficult. Not all outside looks are created equally. Part of a playoff game plan is to give up open threes to non-shooters. At the same time, this percentage is far below what you’d expect from a playoff team.
On top of that, teams are still getting to the rim against the Knicks.
The Knicks are vulnerable in the pick-and-roll. Brunson isn’t a good point of attack defender, and Towns struggles to defend in space. Towns can hold his own in the post with his size and length, but if you get him moving, his poor body control can lead to him getting in foul trouble.
This will be by far the easiest matchup offensively for Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. They will have much more room to operate in the pick-and-roll and won’t have to finish inside through as many sturdy defenders.
Establishing the pick-and-roll will help get the bigs going, as well. Harden has shown great chemistry with both bigs, but particularly with Jarrett Allen. That hasn’t been on display as much in the postseason due to the opponent. It will be again in this matchup.
The Cavs only played the Knicks once in the regular season with Harden, but they were able to establish the pick-and-roll easily. This resulted in New York attempting to send wings to slow down the action, which opened up the floor for the Cavs to playmake from the perimeter.
Evan Mobey has elevated his offensive game this postseason. He’s done a good job of beating mismatches, and New York will give him plenty of opportunities to continue that trend.
Combine that with them giving up far more outside shots, and there are simply way more ways for the Cavs to attack this opponent than they had versus the Raptors and Pistons.
This will be a much freer-flowing series with two elite offenses. Whoever gets the more consistent contributions from their stars and better shooting from the role players will likely head to the NBA Finals.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 17: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons in Game Seven of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 17, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers booked their tickets to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018, defeating the Detroit Pistons behind a dominant Game 7 showing.
Cleveland’s process was strong from the jump. Donovan Mitchell got them rolling with his playmaking, racking up 5 assists in the first half as the Cavs had 10 assists on their first 13 field goals. That, combined with starting Max Strus in place of Dean Wade, allowed the Cavalier offense to get off to a hot start.
The Cavs won the first quarter for what felt like the first time all series and carried that momentum forward.
Sam Merrill leaped off the bench and nailed four three-pointers in the first half. His three-point barrage fueled the Cavs while both Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen pounded the paint to build a comfortable 20-point lead. Defense turned into offense, and it felt like this team could do no wrong.
At one point in the second quarter, the Cavs had more assists (17) than the Pistons had made field goals (14). The ball was humming, and Cleveland reaped the rewards.
The lead only swelled from there.
Cleveland’s execution was relentless. They generated a clean look every time down the floor, with mounting pressure on the rim from Allen. He stormed downhill repeatedly, thundering multiple dunks in the third quarter. On the other end, the Cavs defended on a string, ramping up the intensity even as their lead was in the 20s.
That’s how you deliver a knockout blow.
Mitchell deserves credit. He’s struggled throughout the postseason and has let some of his worst tendencies lead the way in Cleveland’s losses. As such, Mitchell faced more pressure than anyone entering this game. He had a lot on the line, and he responded by playing arguably the best game (from a process standpoint) of his playoff career.
The Cavs were led in scoring by Mitchell with 26 points, to go with 8 assists and 0 turnovers. Allen added 23 points while Mobley (21 points) and Merrill (23 points) contributed in key stretches.
It’s fitting that Cleveland has shown so much growth in the last two rounds, and will now receive the ultimate test of that growth by facing the opponent who gave them their first whooping in 2023. Tonight’s win is worth celebrating. On Tuesday, we’re right back in the fire.
(@ItsKingSlime) 
