With the Mets down to their last out in the bottom of the ninth, Tyrone Taylor crushed a three-run shot off David Bednar to tie the game in dramatic fashion.
Zero
In what was a rough trip for the Yankees bullpen, Bednar was the culprit twice, giving up the homer to Taylor on a first-pitch curveball — the same situation in which Brice Turang hit a walk-off homer against the closer last Sunday in Milwaukee.
The Mets celebrate after defeating the Yankees on May 17. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
Unsung hero
Carson Benge hit a game-winning chopper to the perfect spot in the bottom of the 10th, just over the mound in a five-man infield, where Anthony Volpe and Max Schuemann collided, wiping out any chance of throwing out the winning run at home.
Stat of the day
91 Consecutive games the Mets had lost when trailing after eight innings, the majors’ longest streak that they finally broke Sunday.
Quote of the day
“Baseball’s hard to explain at times.”
— Carlos Mendoza on the Mets breaking that streak that dated to the 2024 playoffs
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.
“Not many words to describe how bad I’ve been,” he said. “I got to do better to pick the team up.”
In what was supposed to be a day off, as has been customary for him for day games after night games, the Yankees catcher entered Sunday’s series finale against the Mets as a defensive replacement in the sixth inning and made his slump even worse in the 7-6 walk-off loss at Citi Field.
Wells took two at-bats in key spots — one with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh inning and the other with runners on first and second and one out in the top of the 10th — both coming right after Anthony Volpe had drawn a 3-2 walk.
Austin Wells swings during a May 12 game against the Orioles. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Both times, Wells swung at the first pitch and produced groundouts, the second a double play that killed a potential rally.
“Against [Sean] Manaea [in the seventh], I knew he was pretty heavy heater, especially to the lefties early,” Wells said. “So I was looking for a fastball, was a little late. And then next one, I was looking for something up in the zone to get a ball in the air. It was a little above the zone, which I don’t really know how I hit it on the ground. Was looking to move the runner and drive them in.”
Wells finished the day batting .173 with a .556 OPS in 36 games, but it has been especially rough of late, hitting just 3-for-31 (.103) with three walks and a .291 OPS over his past 10 games.
Still, when Aaron Boone was asked before the game whether he would consider sitting Wells multiple games in a row for an offensive reset, the manager was noncommittal.
“We’ll see,” Boone said. “As good as [Wells] is behind the plate, I have a lot of faith and trust in J.C. Escarra behind the plate too, what he brings to the table. Obviously we got to get [Wells] going, want to get him going, because when he’s right, he’s a presence, especially down at the bottom of the order. We got to get him there.”
Elmer Rodríguez has yet to complete five innings, but in his third start as a big leaguer Sunday, he showed some improved command to give the Yankees a chance.
The rookie right-hander lasted 4 ¹/₃ innings while giving up one run on five hits and one walk with one strikeout.
Elmer Rodríguez throws a pitch during the Yankees’ May 17 loss to the Mets. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
“Felt like I was attacking more, getting more in the zone and having better results,” he said. “I know I got good stuff, so just got to go out there and compete.”
Rodríguez had walked four batters in each of his first two starts, neither of which made it out of the fifth inning, as a fill-in replacement between Luis Gil and Carlos Rodón.
Now with Max Fried on the IL, Rodríguez returned and is expected to make one more spot start before Gerrit Cole returns and takes his spot in the rotation.
“Couple strong innings to start the game,” Boone said. “Felt like they were starting to take some tough at-bats against him in the fourth and fifth, some of the lefties starting to have some better looks at him. But overall, I thought he did his job and gave us a real opportunity to win a game.”
The “plan right now” is for Cole to make one more rehab start, Boone said Sunday morning, though that description left some room for changing that plan as the right-hander comes back from Tommy John surgery.
Yankees Merch Shop
WinCraft insulated can coolers
Team Effort driver head cover
47 Brand adjustable cap
Customizable jersey
Logo fleece blanket
14-ounce sculpted relief coffee mug
New York Post receives revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and when you make a purchase.
“Just looks like he’s in a good place,” Boone said. “But right now, the plan is one more and then we’ll go from there.”
Ben Rice crushed his 15th home run of the season in the third inning off Freddy Peralta. … The Yankees drew nine walks for the sixth time this season, which leads the majors.
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.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can buy the comfortable Cavs hoodie HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE.
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.
The Knicks’ extended break is finally over. It’s back to game mode.
There is no more sitting back and watching to learn who their opponent will be in the Eastern Conference finals. It will be the Cavaliers, after their 125-94 Game 7 win over the Pistons in Detroit.
Game 1 is set for Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Madison Square Garden.
For most of the regular season and entering the postseason, it seemed a given that the Knicks would have to go through the Celtics and Pistons to reach the Finals. As it turns out, they won’t face either.
Jalen Brunson in action for the Knicks in the second round of the playoffs. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Now with the matchup set, let’s break down the top storylines:
The rest factor
The Knicks last played May 10 — which means they will have had nine days of rest before Tuesday’s Game 1. That was critical for OG Anunoby, who has been recovering from a right hamstring strain that kept him out of Games 3 and 4 of the second round.
The Cavaliers, on the other hand, will have less than 48 hours between Sunday’s win and Game 1. The two teams will begin the series on complete opposite ends of the rest spectrum.
“It’s good to give your body some rest,” Miles McBride said after practice Friday. “Be able to sit back and watch your opponents beat each other up in a sense.”
The Karl-Anthony Towns transformation
It has certainly been well documented how, after trailing 2-1 in the first round against the Hawks, the Knicks changed their offense. They’ve implemented a system that has Towns — not Jalen Brunson — facilitate with the ball in his hands at the elbows, allowing the others, including Brunson, to cut and set screens for each other around him.
But that was with Onyeka Okongwu, the shell of Joel Embiid and the past-his-prime Andre Drummond guarding Towns. The conference finals will be a different story.
Evan Mobley — the reigning Defensive Player of the Year — and Jarrett Allen are much more athletic and stronger defenders than anyone Towns has faced this postseason. Will Towns still be able to command the offense? Or will Mobley and Allen limit his impact?
Knicks perimeter defense
It’s been a roller coaster in this department for the Knicks. For the first half of the year, they struggled. For the second half of the year, it was much improved.
For the first half of the first round, CJ McCollum torched them. For the second half of that series, after switching Josh Hart onto him, the Knicks made him a nonfactor. Then last round, Mikal Bridges did a terrific job stifling Tyrese Maxey.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives to the basket against Detroit Pistons forward Duncan Robinson (55) during the first half in game six of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The Cavaliers present a two-headed threat on the perimeter with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. Bridges will presumably guard one of them, likely Mitchell. Hart could match up with the other. Anunoby is an option as well.
“Point of attack is important, it’s the most important thing,” Towns said Friday. “To have our wings and our guards playing defense at the perimeter at a high level, it makes my job easier but also makes our team better.”
Knicks Merch Shop
SOAR wireless speaker and bottle opener
Customizable jersey
Hydrapeak 30-ounce stainless steel tumbler
ZHATS adjustable cap
Pro Standard double knit full zip hoodie
Ultra Game team crew socks (3-pack)
New York Post receives revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and when you make a purchase.
Brunson’s takeovers
Dyson Daniels gave Brunson a few issues early in the first round before Brunson, like he seemingly does with everyone, figured him out, particularly after the Knicks offensive change. The 76ers had no answer for Brunson, who torched VJ Edgecombe.
For the postseason, Brunson is averaging 27.4 points per game — on excellent 48.5 percent shooting from the field and 40.9 percent from 3-point range — along with 6.1 assists.
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown speaking to the media after practice at the New York Knicks training facility in Tarrytown, New York. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Dean Wade, though, guarded Brunson about as well as anyone in the regular season. Can he bother Brunson?
Those regular-season matchups were before the Knicks offensive change, also.
Home court advantage
The Knicks would have had to start on the road if it was the Pistons, but now own home-court advantage since it’s the Cavaliers. Playing the first two games at MSG — with the Cavaliers coming off a tiring series — could have a big impact. As can having a potential Game 7 at home.
Mike Brown’s full circle moment
The only time Brown has made the Finals as a head coach was with the Cavaliers in 2007. It would be poetic if he returns by toppling the team that gave him his first opportunity as a head coach.
New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) 2-run RBI single during the sixth inning when the New York Mets played the New York Yankees Sunday, May 17, 2026 at Citi...
By the end of Sunday, the Yankees turned a potential feel-good game for Anthony Volpe into a brutal loss.
Access the Yankees beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.
In his fourth game of the season, after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery and then losing his starting shortstop job to José Caballero, Volpe went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, a double and two walks.
It looked like he was going to be the hero after his two-run single in the sixth inning broke a 1-1 tie, but the bullpen surrendered leads of 5-1 and 6-3 to overshadow any positives.
“Incredible: That’s the guy we know,” Aaron Judge said. “That’s why he’s been our shortstop for the last couple seasons, is when we need him in a big spot, he comes up big for us. Made some good plays, had some big swings for us, took his walks when he needed to in some tough situations. He keeps getting more at-bats, more at-bats — he’s coming off a big shoulder surgery, so the first couple games are going to be a little tough.
Anthony Volpe connects on a single during the Yankees’ May 17 loss. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
“But I was definitely encouraged by what I saw today.”
Volpe, who collided with Max Schuemann as both tried to make a play on Carson Benge’s walk-off chopper over the mound in the bottom of the 10th, reached base in nine of his 13 plate appearances in the Subway Series, going 2-for-6 with seven walks — one of which came with the bases loaded Sunday to drive in another run in the seventh inning.
“I’m just trying to stay within myself, stay within my approach and put good swings on good pitches,” Volpe said. “Obviously, it fluctuates, but I just want to stay locked into that. Every day, that’s what I can control.”
Volpe cannot control that Caballero expects to miss only the minimum 10 days on the injured list with a fracture in his right middle finger — he is eligible to return Friday — and that manager Aaron Boone has already said he expects Caballero will get his starting job back when he returns.
But the 25-year-old Volpe at least has the opportunity to give the Yankees something to think about if he can show enough on both sides of the ball while Caballero is out.
Volpe’s first hit of the season came on a 104.5 mph double to the gap off Freddy Peralta in the second inning before he struck out in his second at-bat.
He delivered a two-run single off lefty Sean Manaea with the bases loaded in the sixth to put the Yankees ahead 3-1.
After walking in a run in the seventh, Volpe drew another 3-2 walk against Devin Williams in the top of the 10th, only for Austin Wells to follow by grounding into an inning-ending double play.
“Just trying to do my job and contribute in any way I can,” Volpe said. “I got some good pitches to hit and put some good swings on them.”
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Darryn Peterson looks on during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Outside of drafting two hall-of-famers in a row in John Stockton and Karl Malone, the Utah Jazz jumping to #2 in the 2026 could be considered the second-best stroke of luck in franchise history. But it’s so much more than simply jumping in the lottery. If we’re just looking at that in a vacuum, it probably doesn’t have more gravitas than drafting Deron Williams #3 overall and getting Carlos Boozer in restricted free agency or Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert being drafted somewhat close together. It’s the moves that led up to jumping to #2 that make it that much more impactful. Those moves included:
Keeping Lauri Markkanen while still managing a high-lottery finish.
Drafting Keyonte George at #16 and developing him into a rising star.
Trading non-Jazz picks acquired during the rebuild for Jaren Jackson Jr.
Trading for Walker Kessler (and potentially re-sizing)
Drafting Ace Bailey at #5.
When you add everything up, adding the #2 pick to this series of building blocks has a chance to be the final piece to a championship core.
Before the season started, Darryn Peterson was the consensus #1 pick by most draft experts. Even this week, Jonathan Givony had him at #1 still, despite his up-and-down season at Kansas.
First post-lottery mock draft, after another wild NBA Draft lottery. Washington moves up to No. 1, followed by Utah, Memphis, Chicago and the Clippers. pic.twitter.com/MGoNyc2j9B
Therefore, if the Washington Wizards end up picking AJ Dybantsa, then the Jazz come out of the draft with a #1-caliber player. The laziest trade idea making the rounds is to trade Ace Bailey and the #2 pick for the #1 pick. But if you have Darryn Peterson on the board to be picked up for nothing, why would you give up the assets that led to you having one of the top up-and-coming rosters in the league? On top of that, the fact that the Wizards might be willing to trade the #1 pick to the Jazz for #2 tells you everything you need to know. You wouldn’t dream of trading the #1 pick if you didn’t think the #2 pick was just as valuable.
Utah is going to end up with a franchise-altering talent in this draft without moving up, and so, no, the Utah Jazz should not trade up. They have done the necessary work already to put them in this position. They’ll keep their top prospect in Ace Bailey and keep building one of the best young rosters in the NBA.
Sorry, Wizards fans, the Utah Jazz are absolutely fine where they are. The #2 pick is just as valuable as the #1 and the Jazz come out the winner regardless of what happens this draft.
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 11: Manager Bud Black of the Colorado Rockies locker at Coors Field on Tuesday, September 11, 2018. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
The 2026 Rockies appear poised to win more games than they did the past couple seasons, but realistically, they are only fighting to avoid 100 losses. That’s improvement, but the season is clearly a transitional one attempting to set the stage for a more exciting future.
Given that, let’s imagine a world where we could magically have any player don a Rockies uniform for the rest of the season.
If you could add any one player to the 2026 Rockies roster, with the sole purpose of making them more fun to watch despite knowing that they aren’t playoff bound, who would it be?
Some rules for this:
This player could not be kept beyond this season. They’d be returned to their actual team next year.
The Rockies couldn’t trade this player in order to try and get long-term value from them.
This should be an active player. No picking Babe Ruth just to see if he could adjust to 100+ mph velocity.
With all that being said, who would you most enjoy seeing in a Rockies uniform the rest of the season?
Is it an MVP candidate able to make more games close and tense? Maybe you have a sentimental favorite that you’d just like to see in the purple pinstripes again? Perhaps you are just curious about what effect playing home games at Coors would have on someone in particular?
Whatever your pick or reasoning, share it in the comments!
