Cleveland Cavaliers vs Detroit Pistons Match Player Stats: Full Box Score and Top Performers

The Cleveland Cavaliers vs Detroit Pistons match player stats from Game 7 of the 2026 Eastern Conference semifinals tell the story of a road team that showed up ready and a top seed that never found its footing, as Cleveland crushed Detroit 125-94 on May 17, 2026, at Little Caesars Arena. This guide breaks down every number that mattered: the full box score for both teams, the standout individual lines from Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, Sam Merrill, and Evan Mobley, the shooting splits that separated the two sides, and the series context that made this result so significant. You will also find the head-to-head numbers from the regular season and a look at when these Central Division rivals meet again.

Quick Answer: Game 7 Final Score and Top Performers

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 125-94 in Game 7 of the 2026 Eastern Conference semifinals on May 17, 2026. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 26 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, while Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill each scored 23 points. Daniss Jenkins led Detroit with 17 points, and Cade Cunningham finished with 13.

The win sent the fourth-seeded Cavaliers to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2018 and the ninth time in franchise history. It also ended the season for a Detroit team that won 60 games and earned the East’s top seed.

Game Overview: Date, Venue, and Final Result

Cleveland won Game 7 on the road at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Sunday, May 17, 2026, by a final score of 125-94. The 31-point margin ranks among the 10 largest playoff wins in Cavaliers history and among the 10 worst playoff losses in Pistons history.

Here is how the scoring broke down by quarter:

• First quarter: Cleveland 31, Detroit 22
• Second quarter: Cleveland 33, Detroit 25
• Third quarter: Cleveland 35, Detroit 26
• Fourth quarter: Cleveland 26, Detroit 21

Cleveland won all four quarters. The Cavaliers took a 64-47 lead into halftime, stretched the advantage to as many as 35 points in the second half, and never let Detroit get closer than 17 after the break.

Head coach Kenny Atkinson’s group entered the series as the No. 4 seed after a 52-30 regular season. J.B. Bickerstaff’s Pistons went 60-22, won the Central Division, and finished first in the Eastern Conference.

Cleveland Cavaliers Player Stats and Box Score

Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, Sam Merrill, and Evan Mobley combined for 93 of Cleveland’s 125 points in Game 7. The full Cavaliers box score appears below.

Player	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	FG	3PT	FT	+/-
Donovan Mitchell	31:08	26	6	8	1	1	10-22	2-6	4-6	+17
Jarrett Allen	24:49	23	7	1	1	1	8-14	0-0	7-13	+9
Evan Mobley	35:57	21	12	6	2	2	7-10	1-4	6-11	+31
James Harden	35:54	9	5	6	0	0	2-10	0-6	5-8	+31
Max Strus	27:37	9	3	2	3	0	3-7	1-5	2-2	+11
Sam Merrill	25:17	23	1	2	1	0	7-10	5-8	4-4	+22
Dean Wade	20:57	5	6	1	0	0	2-2	1-1	0-0	+17
Keon Ellis	4:01	3	0	0	0	0	1-1	1-1	0-0	+1
Dennis Schroder	18:16	2	3	3	1	0	1-1	0-0	0-0	+12
Craig Porter	4:01	2	2	1	0	0	1-2	0-0	0-0	+1
Nae’Qwan Tomlin	4:01	2	1	0	1	0	1-1	0-0	0-0	+1
Thomas Bryant	4:01	0	4	1	0	0	0-4	0-2	0-0	+1
Jaylon Tyson	4:01	0	0	0	0	0	0-1	0-1	0-0	+1
Totals	240	125	50	31	10	4	43-85	11-34	28-44

Tyrese Proctor did not play (coach’s decision), and Larry Nance Jr. was inactive.

Donovan Mitchell: 26 Points and Zero Turnovers

Mitchell set the tone as both a scorer and a playmaker. He scored 26 points on 10-of-22 shooting, dished a team-high eight assists, grabbed six rebounds, and did not commit a single turnover in 31 minutes. His biggest stretch came in the third quarter, when he poured in 15 points to turn a comfortable lead into a rout. The win also gave Mitchell his first trip to the conference finals in his NBA career.

Jarrett Allen: Dominance Around the Rim

Allen scored 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting and added seven rebounds, one steal, and one block. He lived at the free throw line, attempting 13 free throws and making seven. Allen’s work inside fueled Cleveland’s 58-34 edge in points in the paint, the single biggest structural gap in the game.

Sam Merrill: The Bench Spark

Merrill delivered the most efficient performance on the floor. He came off the bench to score 23 points on just 10 shots, hitting 7 of 10 from the field, 5 of 8 from three-point range, and all four of his free throws. His three-pointers in the first and second quarters helped Cleveland pull away before halftime, and he finished with a plus-22 rating.

Evan Mobley: The Two-Way Anchor

Mobley posted 21 points and a game-high 12 rebounds while shooting 7 of 10 from the field. He also recorded six assists, two steals, and two blocks, including two fourth-quarter rejections at the rim. Mobley and James Harden shared the best plus-minus in the game at plus-31.

James Harden and the Supporting Cast

Harden struggled with his shot, going 2 of 10 from the floor and 0 of 6 from deep, but he still contributed nine points, six assists, and five rebounds. Max Strus added nine points and a game-high three steals. Dean Wade went a perfect 2 for 2 with six rebounds in nearly 21 minutes, and Dennis Schroder chipped in three assists and a steal off the bench.

Detroit Pistons Player Stats and Box Score

Detroit shot just 35.3% from the field in Game 7, and no Pistons player scored more than 17 points. The full Detroit box score appears below.

Player	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	FG	3PT	FT	+/-
Daniss Jenkins	34:03	17	3	5	0	0	4-12	2-7	7-8	-15
Cade Cunningham	36:45	13	4	5	2	0	5-16	0-7	3-3	-32
Jalen Duren	25:48	7	9	3	0	2	3-7	0-0	1-2	-18
Ausar Thompson	28:39	5	7	0	0	2	2-7	1-2	0-2	-14
Tobias Harris	22:37	5	5	2	1	1	0-6	0-2	5-6	-23
Duncan Robinson	21:40	13	1	1	1	0	4-7	3-5	2-3	-20
Caris LeVert	16:33	11	2	2	1	0	3-5	2-4	3-4	-14
Marcus Sasser	22:50	9	2	1	1	0	3-12	3-9	0-0	-16
Paul Reed	8:11	4	4	1	0	0	2-5	0-0	0-0	-7
Tolu Smith	5:24	4	2	0	1	0	2-2	0-0	0-0	+4
Ron Holland II	5:51	3	2	0	0	0	1-3	1-2	0-0	+4
Isaiah Stewart	6:15	3	0	0	0	0	1-1	0-0	1-1	-8
Chaz Lanier	5:24	0	0	1	0	0	0-2	0-1	0-0	+4
Totals	240	94	41	21	7	5	30-85	12-39	22-29

Javonte Green and Kevin Huerter did not play (coach’s decision).

Cade Cunningham’s Tough Night

Cunningham, Detroit’s All-Star guard, had his worst game of the postseason at the worst possible time. He scored 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting and missed all seven of his three-point attempts. His total landed 16 points below his playoff scoring average, and his minus-32 rating was the lowest on either team. He still handed out five assists and recorded two steals, but Cleveland’s perimeter defense kept him from getting into a rhythm.

Daniss Jenkins and Duncan Robinson Lead the Effort

Jenkins led the Pistons with 17 points, five assists, and an efficient 7-of-8 night at the free throw line. Duncan Robinson gave Detroit a scoring lift off the bench with 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including 3 of 5 from three. Caris LeVert added 11 points in just over 16 minutes.

Frontcourt Numbers

Jalen Duren led Detroit with nine rebounds and two blocks but scored only seven points. Ausar Thompson grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots, while Tobias Harris went 0 for 6 from the field and scored all five of his points at the line. Cleveland’s size advantage with Allen and Mobley showed up clearly in Detroit’s frontcourt production.

Team Stats Comparison: Where Cleveland Won the Game

Cleveland outplayed Detroit in nearly every major team category, from shooting efficiency to ball movement to interior scoring. The team totals from Game 7 show how wide the gap was:

• Field goal percentage: Cleveland 50.6% (43-85), Detroit 35.3% (30-85)
• Three-point percentage: Cleveland 32.4% (11-34), Detroit 30.8% (12-39)
• Free throws: Cleveland 28-44 (63.6%), Detroit 22-29 (75.9%)
• Total rebounds: Cleveland 50, Detroit 41
• Assists: Cleveland 31, Detroit 21
• Steals: Cleveland 10, Detroit 7
• Turnovers: Cleveland 11, Detroit 14
• Points in the paint: Cleveland 58, Detroit 34

Both teams attempted exactly 85 shots, so the 13 extra made field goals came down to shot quality. Cleveland generated layups and dunks through transition and lob passes, while Detroit settled for contested jumpers. The Pistons actually made one more three-pointer than the Cavaliers, which shows how thoroughly Cleveland controlled the inside.

Free throw shooting was the one area where Cleveland fell short, as the Cavaliers missed 16 free throws. The lead was large enough that those misses never mattered.

How the Game Unfolded Quarter by Quarter

Cleveland built its lead early and kept adding to it in every period. Here is how the game played out.

First Quarter: Cleveland Sets the Pace

Detroit missed several early shots, and Cleveland turned those misses into transition baskets. The game stayed tight until midway through the quarter, when the score was tied 13-13. Merrill then hit a three, Mobley added another, and Mitchell closed the period with a pair of threes, including one at the buzzer, to give Cleveland a 31-22 lead.

Second Quarter: A 24-9 Run Breaks It Open

Detroit scored the first two baskets of the second quarter to cut the deficit to 31-26. Cleveland answered with a 24-9 run powered by Merrill’s shooting, Allen’s inside work, and Mitchell’s drives. The Cavaliers carried a 64-47 lead into halftime.

Third Quarter: Mitchell Takes Over

Mitchell scored 15 points in the third quarter, attacking the rim and converting floaters and layups. Cleveland outscored Detroit 35-26 in the period and took a 99-73 lead into the fourth quarter. The Pistons never got closer than 17 points in the second half.

Fourth Quarter: Closing It Out

Merrill opened the fourth with a technical free throw and a layup, and Cleveland’s lead reached 35 points. Both coaches went to their benches in the final minutes, and the Cavaliers finished off a 125-94 victory.

Series Context: How Cleveland Came Back to Win 4-3

The Cavaliers won the 2026 Eastern Conference semifinal series 4-3 after dropping the first two games in Detroit. Game 7 was the final chapter of a series that swung back and forth several times.

The Cleveland Cavaliers lost Game 1 by a score of 111-101 and Game 2 by 107-97 on the road. The series then shifted to Rocket Arena, where Cleveland won Game 3 by 116-109 and Game 4 by 112-103 to even things up. If you follow playoff matchups closely, you can find more NBA game recaps that cover how other series developed throughout the postseason.

Cleveland then stole Game 5 in Detroit, 117-113 in overtime, to take a 3-2 series lead. The 2025-26 Detroit Pistons season stayed alive when the Pistons blew out the Cavaliers 115-94 in Game 6 in Cleveland, which forced a deciding game back at Little Caesars Arena. Readers who want to compare individual numbers across games can explore our basketball player stat breakdowns for similar analysis.

Game 7 flipped the Game 6 script entirely. Cleveland, which lost by 21 points two nights earlier, won by 31. Atkinson pointed to his team’s physical intensity on both ends as the difference between the two performances.

The loss stung Detroit. The Pistons fell one win short of their first conference finals appearance since 2008. Earlier in the playoffs, Detroit had beaten the Orlando Magic in the first round and secured its first home playoff win since 2008, ending an NBA-record 11-game home postseason losing streak.

Regular Season Head-to-Head Results

The two teams split their early regular season meetings in 2025-26 before Detroit finished well ahead in the standings. Two of those games stand out in the box scores:

• October 27, 2025, in Detroit: Cleveland won 116-95. Mitchell scored 35 points on 13-of-18 shooting in under 30 minutes and posted a plus-38 rating. Mobley led Cleveland with 11 rebounds, while Cunningham led Detroit with 12 points.
• January 4, 2026, in Cleveland: Detroit won 114-110 behind 27 points and seven assists from Cunningham. Mitchell scored 30 points and recorded three steals for Cleveland, and Mobley blocked four shots in the loss. Detroit scored 47 points in the second quarter alone.

These games show the core matchup that shaped the rivalry all season: Mitchell against Cunningham, with Cleveland’s twin bigs, Mobley and Allen, testing Detroit’s athletic frontcourt of Duren, Stewart, and Thompson.

What the Game 7 Numbers Reveal

The Game 7 box score highlights three clear takeaways for anyone studying this matchup.

First, Cleveland’s balance beat Detroit’s reliance on one creator. Four Cavaliers scored 21 or more points, while Detroit’s leading scorer had 17. When Cunningham struggled, the Pistons had no consistent second option to carry the offense.

Second, interior scoring decided the game. The 58-34 edge in the paint reflects Allen’s 13 free throw attempts, Mobley’s efficient finishing, and Mitchell’s drives. Detroit’s bigs could not match that production.

Third, Cleveland’s bench outperformed Detroit’s. Merrill, Wade, and Schroder combined for 30 points and finished with plus-minus ratings of plus-12 or better. Detroit’s bench scored 47 points, but Robinson, LeVert, and Sasser all finished at minus-14 or worse.

When the Cavaliers and Pistons Meet Next

The Cavaliers and Pistons are scheduled to face each other on December 18, 2026, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Both teams opened the 2026-27 regular season strong, with Detroit starting 3-0 and Cleveland starting 2-1 through games played on October 26, 2026. Expect that first rematch since Game 7 to draw plenty of attention from both fan bases.

Conclusion

The Cleveland Cavaliers vs Detroit Pistons match player stats from Game 7 point to one clear conclusion: Cleveland dominated through balance, interior scoring, and a strong bench. Mitchell, Allen, Merrill, and Mobley each scored at least 21 points, and the Cavaliers shot 50.6% from the field while holding the 60-win Pistons to 35.3%. The 125-94 victory completed a comeback from an 0-2 series deficit and sent Cleveland to its first conference finals since 2018. For Detroit, the loss closed a breakout season on a painful note, and the December rematch will give the Pistons their first chance at a response.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was the top scorer in Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 7?

Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 26 points in Game 7 on May 17, 2026. He shot 10 of 22 from the field, added eight assists and six rebounds, and committed zero turnovers. Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill each scored 23 points for Cleveland in the 125-94 win.

What was the final score of Game 7 between the Cavaliers and Pistons?

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 125-94 in Game 7 of the 2026 Eastern Conference semifinals. The game took place on May 17, 2026, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Cleveland led 64-47 at halftime and pushed the margin to as many as 35 points.

How did Cade Cunningham play in Game 7?

Cade Cunningham scored 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting, missed all seven of his three-point attempts, and finished with five assists, four rebounds, two steals, and three turnovers. His output landed 16 points below his playoff average, and he posted a team-worst minus-32 in nearly 37 minutes.

Who won the 2026 Cavaliers vs Pistons playoff series?

Cleveland won the 2026 Eastern Conference semifinal series 4-3. Detroit took the first two games at home, Cleveland won the next three, and the Pistons forced Game 7 with a 115-94 road win. The Cavaliers then won Game 7 by 31 points to reach the conference finals against the New York Knicks.

When do the Cavaliers and Pistons play next?

The Cavaliers and Pistons are scheduled to meet on December 18, 2026, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, according to published schedules. Detroit opened the 2026-27 season 3-0 and Cleveland started 2-1. Check the official NBA schedule for any time or date changes before game night.