Searching for Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers match player stats usually sends you through five tabs and three half-finished box scores. You still don’t know who actually decided the game. This guide fixes that. It puts every score, shooting line and turning point from the decisive Game 7 on one page, then adds the full seven-game series so you see the bigger story.
Quick Answer: Who Won and What Were the Player Stats?
On Sunday, May 17, 2026, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Detroit Pistons 125-94. The victory occurred in Detroit during Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Cleveland took the series 4-3.
The player statistics for the Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers game are summarized as follows:
- Donovan Mitchell of the Cavaliers is the top scorer with 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists.
- Top rebounder: Evan Mobley, Cavaliers, 12 rebounds (plus 21 points)
- Best Pistons scorer: Daniss Jenkins, 17 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists
- Scoring depth: Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill each added 23 points
- Biggest gap: Cleveland shot 50.6% from the field. Detroit shot 35.3%.
Game 7 Final Score and Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
Cleveland won all four quarters. The Cavaliers led 64-47 at halftime and never let Detroit threaten after that.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 31 | 33 | 35 | 26 | 125 |
| Detroit Pistons | 22 | 25 | 26 | 21 | 94 |
The third quarter had the largest swing. Cleveland outscored Detroit 35-26 and pushed the lead to 99-73 heading into the fourth.
Player Statistics for the Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Game 7 Scoring Table
This table lists every player whose Game 7 line I could confirm across ESPN and AP. A dash means the figure was not confirmed, so check the full box score before you quote it.
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Shooting notes |
| Donovan Mitchell | Cavaliers | 26 | 6 | 8 | 10-of-22 FG, 4-of-6 FT |
| Jarrett Allen | Cavaliers | 23 | — | — | Scored on dunks, layups and floaters |
| Sam Merrill | Cavaliers | 23 | — | — | Hit 5 threes, four of them before halftime |
| Evan Mobley | Cavaliers | 21 | 12 | — | 10 defensive rebounds, 2 offensive |
| Daniss Jenkins | Pistons | 17 | 3 | 5 | 4-of-12 FG, 7-of-8 FT |
| Cade Cunningham | Pistons | 13 | — | — | Far below his playoff scoring average |
| Duncan Robinson | Pistons | 13 | — | — | Provided spacing off the bench |
| Jalen Duren | Pistons | — | 9 | — | Led Detroit on the glass |
Four Cavaliers scored 21 or more. Only one Piston reached 17. That depth gap explains most of a 31-point margin.
Team Stats That Decided the Game
Cleveland won because it found better shots, not because it shot better from deep. Detroit’s offense stalled early and never recovered.
| Team stat | Cavaliers | Pistons |
| Field goal % | 50.6 | 35.3 |
| Three-point % | 32.4 | 30.8 |
| Free throw % | 63.6 | 75.9 |
| Points in the paint | 58 | 34 |
| Largest lead | 35 points | — |
Three takeaways stand out:
- In the paint, Cleveland scored 24 more points. Allen, Mobley and Mitchell attacked the rim all night.
- Detroit won the free throw percentage battle but lost the game by 31. Efficiency from the field mattered far more.
- Neither team shot well from three. The game turned on twos.
Step-by-Step Special Moments From the Game
The Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers match player stats tell you what happened. This timeline tells you when it happened.
| Step | Moment | What happened | Score |
| 1 | Opening seconds | Mobley completed an alley-oop dunk off a pass from Mitchell. | CLE 2-0 |
| 2 | Q1, 11:14 | Jenkins used an assist from Cunningham to score a three. It was Detroit’s only lead of the night, and it lasted about 30 seconds. | DET 3-2 |
| 3 | Q1, 5:46 | Dean Wade hit a three off a James Harden pass. Cleveland stayed in front for the rest of the game. | CLE 11-7 |
| 4 | Q1, final seconds | Marcus Sasser answered with a three, then Mitchell hit a pull-up bank three at the buzzer. | CLE 31-22 |
| 5 | Q2 | Cleveland went on a 24-9 run and built a 17-point halftime lead. | CLE 64-47 |
| 6 | Q3 | Mitchell blasted the game up with 15 points in the quarter. | CLE 99-73 |
| 7 | Q3, 6:32 | Caris LeVert’s three cut the gap to 17. Detroit never got closer in the second half. | CLE 76-59 |
| 8 | Q4 opening | Ausar Thompson drew a technical foul. Merrill made the free throw. | CLE 100-73 |
| 9 | Q4, 4:07 | Mobley’s second alley-oop slam off Mitchell completed the circle. | CLE 118-86 |
| 10 | Final minutes | Both benches took over and Cleveland closed it out. | CLE 125-94 |
Top Players of the Game
Donovan Mitchell earns player of the game. He scored 26 points, handed out 8 assists and carried Cleveland through the third quarter. For a player who had never reached a conference final, he played like it was routine.
Here is the full ranking of the top five performers:
- Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers): 26 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists
- Evan Mobley (Cavaliers): 21 points, 12 rebounds, blocks on Duren and Holland II in the fourth
- Jarrett Allen (Cavaliers): 23 points and constant rim pressure
- Sam Merrill (Cavaliers): 23 points off the bench
- Daniss Jenkins (Pistons): 17 points and the only Piston to pass 15
Cade Cunningham finished with 13 points.He was forced into difficult pull-up shots by Cleveland’s defense, and his typical rhythm never materialized.
Series Results: Every Game Between the Pistons and Cavaliers
The Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers match player stats from Game 7 only make sense inside the full series. Detroit led 2-0 and 2-1. Cleveland then won three of the last four games.
| Game | Date | Winner | Score | Standout player |
| 1 | May 5 | Pistons | 111-101 | Cunningham 23 points, Harris 20 |
| 2 | May 7 | Pistons | 107-97 | Cunningham 25 points, 10 assists |
| 3 | May 9 | Cavaliers | 116-109 | Cavaliers led 64-48 at halftime; Detroit cut it to 83-81 after three quarters |
| 4 | May 11 | Cavaliers | 112-103 | Mitchell 43 points |
| 5 | May 13 | Cavaliers | 117-113 (OT) | Cunningham 39, Harden 30 |
| 6 | May 15 | Pistons | 115-94 | Cunningham 21, Duren 15 and 11 rebounds |
| 7 | May 17 | Cavaliers | 125-94 | Mitchell 26 |
Series result: Cavaliers win 4-3.
Best Individual Performances of the Series
A few single-game lines defined this series:
- Mitchell, Game 4: 43 points. He scored 39 in the second half, which ties an NBA playoff record for a half.
- Cunningham, Game 5: 39 points on 13-of-27 shooting, in a losing effort.
- Harden, Game 5: 30 points, including 11-of-14 at the free throw line, as Cleveland rallied from nine down late to win in overtime.
- Mobley, Game 4: 17 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 5 blocks.
- Cunningham, Game 6: 21 points and five threes as Detroit won by 21 to force Game 7.
Why the Cavaliers Won Game 7
Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson pointed to one word after the game: force. The Cavaliers attacked early, won the first five minutes of each half, and kept Detroit on its heels.
The Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers match player stats back him up. Cleveland owned the paint 58-34 and shot 15 percentage points better from the field. Detroit’s guards could not find clean looks.
Game 6 showed the opposite. Detroit forced 20 turnovers and turned them into 28 points. In Game 7, Cleveland protected the ball and flipped the script.
How to Read an NBA Box Score Like a Pro
New to box scores? Start with these five columns:
- PTS: Total points scored.
- FG: Field goals made and attempted. Compare it with points to judge efficiency.
- REB: Rebounds, split into offensive and defensive.
- AST: Assists, or passes that lead directly to a basket.
- +/-: The score margin while a player was on the floor.
A player with 26 points on 10-of-22 shooting, like Mitchell, helped his team differently than a player with 26 points on 6-of-20. Always check the shooting line.
Where to Verify the Numbers
Every figure in this guide traces back to a published source. Check them yourself:
- ESPN Game 7 box score: player lines and game leaders
- CBS Sports Game 7 gametracker: AP recap, quarter scores and full play-by-play
- ESPN Game 5 box score: the overtime thriller that put Cleveland up 3-2
Your Next Move: Keep Tracking the Rivalry
You now have the full picture: the score, the player lines, the turning points and the series arc. Use this page as your reference for Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers match player stats whenever these two teams meet again.
Bookmark it, share it with a fellow fan, and check back when the new season starts. Both rosters return with something to prove.