NBA Playoffs: Cavaliers crush Pistons in Game 7, advance vs Knicks

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. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/AFP

DETROIT — 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.

The fourth-seeded Cavaliers ousted the East’s top seed and will face the third-seeded New York Knicks. Game 1 of that series tips off Tuesday in New York.

READ: NBA Playoffs: Game 7s have been kind to Cavaliers, Pistons over the years

MITCHELL, ALLEN AND MERRILL GET THE JOB DONE IN GAME 7!@spidadmitchell: 26p, 7r, 8a@_bigjayy_: 23p, 7r@smerrill05: 23p, 5 3pm

Cavs advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018 👏 pic.twitter.com/EEV47oiANr

— NBA (@NBA) May 18, 2026

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.

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.

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.