CLEVELAND – The top-seeded Detroit Pistons snapped their three-game losing streak and forced a Game 7 after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-94, behind great play by Jalen Duren and the bench mob, who scored 48 points, their second-most in the 2026 playoffs.
Detroit scored 29 more points than the Cavaliers in the Game 6 victory, achieving their fourth win while facing elimination, which is the second most by a No. 1 seed all-time.
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Duren stepped up big time as he had 15 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks in the matchup to bring the series back to Little Caesars Arena.
But it was Daniss Jenkins (15), Paul Reed (17), Caris LeVert (8), Marcus Sasser (9), and Duncan Robinson (14) who showed out while facing elimination.
Cade Cunningham had an awful second half, but he chipped in with 21 points and eight assists in the victory, but it didn’t matter as Detroit outscored Cleveland 61-43 in the second half.
1st quarter
Cleveland won the opening tip and immediately drew an offensive foul on guard Donovan Mitchell.
On the first possession, Tobias Harris missed an open 3-pointer for Detroit, and James Harden responded with a contested floater to give Cleveland a 2-0 lead.
Cade Cunningham answered with a contested floater of his own to get Detroit on the board, but the Pistons continued to struggle early from the perimeter.
Cunningham later added a three-pointer following an offensive rebound by Ausar Thompson, cutting into Cleveland’s lead.
Harden missed a three-pointer on the next possession, and Thompson converted a rim-run off a pass from Daniss Jenkins, drawing a foul from Harden to complete a three-point play and give Detroit an 8-4 advantage.
Evan Mobley kept Cleveland close with a tip-in, and Thompson responded with a free-throw jumper on the other end.
Mitchell was fouled with 7:55 remaining in the first quarter during a defensive sequence that led to a timeout.
Harden later knocked down a 3-pointer, but Harris missed a close-range attempt at the rim on the ensuing possession.
Mobley secured a defensive rebound and found Mitchell for a 25-foot 3-pointer that put Cleveland ahead 12-10.
Jalen Duren answered with a contested layup, but Thompson then stole the ball and set up Cunningham for a lob that was not converted.
Thompson recorded another steal on the next sequence and fed Harris, who lost control of the ball, leading to a Mitchell fast-break basket and a foul on Duren. Cleveland called a timeout with 5:53 remaining in the opening quarter as the game was tied 12-12.
Mitchell made both free throws to give Cleveland a 14-12 lead as the Cavaliers continued to build momentum during a strong mid-quarter run.
Former Michigan Wolverines standout Caris LeVert turned the ball over on an attempted pass to Ausar Thompson in the corner, and James Harden followed with a contested jumper as Cleveland extended its push to a 10-2 run.
Duren answered with a contested layup for Detroit, but Strus missed a 25-foot three-pointer before grabbing his own rebound.
The sequence ended with LeVert tying him up, though Strus came away with the loose ball and knocked down a three-pointer.
Jarrett Allen added a driving layup for Cleveland, and Strus was called for a foul on Cade Cunningham on the ensuing inbounds play.
LeVert then missed a three-pointer, and Cleveland worked the ball inside to Evan Mobley for a three-pointer that pushed the Cavaliers’ lead to 21-17.
Cunningham missed from long range on the next possession, and Mitchell secured the defensive rebound before going coast-to-coast for a layup.
Strus committed a turnover on the ensuing possession, leading to a Cunningham drive that was blocked by Mobley.
Strus turned the ball over again shortly after, prompting a Detroit timeout with 2:27 remaining in the quarter as Cleveland went on a 17-7 run to take a 23-17 lead.
Marcus Sasser provided an early spark off the bench, scoring on a floater before stripping Mitchell on the next possession, setting up a sequence that included an Isaiah Stewart three-point attempt that missed.
Detroit continued to create pressure defensively, while the Cavaliers struggled with turnovers in a tightly contested final stretch of the quarter.
Dennis Schroder was called for a double-dribble violation, and Duncan Robinson followed by knocking down a three-pointer for Detroit.
Cunningham was whistled for an offensive foul, but Cleveland answered when Mobley finished a putback dunk to keep the Cavaliers in striking distance.
LeVert tied the game with a 3-pointer, and Schröder was later called for traveling with 14.4 seconds remaining in the quarter.
Sam Merrill fouled LeVert with 2.8 seconds left, setting up a late possession for Cleveland.
On the ensuing sequence, Duren drew a foul on Merrill while defending a lob attempt with 2.2 seconds remaining.
Duren went to the free-throw line and missed both attempts, but Jenkins secured the offensive rebound and was fouled by Strus.
Strus then converted both free throws to give Detroit a 27-25 lead.
The Pistons closed the first quarter on a 10-2 run to take a two-point advantage.
2nd quarter
Reed opened the stretch with a layup as Detroit continued to build momentum, while Mobley missed a three-point attempt on the other end.
Robinson was fouled on a three-point attempt and went to the line, making two of three free throws as the Pistons extended their strong run.
Detroit held a 14-2 surge during the stretch, with the bench contributing 16 points in the period.
Mitchell missed a three-point shot, and Reed answered with a contested layup to keep Detroit in control.
Mobley was then called for an offensive foul on Reed, and Cunningham followed with a jumper to push Detroit’s lead to 35-25.
Robinson was whistled for his first foul shortly after.
Mitchell drew Robinson’s second foul on the ensuing possession and went to the line, converting both free throws.
Detroit’s run reached 18-2 as Cunningham attempted a pass to Reed, but Reed lost control of the ball.
Harden turned the ball over on the next possession, leading to a Cunningham 3-pointer that extended Detroit’s lead to 38-27.
The Pistons also forced 10 turnovers from Cleveland during the stretch.
Reed helped ignite a fast break with a contested stop on James Harden, leading to Robinson finding Thompson, who was fouled by Mitchell.
Thompson went to the line and split a pair of free throws.
Mitchell missed a floater on the next possession, and Thompson converted a layup before being called for his second foul of the game after a hard defensive play that sent Merrill to the floor. Detroit remained on a 24-6 run while taking a 41-29 lead.
Thompson was later assessed a flagrant foul penalty one on the play. Merrill went to the line and made both free throws.
Merrill missed a three-point attempt, and Thompson committed a turnover by palming the ball.
Reed was called for a foul with 7:30 remaining, and Schröder missed a midrange shot on the ensuing possession.
Thompson secured the defensive rebound, but Harden was fouled on the next sequence.
Jenkins missed a 10-foot jumper, and Dean Wade grabbed the defensive rebound, leading to a Merrill three-pointer that cut Cleveland’s deficit to seven with 6:36 remaining.
Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff called a timeout as Detroit’s run reached 24-11.
Schröder was called for a foul on Cunningham before LeVert knocked down a jumper to keep Cleveland within striking distance.
Dean Wade missed a 25-foot three-pointer, but Cunningham secured the defensive rebound and found Duren for a layup.
Wade answered with a three-pointer, and Tobias Harris missed a close-range attempt at the rim.
Duren then drew a foul on Schröder, who missed the first free throw but made the second.
Harden missed a 3-point attempt, and Harris followed with a missed jumper.
Cunningham forced a Mitchell turnover and then hit a three-pointer to extend Detroit’s lead.
Allen answered with a jumper before Cunningham turned the ball over on the next possession.
Mitchell drove against Duren but was blocked, and Harris threw the loose ball out of bounds.
Strus then connected on a corner 3-pointer.
Cunningham responded with another 3-pointer, and Allen fed Mobley for a dunk on the ensuing possession.
Harris missed a corner 3-pointer and fouled Mobley on the fastbreak.
Mobley missed both free throws, but Allen secured the offensive rebound and found Strus, who missed a three-point attempt.
Duren scored on a layup before Thompson picked up his third foul, sending Mobley to the line. Mobley made both free throws.
Cunningham turned the ball over, leading to a Mitchell dunk.
Cunningham committed another turnover on the next possession, leading to a Harden foul that sent Cunningham to the line.
Cunningham missed both free throws, but Allen grabbed the offensive rebound and kicked out to Strus for a 26-foot three-pointer.
LeVert was stripped on the following possession, and Strus missed another three-point attempt before Harris secured the defensive rebound.
Cleveland closed the gap late in the half, but Detroit held a 54-51 lead at halftime.
3rd quarter
Cunningham opened the second half with a three-pointer as Detroit quickly extended its lead over Cleveland.
Harris then tied up Mobley on the next possession.
Harris won the jump ball and pushed the ball coast-to-coast, but missed a close-range layup before Thompson followed with a putback basket.
Allen was fouled by Harris and split a pair of free throws for Cleveland.
Jenkins answered with a 23-foot three-pointer and then forced Harden into a turnover on the ensuing possession.
Harris was fouled by Mobley at the rim shortly after.
The giveaway marked Harden’s sixth turnover of the game.
Harris converted both free throws as Detroit stretched its run to 10-1 before Mobley was fouled by Harris and made one of two free throws.
Jenkins attacked the lane on the next possession and finished a contested layup through Allen to give Detroit its largest lead of the game at 13 points.
Harden then drew Harris’ fourth foul and went to the line, making both free throws.
Duren missed a driving layup, but Thompson followed with a tip dunk to restore Detroit’s 13-point advantage.
Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson called a timeout with 8:50 remaining in the third quarter as Detroit completed a 14-4 run.
Allen missed a close-range attempt to open the stretch, and Cunningham was unable to capitalize on the other end after missing a contested layup.
Cunningham later missed a 17-foot jumper before Strus grabbed the defensive rebound and found Harden for a 14-foot jumper.
Jenkins missed an 11-foot attempt, and Mobley secured the rebound before Cunningham deflected a Mitchell pass out of bounds.
Allen then fired a long outlet pass to Mitchell, who lost the ball out of bounds during the transition opportunity.
Duren missed a six-foot jumper, and Mobley came up empty on Cleveland’s next possession.
LeVert committed a turnover on a two-on-one fast break, but Strus missed a 22-foot jumper on the ensuing possession.
Thompson then missed from 22 feet before Duren appeared to injure his ankle on the play.
Thompson responded with a highlight-reel block on the defensive end before Harden was called for an offensive foul.
Cunningham missed a 25-foot 3-point attempt, and LeVert fouled Harden on the next possession. Harden made both free throws.
Duren, who rolled his ankle during the sequence, remained on the sideline as play continued.
Allen later blocked a shot by Reed, and LeVert blocked Schröder on the other end.
Allen secured the offensive rebound and converted a putback basket to cut Detroit’s lead to seven.
The Pistons called a timeout with 5:24 remaining in the third quarter.
Reed converted a three-point play after a scramble sequence as Detroit pushed its lead back to 10 points during a strong closing stretch of the third quarter.
Thompson picked up his fourth foul shortly after, sending Harden to the free-throw line, where he made both attempts for Cleveland.
Robinson answered with a 3-pointer, but Merrill responded with a three-pointer of his own to keep the Cavaliers within striking distance.
Reed missed a 15-foot jumper before Merrill converted a driving layup.
Reed was fouled on the next possession and split a pair of free throws, giving Detroit a seven-point lead.
Mitchell missed a contested shot, grabbed his own rebound, and missed again before the ball went out of bounds.
LeVert secured the defensive rebound on the ensuing possession, leading to another Robinson three-pointer for Detroit.
Mobley then committed a turnover, and Reed followed with a driving layup as the Pistons extended their advantage.
Detroit capped a 6-0 run before Mobley answered with a tough basket inside.
Robinson missed a three-point attempt, and Reed could not convert the putback opportunity.
Mitchell missed another shot before Robinson found Reed cutting to the rim for an easy basket.
Mobley missed a transition attempt at the rim, and Robinson grabbed the rebound before finding Sasser for a floater at the buzzer.
Detroit closed the third quarter with momentum and carried a 14-point lead into the fourth.
4th quarter
Merrill missed a three-point attempt to open the fourth quarter before LeVert secured the defensive rebound and pushed the ball ahead to Robinson, who connected on a three-pointer for Detroit.
Mobley answered with a corner three-pointer for Cleveland, and Cunningham was then called for a double-dribble violation on the ensuing possession.
Harden drew a foul on LeVert and went to the free-throw line, converting both attempts as Cleveland continued to chip away at the deficit.
Sasser responded with a 25-foot three-pointer for Detroit before Mitchell scored on a driving layup.
Sasser added a floater on the next possession, but Mitchell answered with a three-pointer to keep the Cavaliers within striking distance.
Bickerstaff called a timeout with 9:26 remaining as Detroit, which had led by as many as 17 points, maintained a 12-point advantage.
Cunningham missed a 25-foot three-pointer to open the stretch, but Thompson grabbed the offensive rebound to extend the possession for Detroit.
On the ensuing play, Mitchell attempted to finish over Cunningham at the rim but was unable to convert before Duren scored on a layup at the other end.
Thompson was then called for his fifth foul of the game, and Mobley followed with a tip-in basket for Cleveland.
Cunningham absorbed heavy contact on Detroit’s next possession and went to the free-throw line with 7:33 remaining.
He made both attempts to push the Pistons’ lead back to 14 points.
Harden answered with a three-pointer over Harris, but Cunningham missed a close-range shot on the ensuing possession.
Duren secured the offensive rebound and converted the putback.
Harden then missed a 25-foot attempt before drawing a foul on Cunningham after Cleveland secured the offensive rebound.
On the next possession, Harden committed a turnover, and Harris capitalized with a dunk that extended Detroit’s advantage to 15 points.
Mitchell missed a 25-foot three-pointer, and Reed secured the defensive rebound as Detroit continued to control the pace late in the fourth quarter.
Daniss Jenkins followed with a 16-foot pull-up jumper to push the Pistons’ lead back to 17 points.
LeVert was then called for a foul on Mobley, sending the Cleveland forward to the free-throw line. Mobley split the pair.
Harris grabbed the defensive rebound on the next possession, leading to a layup by Reed that stretched Detroit’s advantage to 19 points.
James Harden answered with a three-pointer for Cleveland before Jenkins missed a 23-foot attempt from beyond the arc.
Harden secured the defensive rebound, but Reed deflected an interior pass intended for Jarrett Allen out of bounds with 3:58 remaining.
Thompson fouled out with 3:56 left in the game after finishing with 10 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and four steals.
Allen made both free throws following Thompson’s foul, but Jenkins responded with a corner 3-pointer as Cleveland called a timeout, trailing by 16 points.
Strus missed a three-point attempt before Duren controlled the defensive rebound and later added an offensive rebound and basket on the other end as Detroit continued to pull away.
Harden missed another three-point shot, and Duren secured the rebound, leading to a three-pointer from Daniss Jenkins that extended the Pistons’ lead to 21 points.
Cleveland answered by feeding Jaylon Tyson for a 9-foot floater in the lane.
Reed then connected on a 3-pointer for Detroit before Tyson was called for a loose-ball foul during the ensuing sequence.
Reed committed a turnover on the next possession, and Bryant missed a 12-foot jumper for Cleveland.
Ronald Holland II was later called for a foul on Nae’Qwan Tomlin, who split a pair of free throws.