Eastern Conference Semifinals schedule: Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers ⬇️
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Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons and James Harden of the Cleveland Cavaliers during an NBA game.
On Sunday, the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers booked their tickets to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Pistons dominated the Orlando Magic 116-94 in Game 7 of their first-round series to complete a 3-1 comeback. Cade Cunningham had 32 points and 12 assists, while Tobias Harris finished with 30 points and nine rebounds.
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers used a huge surge in the third quarter to pull away from the Toronto Raptors in Game 7 of their first-round matchup. Jarrett Allen led the way for the Cavs in their 114-102 win, putting up 22 points, 19 rebounds and three blocks.
The Pistons and Cavaliers are now set to face each other in the second round of the 2026 NBA playoffs.
GettyDonovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots against Cade Cunningham #2 and Ausar Thompson #9 of the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Rocket Arena on January 04, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Here’s the full schedule for the Eastern Conference semifinals matchup between the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers, as announced by the NBA.
This will be the fifth postseason matchup between the two teams. It’s their first time battling in a playoff series since 2016, so it’s a decade in the making.
Eastern Conference Semifinals schedule: Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers ⬇️
The Cavaliers defeated the Pistons in the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals and in the first round of the 2009 and 2016 NBA playoffs.
On the other hand, the Pistons’ lone playoff series win over Cleveland happened in the 2006 Eastern Conference semifinals.
All series involved the one and only LeBron James, who was an adversary of the 2000s Pistons teams led by Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace.
In the regular season, the Pistons and Cavaliers split the series 2-2.
The Pistons won in Cleveland 114-110 on January 4 and at home 123-119 in overtime on February 27. The Cavaliers beat the Pistons at home 116-95 on October 27 and in Detroit 113-109 on March 3.
GettyIsaiah Stewart #28 of the Detroit Pistons steals the ball from Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half at Rocket Arena on January 04, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Several NBA analysts for The Athletic dropped their prediction for the Detroit Pistons-Cleveland Cavaliers series. Eric Koreen, Hunter Patterson, Josh Robbins and Joe Vardon all agreed that the series will go to seven games.
Koreen, Patterson and Vardon picked the Pistons to move on, pointing to their physicality and defense.
“Detroit is physical, with an unyielding defense,” Koreen wrote. “At this point, I trust that more than anything the Cavaliers can offer. Ultimately, I think the Pistons will have enough defensive answers to pull out a tight series.”
On the other hand, Robbins has the Cavaliers winning the series.
“I’m giving the Cavaliers a slight edge, because I think the Cavs’ offense has enough playmakers to overcome the Pistons’ physicality and Cunningham,” Robbins wrote.
The Pistons are slightly favored to win the series against the Cavaliers, as per BetMGM Sportsbook.
Juan Paolo David Juan Paolo David is a sports journalist covering basketball for Heavy. He has a decade of experience writing about the NBA and WWE. He's currently based in the Philippines. More about Juan Paolo David
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