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Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert looks on as Cleveland doubles down on fan support, sending 25 busloads to Detroit for Game 7.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are doubling down on something that already worked once in this series — and hoping it delivers again in the biggest game of their season.

Hours before Sunday’s Game 7 against the Detroit Pistons, videos and photos of the Cavaliers arranging 25 busloads of fans to travel to Little Caesars Arena, with all expenses covered, in an effort to counter Detroit’s homecourt advantage, have circulated online.

The move, reported by WKYC-TV 3’s Nick Camino, comes after a similar — and successful — strategy earlier in the series.

“Similar to Game 5, when they took eight busloads of season ticket holders up to Detroit for the game, today they’re bringing up 25 busloads of Cavs fans, with all expenses covered for Game 7. Yes, TWENTY-FIVE!” Camino wrote on X.

Cavaliers Look to Replicate Game 5 Road Breakthrough

Cleveland’s decision isn’t random. It’s rooted in results.

In Game 5, when the Cavaliers sent eight busloads of fans to Detroit, they delivered their biggest road win of the postseason — a 117-113 overtime comeback that gave them a 3-2 series lead.

The Cavs erased a nine-point deficit late in regulation and stunned the top-seeded Pistons behind a resilient closing stretch.

James Harden scored a playoff-best 30 points, while Donovan Mitchell added 21, including a critical 3-pointer in overtime that helped Cleveland seize control.

Evan Mobley tied the game at 103 with 45.2 seconds left in regulation, sparking a late rally that highlighted the team’s growth under pressure.

“That stretch right there says a lot about our progress — mental performance progress and mental toughness progress,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said after the win.

Cleveland went on a 13-0 run spanning the fourth quarter and overtime, holding Detroit scoreless for five minutes in a decisive stretch that flipped the game.

Bigger Crowd, Bigger Stakes in Game 7

Now, Cleveland is taking that blueprint and scaling it up.

Instead of eight buses, there are 25. Instead of a pivotal Game 5, it’s a winner-take-all Game 7.

The Pistons, the No. 1 seed, will still have the majority of the crowd at Little Caesars Arena. But the Cavaliers are clearly intent on shrinking that edge — and injecting energy into a road environment that could decide their season.

For a fourth-seeded Cleveland team trying to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, every marginal advantage matters.

Cavaliers Face Pressure After Game 6 Setback

The atmosphere becomes even more important given Cleveland’s struggles in Game 6.

Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with 18 points but shot just 6-of-20 from the field in a 115-94 loss, including only two made field goals in the second half.

Detroit’s defense, anchored by Ausar Thompson and Cade Cunningham, disrupted Cleveland’s rhythm and forced a decisive Game 7.

Now, the Cavaliers must respond — not just tactically, but mentally — in a hostile environment.

Season on the Line for Cleveland Core

A win would send Cleveland to the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks.

A loss would end a season that began with expectations of a deep playoff run and raise questions about the team’s long-term ceiling.

That urgency is reflected in the organization’s all-in approach.

The Cavaliers aren’t just relying on their stars to deliver. They’re bringing their crowd with them — in unprecedented numbers — hoping the same formula that fueled a Game 5 comeback can help carry them through one more time.