The Pistons defeat the Cavaliers 115-94 to even the series at 3-3 and force a Game 7 on Sunday.
The Detroit Pistons’ determination to keep their season alive was stronger than the Cleveland Cavaliers’ desire to advance to the next round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
This was undeniable Friday. This was explained by the tenor of Game 6 and how the Pistons, based on their energy if nothing else, did everything necessary to force a Game Seven with a 115-94 victory.
And so that’s where this conference semifinal series is headed, to Detroit on Sunday (8 ET, Prime Video), and based on the series to date, all signs pointed in that direction anyway. The Pistons went into Cleveland feeling the weight of a top seed and chose to perform like one.
“We did what needed to be done,” said Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff.
Meanwhile, the Cavs never found a rhythm, fell behind early and couldn’t generate a strong enough response. Well, they’ll have no choice but to do so Sunday.
“We gotta play better,” said Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson. “We’ve got a great opportunity still. Not going to be easy, going on the road for Game 7, but Game 7s are a toss-up.”
Here are the takeaways from Game 6:
1. The freaky possession play
Is it possible for one play to decide a game that was decided by 21 points? Yes, possible. Because it happened insanely and timely for the Pistons with just under five minutes remaining in the third quarter, Pistons up seven points.
A missed shot by Caris LeVert careened toward out of bounds. Paul Reed did a tightrope to catch it and threw it weakly with his left hand, but the ball still wasn’t in play. Then Duncan Robinson saved it from going out of bounds again with a one-handed backward flip to Ausar Thompson who wrestled the loose ball away from the Cavs’ Sam Merrill.
The play and the ball somehow remained alive. Thompson then found Reed, who had scampered back into the paint; Reed took a dribble and lofted a left-handed shot over Jarrett Allen. The ball rested on the back of the rim for what seemed like an hour before falling through.
.@Bball_paul is EVERYWHERE! https://t.co/ak1nofr6ZK pic.twitter.com/V4v4W43PeO
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 16, 2026
This singular play defined the game for the Pistons. It showed their hustle, determination and refusal to surrender. It reflected the performance of Reed, their backup center, who has been a massive boon for Detroit in the wake of Jalen Duren’s struggles; and also the energy of Thompson, a pest to Cleveland all game before fouling out.
It also confirmed that this would be Detroit’s night. The ball simply bounced their way when they weren’t making plays. Interestingly, Cade Cunningham wasn’t a part of that crazy, important and game-swinging play. Which leads to the big factor for Detroit in this game …
2. The Pistons bench was bodacious
Cunningham wasn’t his usual smooth self and his tendency to be reckless resurfaced; he had seven turnovers and went stretches without a basket on a night when he shot just 7-for-19. Basically, Cunningham wasn’t winning this game by himself.
And thankfully for the Pistons, they didn’t need him to be a hero. That’s because just about everyone that coach JB Bickerstaff sent into the game made an impact.
Reed, of course; once again producing microwave scoring — 17 points in 16 minutes — was a big plus. LeVert and Marcus Sasser had moments. Though Daniss Jenkins started, it should be mentioned he thoroughly outplayed the Cavs’ point guards, scoring 15 without a turnover.
The Pistons bench totaled 48 points, an important source of offensive for a Pistons’ team that had struggled to find a scoring source to complement Cunningham. By comparison, the Cavs’ bench had 19 points and Dennis Schröder was especially tame, missing all four of his shots with three turnovers.
3. Better late than never for Duren
Cade Cunningham (21 points) and Jalen Duren (15 points, 11 rebounds) lead the Pistons to a Game 6 victory.
Not only was Jalen Duren facing elimination from the playoffs, but perhaps a long, tough summer of reflection. He had staggered through the playoffs with his scoring average cut in half and rebounds falling out of his reach. There was a significant burden on Duren’s brawny shoulders Friday, and you must salute him for accepting the challenge and finally coming through.
Yes, it was late. But it was also just in time for Detroit. After being benched in the fourth quarter and overtime of Game 5, and being mostly invisible offensively throughout these playoffs, Duren responded with a sense of urgency.
The first-time All-Star was recharged and, after making a few shots, re-energized. His play had dropped off significantly since the regular season in just about all phases, but not Game 6. He totaled 15 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks, all of which was more indicative of his breakout season, all of which inspired his teammates and no doubt gave himself a much need jolt of confidence.
“I thought it was huge for JD,” Bickerstaff said. “He was able to get going. It starts with the rebounding part of it and what he was doing defensively for us. Four offensive rebounds are huge. That means he was imposing his will on the game. And all the other stuff comes from that.”
4. Mitchell goes missing
At tipoff he was one step from his first appearance in the conference finals but that step landed on a banana peel. Mitchell’s goal of advancing further than he ever has must wait for another game … or another season.
It didn’t help that he produced a chilly performance, shooting 6-for-20, by far his worst of these playoffs. Some of those misses were bad luck; the ball just didn’t fall. Others were just bad shots. Whichever category they fell into, for the second straight game, Mitchell lacked the touch, and Game 6 proved a regression from two nights earlier.
This was designed to be a personal coronation for Mitchell: the Cavs held a 3-2 series lead returning to Cleveland. And now there’s a Game 7 on the road, in what’s sure to be a hostile environment for him and the Cavs.
It wasn’t just Mitchell who saw a golden opportunity vanish, but also James Harden, buried once again by turnovers, which have bedeviled him this postseason. He had eight Friday – his highest single-game total of this series – and some were caused by careless passes and faulty judgment.
So the situation is this for Mitchell: His response Sunday will be most curious and no doubt weigh heavily on Cleveland’s chances of winning a second straight Game 7 in these playoffs. Not to mention his chance of finally filling in one of the few missing lines on an otherwise full NBA resume.
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at spowell@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.
