2026 NBA Playoffs

Live Updates: Pistons-Cavaliers clash in pivotal Game 3 on Peacock/NBC

Check out the best from Saturday's action in the 2026 NBA Playoffs with our live blog, featuring Pistons-Cavs and Thunder-Lakers.

NBA.com Staff

Cleveland hosts Detroit for Game 3 in hopes of avoiding a 0-3 series deficit on Peacock and NBC.

Enjoy the best of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news and highlights from Saturday’s action.

We’ve got two monumental Game 3s on the docket today! Cleveland will host Detroit to kick things off (Live, Peacock/NBC), followed by Los Angeles welcoming Oklahoma City to town for the nightcap (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).

What we know about Saturday’s games:

  • Cleveland will host Detroit in search of answers to get back in the series and avoid going down 3-0. The Pistons’ defense ranks second in the 2026 NBA Playoffs with a defensive rating of 103.0, but the Cavs remain undefeated at Rocket Arena in the postseason and look to improve to 5-0 on their home court.
  • The Lakers host the defending champion Thunder as their conference semifinals series shifts to Los Angeles. Following consecutive 18-point losses, LA is now 0-6 on the season against OKC, with an average margin of defeat of 25.5 points. The Lakers are averaging 19.5 turnovers through the first two games, resulting in 23.0 points off TOs for the Thunder.

MAY 9, 2026 / 5:01 ET

Two possession game in Cleveland

The Pistons are showing more energy in the third quarter, as they burst out with an 11-2 run to cut the Cavs’ lead to 74-69 with 4:04 left in the period.

Cleveland is settling for 3-pointers (1-8 3PM in 3Q) and are shooting just 30.8% (4-13 FG) overall.

MAY 9, 2026 / 4:55 ET

Pistons gaining ground

Detroit trims a 17-point deficit to 11, 69-58, with 7:21 remaining in the third quarter. The Pistons have a 10-5 scoring advantage in the frame, live now on Peacock and NBC!

MAY 9, 2026 / 4:35 ET

Spida, Cavs make statement in 1H

Despite giving up 12 offensive rebounds through 24 minutes, Cleveland brings the energy and intensity to outscore Detroit 32-18 in the second quarter, giving the Cavs a 64-48 advantage at the break.

Donovan Mitchell dazzles with a game-high 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting (2-4 3PM), adding 5 boards and 3 dimes in 18 minutes. Jarrett Allen adds 13 points on 5-for-7 from the field and one block, while Evan Mobley (8 pts, 3 reb, 2 blk) and James Harden (8 pts, 5 ast) keep the offense in rhythm.

Detroit garners 13 more field goal attempts, but they’re shooting 37.5% (18-48 FG) overall and 14.3% (2-14 3PM) on 3-pointers. The Cavs finish the first half shooting 68.6% (24-35 FG) from the field and 53.8% (7-13 3PM) from downtown.

Cade Cunningham (10 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl) and Tobias Harris (10 pts, 4-4 FT) lead the way for the Pistons. Jalen Duren (9 pts, 2 stl), Ausar Thompson (3 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast) and Cunningham (4-14 FG) all have 3 personal fouls, so keep an eye on their activity and aggression in the second half.

MAY 9, 2026 / 4:19 ET

Cavs dominating second quarter

Cleveland has a 25-14 scoring edge in the second quarter to give them a 57-44 edge with less than 3 minutes remaining before halftime.

Donovan Mitchell is up to 18 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists to lead the Cavs, while Cade Cunningham (10 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast) and Tobias Harris (10 pts) pace the Pistons.

MAY 9, 2026 / 4:00 ET

Cleveland stepping up at home

The Cavs are shooting 69.6% (16-23 FG) overall while holding Detroit to 36.4% (12-33 FG) shooting, as Cleveland holds a 41-34 advantage with 7:36 left in the first half. It’s their largest lead of the series to this point.

Donovan Mitchell has a game-high 13 points and 5 rebounds on 6-for-9 shooting in 12 minutes.

MAY 9, 2026 / 3:44 ET

Cavs lead 32-30 after 1Q

The turnovers continue to be an issue for Cleveland (6 in first quarter), but a spark from Dennis Schröder (8 pts, 2 3PM, 2 ast, 1 blk) off the bench helps the Cavs take a 2-point lead heading to the second.

Donovan Mitchell (9 pts, 3 reb) and Jarrett Allen (9 pts on 4-4 FG) fuel Cleveland’s best start through three games in this series.

Tobias Harris powers Detroit with 8 points on 3-for-5 shooting, and Cade Cunningham stuffs the stat sheet with 6 points, 5 boards, 4 assists and one steal.

MAY 9, 2026 / 3:26 ET

Game 3 underway in The Land

Donovan Mitchell powers Cleveland with 7 points and 3 rebounds, but the Cavs trail Detroit 18-15 with 6:26 remaining in the opening quarter on Peacock/NBC.

MAY 9, 2026 / 2:55 ET

Thunder eyeing history tonight

Oklahoma City aims to make it 7-0 to start their journey for back-to-back titles with a Game 3 victory against the Lakers in LA.

MAY 9, 2026 / 2:50 ET

Starting Lineups: Pistons-Cavaliers, Game 3

Detroit Pistons:

  • PG – Cade Cunningham (24.0 ppg, 8.5 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.0 bpg)
  • SG – Duncan Robinson (18.0 ppg, 5.0 3PM on 58.8 3P%, 2.5 spg)
  • SF – Ausar Thompson (10.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.5 spg)
  • PF – Tobias Harris (20.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.0 spg, 1.0 bpg)
  • C – Jalen Duren (9.5 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 1.0 bpg)

Kevin Huerter (adductor) remains out for Detroit, meaning JB Bickerstaff will rely on Daniss Jenkins, Isaiah Stewart and Caris LeVert in the second unit.

Cleveland Cavaliers:

  • PG – James Harden (16.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.0 spg)
  • SG – Donovan Mitchell (27.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.5 spg)
  • SF – Dean Wade (6.5 ppg, 1.5 3PM, 4.0 rpg)
  • PF – Evan Mobley (11.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.5 spg, 2.5 bpg)
  • C – Jarrett Allen (12.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.0 bpg)

Cleveland gets a boost to their 3-point shooting (30% this series) with Sam Merrill (hamstring) available off the bench after leaving early in Game 1 and missing all of Game 2. Max Strus, Jaylon Tyson and Dennis Schröder should continue to get opportunities in the second unit for the Cavs.

MAY 9, 2026 / 2:30 ET

Today’s injury report

DET @ CLE — Kevin Huerter (adductor) is out for the Pistons.

Sam Merrill (hamstring) is available to play for the Cavaliers.

OKC @ LAL — Jalen Williams (hamstring) remains out for the Thunder.

Luka Dončić (hamstring) will miss his ninth consecutive playoff game, and Jarred Vanderbilt (finger) is questionable for the Lakers after missing Game 2.

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