Pistons Cavs Playoffs 2026: Pistons Reach Eastern Conference Semifinals After Game 7 Victory

The Detroit Pistons booked a place in the Eastern Conference semi-finals with a 116-94 Game 7 win over the Orlando Magic, finishing a comeback from 3-1 down. Top-seeded Detroit advanced to face the Cleveland Cavaliers, who beat the Toronto Raptors 114-102 in their own deciding game, setting up a Central Division clash starting on Tuesday.

The Pistons, who also eliminated Orlando in 2008, claimed their first play-off series victory since that season. Detroit will host fourth-seeded Cleveland in Game 1, after the teams shared four wins across their regular-season meetings, adding extra intrigue to a match-up between long-time divisional rivals.

In Cleveland, Jarrett Allen, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden led the Cavaliers past Toronto to reach the last four in the East for a third straight year. Allen posted 22 points, 19 rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Mitchell also scored 22, while Harden supplied 18 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson underlined the scale of the next task against the conference’s top seed. "Were going to have to be mentally and physically tough to beat (Detroit)," Atkinson said. "No. 1 seed, theyve had a great year, theyre the favourites. We go in there as underdogs, which is a challenge, but I think it is going to be a similar series.Hopefully this series prepared us for that."

Detroit’s series turnaround hinged on Cade Cunningham and Tobias Harris, who both delivered standout Game 7 displays. Cunningham finished with 32 points, 12 assists and two blocks, again driving Detroit’s offence. Harris added 30 points, nine rebounds and three steals, giving the Pistons a second dominant scoring option on the perimeter and inside.

The duo achieved a milestone for the franchise with their performances. They became the first Pistons teammates to each score at least 30 points in a play-off contest since Bob Lanier recorded 33 and Howard Porter had 30 in 1977, underlining the scale of their contribution in the decisive home win.

Cunningham reflected on the pressure of recovering from a 3-1 deficit and how the group responded. "We were pushed to the limit," Cunningham said. "And it made us really reflect on how we were playing, what got us to this position and what made us win as many games as we won in the regular season. And it got us back to playing the basketball that we knew we were capable of."

Across the seven games against Orlando, Cunningham averaged 32.4 points, 7.1 assists and 5.7 rebounds, confirming a leading role at both ends. Harris also raised output compared to the regular season, producing 21.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game after posting 13.3 points and 5.1 boards during the 82-game schedule.

The Magic exited in the first round again despite major production from Paolo Banchero, the top pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Banchero tallied 38 points, nine rebounds and six assists in Game 7, two days after Orlando let a 24-point advantage slip in Game 6, which would have closed the series.

Banchero’s play-off record remained strong even with another early elimination. Over the last three postseasons, Banchero has averaged 27.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists. However, the Magic have been unable to progress beyond the opening round. "... I can't say we're good enough to be in the (NBA) Finals or the Eastern finals, because the last three years, we've had the same result," Banchero said.

Toronto’s challenge in Cleveland was shaped by injuries to key guards and forwards. Brandon Ingram missed a second consecutive game because of right heel inflammation, so the Raptors played every minute of the deciding contest without the All-Star forward. Toronto had forced Game 7 with Ingram already sidelined, but could not repeat that effort.

Scottie Barnes still managed 24 points, nine rebounds and six assists, while RJ Barrett delivered 23 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals. The Raptors also played the entire series without starting guard Immanuel Quickley, who sat out due to a hamstring injury after averaging 16.4 points, 5.9 assists, four rebounds and 1.31 steals across 70 regular-season games.

Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic highlighted the effort of the group rather than the absences. "We dont look at excuses, we are missing players, we are tired," Rajakovic said. "I am really, really proud of this group and the fight that they brought."

Detroit’s comeback from 3-1 down, Orlando’s repeated first-round exits, Toronto’s injury issues and Cleveland’s third straight semi-final place together shaped the Eastern Conference picture. The Pistons and Cavaliers entered their next series with contrasting labels, yet both carried momentum from tense Game 7 victories into a divisional meeting with significant play-off stakes.