The Detroit Pistons won game 1 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in convincing fashion. From the eight-minute mark of the first quarter to the four-minute mark of the 4th quarter, Cleveland failed to see a lead. After that point in the 4th quarter, the Cavaliers would never get closer than down by 7.
Detroit won this game the way they will likely want to win each game. Aggressive and attentive defense, with big offensive contributions from Cade Cunningham and Tobias Harris. Duncan Robinson going 5 for 8 from three was also rather helpful.
Cleveland on the other hand, needs to find answers. The offense looked lackluster. 45 points combined between Donovan Mitchell and James Harden is not going to be good enough. The Cavs got solid minutes from Max Struss (19 points in 28 minutes shooting 50% from three). Unless Evan Mobley can get into the 20 point range on offense, the Cavs will need more from their star back court if they want to make this a series.
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Cavaliers vs Pistons live updates, highlights from Game 1 of NBA playoffs
GOT IT DONE. pic.twitter.com/UkUgKkGvxQ
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 6, 2026Team Stats Final CLEDETFG36-8037-84Field Goal %45443PT14-3810-26Three Point %3738FT15-1627-35Free Throw %9477Rebounds4145Offensive Rebounds1116Defensive Rebounds3029Assists2323Steals712Blocks53Total Turnovers2012Points Conceded Off Turnovers3116Fast Break Points615Points in Paint4444Fouls2218Technical Fouls21Flagrant Fouls00Largest Lead518Percent Led691
Detroit Pistons defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 by a score of 111-101.
4th Quarter-0:07: James Harden misses a 28-foot three-point shot.
4th Quarter-0:32: Donovan Mitchell makes a 30-foot three-point shot.
4th Quarter-1:45: James Harden makes an 8-foot shot.
4th Quarter-2:45: Cade Cunningham makes an 8-foot pull up jump shot.
4th Quarter-3:23: Daniss Jenkins makes a 17-foot pull up jump shot.
4th Quarter-4:13: Jalen Duren makes a 1-foot dunk.
4th Quarter-5:01: Jalen Duran blocks a James Harden floater.
Duren gettin’ it done pic.twitter.com/fZjlmhytfD
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 6, 2026
4th Quarter-5:28: Ausar Thompson fouled James Harden behind the 3PT line. Harden made all three free throws.
4th Quarter-6:00: James Harden makes 11-foot jump shot.
4th Quarter-6:32: James Harden makes a 5-foot floating jump shot.
COUNT. IT.@JHarden13 | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/Z0MSiFV62m
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 6, 2026
4th Quarter-8:18: Donovan Mitchell makes an 8-foot shot.
4th Quarter-9:48: Duncan Robinson makes a 27-foot three-point shot.
4th Quarter-11:04: Dennis Schroder makes a 26-foot three-point shot.
4th Quarter-11:27: Duncan Robinson makes a 7-foot driving floater.
4th Quarter-11:50: Max Struss makes a 3-foot layup. Fouled by Holland. Makes the free throw.
MAD MAX IS OUT TO PLAY.#LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/gvAdbm2znC
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 6, 2026Team Stats through 3 Quarters CLEDETFG28-5726-63Field Goal %49413PT12-289-21Three Point %4343FT8-822-27Free Throw %10081Rebounds2832Offensive Rebounds512Defensive Rebounds2320Assists2017Steals711Blocks41Total Turnovers1710Points Conceded Off Turnovers2711Fast Break Points611Points in Paint3226Fouls1614Technical Fouls00Flagrant Fouls00Largest Lead518Percent Led890
End of the 3rd Quarter.
3rd Quarter-0:01: Ronald Holland makes 29-foot three-point shot to close out the 3rd quarter.
MAD MAX IS OUT TO PLAY.#LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/gvAdbm2znC
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 6, 2026
3rd Quarter-0:03: Max Struss makes a 1-foot dunk.
… and then No. 2 THROWS THE HAMMER DOWN.#LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/Q51PcLhLTb
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 6, 2026
3rd Quarter-1:52: Max Struss makes a 23-foot three-point shot.
… Strus hits a DAGGER from the corner…#LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/qm0wfewTzM
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 6, 2026
3rd Quarter-2:09: Cade Cunningham makes a driving layup.
3rd Quarter-2:25: Dennis Schroder makes a running layup, Cavs are on a 7-0 run.
… Dennis the Menace scores off of a steal…@DS17_FG | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/Den9QK8dX2
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 6, 2026
3rd Quarter-3:35: Donovan Mitchell makes a 24-foot three-point shot.
3rd Quarter-4:56: Dennis Schroder makes a running layup.
3rd Quarter-6:12: Tobias Harris makes a running dunk.
Do your thing UNC 💪 https://t.co/rP1KkacSBC pic.twitter.com/EeWv7h84t3
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 6, 2026
3rd Quarter-7:03: Max Struss makes a 24-foot three-point shot.
3rd Quarter-7:40: Jarrett Allen makes a 4-foot shot.
3rd Quarter-7:58: Ausar Thompson makes a running dunk.
AUSAR THOMPSON MASTERCLASS https://t.co/Vvlm36XzYn pic.twitter.com/whOeolix4t
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 6, 2026
3rd Quarter-9:03: Dean Wade makes a tip shot.
3rd Quarter-9:40: Evan Mobley makes a driving layup.
3rd Quarter-10:23: Dean Wade makes a 22-foot three-point shot.
3rd Quarter-10:44: Duncan Robinson makes a 27-foot three-point shot.
3rd Quarter-11:37: Evan Mobley makes a 5-foot two-point shot.
Whatupdoe, Amen! @HoustonRockets pic.twitter.com/kjgQnjdMPy
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 6, 2026
Start of the second half
2 down. 2 to go. pic.twitter.com/d2U88qGUcq
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 6, 2026
Congrats to @JHarden13 of the @cavs for moving up to 18th on the all-time playoff GAMES PLAYED list!
NBA Playoffs presented by @Google pic.twitter.com/EwxzujrlR8
— NBA (@NBA) May 5, 20261st Half Team Stats CLEDETFG15-3918-42Field Goal %38433PT8-226-13Three Point %3646FT8-817-22Free Throw %10077Rebounds2024Offensive Rebounds47Defensive Rebounds1617Assists1012Steals56Blocks21Total Turnovers126Points Conceded Off Turnovers207Fast Break Points07Points in Paint1418Fouls1110Technical Fouls00Flagrant Fouls00Largest Lead518Percent Led1285
2nd Quarter-0:31: Cade Cunningham is fouled behind the three point line by Dean Wade. Cunningham made 2 of the 3 free throws.
2nd Quarter-3:02: Evan Mobley makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
2nd Quarter-3:40: Keon Ellis makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
Go on then, @Tyrese_Ellis00! #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/AlNFGrvbCW
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 6, 2026
2nd Quarter-4:09: James Harden makes a 24-foot three-point shot.
2nd Quarter-4:23: Ausar Thompson makes a 1-foot dunk.
#OnePride is in the building! @Lions pic.twitter.com/0XUDHUVLYR
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 5, 2026
2nd Quarter-5:33: Tobias Harris makes a 23-foot three-point shot.
2nd Quarter-6:35: Ausar Thompson makes a driving layup.
Since you asked https://t.co/Bc9uDgV47V pic.twitter.com/gY7jyRlXMz
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 5, 2026
2nd Quarter-8:11: Max Struss makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
2nd Quarter-8:28: Duncan Robinson makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
2nd Quarter-9:17: Isaiah Stewart makes a 1-foot dunk.
2nd Quarter-9:35: Donovan Mitchell makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
Spida continues to dominant on the floor with a game-high 14 PTS in the beginning minutes of the second quarter. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/s4YAynrxKJ
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 5, 2026
2nd Quarter-10:41: Ausar Thompson makes a two-point shot.
2nd Quarter-11:23: Donovan Mitchell makes a 12-foot floating jump shot.
1st Quarter Team Stats CLEDETFG8-2211-23Field Goal %36483PT3-94-6Three Point %3367FT2-211-12Free Throw %10092Rebounds1212Offensive Rebounds33Defensive Rebounds99Assists57Steals03Blocks10Total Turnovers60Points Conceded Off Turnovers120Fast Break Points04Points in Paint108Fouls64Technical Fouls00Flagrant Fouls00Largest Lead518Percent Led2471
1st Quarter-0:07: Javonte Green makes a 27-foot three-point shot to close out the quarter.
Javonte Green beats the Q1 buzzer 🎯
Pistons head into Q2 with a 16-point lead in Game 1! pic.twitter.com/fxP8WwMh2B
— NBA (@NBA) May 5, 2026
1st Quarter-0:57: Max Struss makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
1st Quarter-1:41: Jales Duren makes a 19-foot jump shot.
1st Quarter-3:03: Isaiah Stewart makes a layup, assisted by Thompson.
1st Quarter-3:25: Cade Cunningham makes a 26-foot three-point shot.
1st Quarter-4:51: Evan Mobley makes a 26-foot three-point shot.
1st Quarter-5:39: Daniss Jenkins makes a running layup.
DJ THE DAWG pic.twitter.com/d8JvH6pG2s
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 5, 2026
1st Quarter-6:41: Tobias Harris makes a 1-foot layup, assisted by Duncan.
THE STEAL. THE ASSIST. THE FINISH. 😮💨 https://t.co/ypgZ02lLGK pic.twitter.com/RC5cF8bXEW
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 5, 2026
1st Quarter-7:01: Cade Cunningham makes 14-foot fade away jumper.
1st Quarter-7:20: Donovan Mitchell makes a 8-foot floating jumper.
Signature. Spida.@spidadmitchell | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/tucgXmoz4F
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 5, 2026
1st Quarter-8:23: Duncan Robinson makes a 26-foot three-point shot.
1st Quarter-9:18: Donovan Mitchell makes a 13-foot driving floater.
1st Quarter-9:34: Cade Cunningham makes a 26-foot three-point shot.
1st Quarter-10:36: Donovan Mitchell makes a 26-foot three-point shot, assisted by Harden.
1st Quarter-11:32: Evan Mobley makes a 3-foot driving dunk.
EV4 muscles through for a put-back SLAM.@evanmobley | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/EakzJJEYYX
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 5, 2026
Tip Off shortly…
A look back at the Pistons’ last four matchups against the Cavaliers pic.twitter.com/Qf2TAZkDXq
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 5, 2026
First five @Kia pic.twitter.com/qSEbXc6BzY
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 5, 2026
AND. WE. ARE. OFF. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/qvmTaqrkSX
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 5, 2026How to Watch Cleveland Cavaliers (0-0) vs Detroit Pistons (0-0) Game 1 NBA PlayoffsTuesday, May 5 Tip-off: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN/Peacock
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