Two days ago, Cleveland were 3-2 up in this series and looking to close it out at home. Instead, Detroit won 115-94 in Game 6, levelled at 3-3, and sent the series back to Little Caesars Arena in Detroit for a Game 7 on Sunday night.
This is now exactly where the Pistons wanted to be.
The series so far
Detroit have homecourt advantage for the deciding game. In Game 6, they won on the road at Cleveland, which makes the position more impressive. Cade Cunningham had 21 points, Jalen Duren put up 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Cleveland’s 20 turnovers cost them dearly, Detroit converted those into 28 points.
James Harden led Cleveland with 23, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley added 18 each. Individual performances were there. Collective execution was not good enough.
What Detroit need to do
Repeat what they did in Game 6. The turnover conversion is the first lever, if Cleveland give Detroit another 20 turnovers, this is over quickly. Cunningham and Duren are the two most important players for Detroit heading into Sunday. If both are at the level they reached in Game 6, the Pistons win.
Duncan Robinson returning from lower back soreness adds another option. He shot 4-of-7 from three in Game 6 in a contribution that went largely unnoticed under the scoreline. His availability for Game 7 matters.
What Cleveland need to do
Win on the road at a building that will be loud and hostile. The Cavaliers need to cut their turnover rate sharply. Mitchell and Mobley need to step up beyond their Game 6 lines. Harden’s 23 points were productive but this team needs more from the other two.
Cleveland have won on the road in this series, they took Games 3 and 4 at Detroit earlier in the series. They know they can do it.
The outlook
Detroit have homecourt, momentum after a 21-point road win, and two players in Cunningham and Duren who are clearly in form. Cleveland need to find something they lost on Thursday night.
Game 7s are decided by small margins. Both of these remain true simultaneously.
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