Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Series Preview: Key Players, H2H & Schedule

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Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Series Preview: Key Players, H2H & Schedule image

By Joel Reyes

The top-seeded Detroit Pistons and the No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers will lock horns in the 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals starting on Wednesday (PH time).

Alta Sports breaks down this best-of-seven series, identifying the key players for both squads, their previous head-to-head matchups in the regular season, as well as the schedule for their upcoming games in the second round.

Best-of-7 Schedule (PH time)

Game 1 – Cleveland at Detroit (Wednesday, May 6, 7:00 a.m.)

Game 2 – Cleveland at Detroit (Friday, May 8, 7:00 a.m.)

Game 3 – Detroit at Cleveland (Sunday, May 10, 3:00 a.m.)

Game 4 – Detroit at Cleveland (Tuesday, May 12, 8:00 a.m.)

Game 5 – (if necessary) – Cleveland at Detroit (Thursday, May 14, TBD)

Game 6 – (if necessary) – Detroit at Cleveland (Saturday, May 16, TBD)

Game 7 – (if necessary) – Cleveland at Detroit (Monday, May 18, TBD)

Head-to-head matchups in 2025-26 season

The regular season series between Detroit and Cleveland finished with each team taking two victories apiece. The Cavs won the first meeting on Oct. 28 by a score of 116-95. The Pistons responded by winning the next two matchups by a combined seven points.

Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images

Their fourth showdown went Cleveland's way, with the Cavaliers recording a 113-109 win on March 4 to salvage a 2-2 series split.

Key Players

Cade Cunningham led Detroit to a 1-3 series comeback against Orlando in the first round, averaging 32.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists through seven games. He was unstoppable in Game 7, scoring 32 points and issuing 12 assists to lead the Pistons to a 116-94 victory.

Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images

Jarrett Allen delivered for the Cavs in their Game 7 win over the Raptors, recording 22 points, 19 rebounds, three blocks and two steals in the winner-take-all contest. He averaged 17.7 points and 6.3 rebounds in three meetings with the Pistons during the 2025-26 regular season.

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