The Cleveland Cavaliers eliminated the Detroit Pistons 125-94 in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference semi-finals on Sunday night.
After winning 60 games and earning the top seed in the East, Detroit forced the deciding game with a road win Friday night, but never found its footing offensively and struggled to match Cleveland’s physicality and pace from the opening tip.
The Pistons shot just 35.3% from the floor and were outscored 58-34 in the paint.
Cleveland turned Pistons’ cold shooting into transition opportunities while building a 31-22 lead after one quarter.
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 26 points, Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill each added 23 points, while Evan Mobley finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds
Detroit scored the first two baskets of the second, and the Cavaliers answered with a 24-9 run to take command and carried a 64-47 advantage into halftime.
Daniss Jenkins led the Pistons with 17 points, while Cade Cunningham and Duncan Robinson were limited to 13 points. Caris LeVert added 11, which is only four players in double-figures.
The Pistons pulled within 17 in the third before Cleveland sealed the lead behind a dominant stretch from Mitchell, who scored 15 in the period.
Cleveland looks forward to facing the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals.
It is their first time reaching the Eastern finals since LeBron James in 2018.
