Game 5 in Detroit was supposed to be the night the Pistons grabbed the series by the throat. Instead, Cade Cunningham went off for 39 and still walked out of his own building down 3-2 after James Harden dropped 30, Donovan Mitchell added 21, and a late no-call on Ausar Thompson sent it to overtime. Now the series swings back to Cleveland with the Cavs holding the closeout pen.
This is a 4-seed hosting a 1-seed in an elimination game, which tells you basically everything about how the bracket has gone. Cleveland was the team supposed to crumble after dropping the first two at home, and instead they've ripped off 3 in a row — including their first road win of the entire 2026 playoff run.
Detroit's other problem: the wing rotation is held together with tape. Kevin Huerter (adductor), Caris LeVert (heel), and Duncan Robinson (back) are all questionable, which is a brutal trio of names to have on a Game 6 injury report when you're trying to outscore a team that just put up 117 on you. Cade can do a lot, but he can't guard everyone and shoot every shot.
- Day-To-DayKevin Huerter G — Huerter (adductor) is questionable for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Cavaliers on Friday, Danny Cunningham of Sports Radio 92.3 The Fan Cleveland reports.
- Day-To-DayCaris LeVert G — LeVert (heel) is questionable for Friday's Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against Cleveland.
- Day-To-DayDuncan Robinson F — Robinson (back) is questionable for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against Cleveland on Friday, Danny Cunningham of Sports Radio 92.3 The Fan Cleveland reports.
The market has the Cavs as a 4-point home favorite with the moneyline sitting at -162, implying roughly a 60% chance Cleveland wraps this up tonight. Total is parked at 210.5, which is on the lower end — playoff defense, plus a Pistons team that might be missing shooters, will do that.
The story to watch is whether J.B. Bickerstaff has an answer for the Mitchell-Harden two-man game that flipped Game 5 in the third quarter. If Cade has to play 44 hard minutes again and his supporting cast is shorthanded, this thing ends in Cleveland. If Detroit punches first and forces a Game 7 back at home Sunday, suddenly the pressure shifts entirely. Tip is 7:05 ET on Prime Video.