Pistons lead Cavaliers in the 4th quarter of Game 1: live score, updates, highlights from 2026 NBA playoffs second-round series originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Cavaliers and Pistons are familiar division foes. Cleveland holds the all time series lead 15-6 and are 7-3 over the last ten. However, the 2025-26 regular seasons series are split, 2-2.
This matchup pins two teams against each other that are at very different places in their respective journeys. The Pistons are a young ascending team, while the Cavaliers are in must win now mode. James Harden was a new addition this season, but the core of Mitchell, Mobley and Allen have been together for a few years and have been unable to get out of the second round since 2018.
The Pistons are the Eastern Conference overall No. 1 seed and had the 3rd best record in the NBA this season. In game 7 vs the Raptors, Jarrett Allen led the team with 22 points and 19 rebounds, while Mitchell and Harden only combined for 40 combined. In order to make this a competitive series, Cleveland will need to get more from their star backcourt. Whereas, the Pistons simply need Cade Cunningham to continue his production and get good defense work from Amen Thompson and Jalen Duren.
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Cavaliers vs Pistons live updates, highlights from Game 1 of NBA playoffs
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 | #LetEmKnowpic.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.#LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/gvAdbm2znC
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 6, 2026
Team Stats through 3 Quarters
| CLE | DET | |
|---|---|---|
| FG | 28-57 | 26-63 |
| Field Goal % | 49 | 41 |
| 3PT | 12-28 | 9-21 |
| Three Point % | 43 | 43 |
| FT | 8-8 | 22-27 |
| Free Throw % | 100 | 81 |
| Rebounds | 28 | 32 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 5 | 12 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 23 | 20 |
| Assists | 20 | 17 |
| Steals | 7 | 11 |
| Blocks | 4 | 1 |
| Total Turnovers | 17 | 10 |
| Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 27 | 11 |
| Fast Break Points | 6 | 11 |
| Points in Paint | 32 | 26 |
| Fouls | 16 | 14 |
| Technical Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Largest Lead | 5 | 18 |
| Percent Led | 8 | 90 |
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.#LetEmKnowpic.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.#LetEmKnowpic.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…#LetEmKnowpic.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 | #LetEmKnowpic.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/rP1KkacSBCpic.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/Vvlm36XzYnpic.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! @HoustonRocketspic.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 @Googlepic.twitter.com/EwxzujrlR8
— NBA (@NBA) May 5, 2026
1st Half Team Stats
| CLE | DET | |
|---|---|---|
| FG | 15-39 | 18-42 |
| Field Goal % | 38 | 43 |
| 3PT | 8-22 | 6-13 |
| Three Point % | 36 | 46 |
| FT | 8-8 | 17-22 |
| Free Throw % | 100 | 77 |
| Rebounds | 20 | 24 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 4 | 7 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 16 | 17 |
| Assists | 10 | 12 |
| Steals | 5 | 6 |
| Blocks | 2 | 1 |
| Total Turnovers | 12 | 6 |
| Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 20 | 7 |
| Fast Break Points | 0 | 7 |
| Points in Paint | 14 | 18 |
| Fouls | 11 | 10 |
| Technical Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Largest Lead | 5 | 18 |
| Percent Led | 12 | 85 |
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! #LetEmKnowpic.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! @Lionspic.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/Bc9uDgV47Vpic.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. #LetEmKnowpic.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
| CLE | DET | |
|---|---|---|
| FG | 8-22 | 11-23 |
| Field Goal % | 36 | 48 |
| 3PT | 3-9 | 4-6 |
| Three Point % | 33 | 67 |
| FT | 2-2 | 11-12 |
| Free Throw % | 100 | 92 |
| Rebounds | 12 | 12 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 3 | 3 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 9 | 9 |
| Assists | 5 | 7 |
| Steals | 0 | 3 |
| Blocks | 1 | 0 |
| Total Turnovers | 6 | 0 |
| Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 12 | 0 |
| Fast Break Points | 0 | 4 |
| Points in Paint | 10 | 8 |
| Fouls | 6 | 4 |
| Technical Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Largest Lead | 5 | 18 |
| Percent Led | 24 | 71 |
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/ypgZ02lLGKpic.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 | #LetEmKnowpic.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 | #LetEmKnowpic.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 @Kiapic.twitter.com/qSEbXc6BzY
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 5, 2026
AND. WE. ARE. OFF. #LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/qvmTaqrkSX
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 5, 2026
How to Watch Cleveland Cavaliers (0-0) vs Detroit Pistons (0-0) Game 1 NBA Playoffs
Tuesday, May 5
Tip-off: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN/Peacock
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