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The Cavaliers dismantled the top-seeded Pistons 125-94 in Game 7, reaching their first Eastern Conference Finals since LeBron James left in 2018.
The Cavs have made it to the ECF for the first time since LeBron left (AP)
Game 7s are supposed to be tense, gritty and unforgettable. This one was just ugly.
Cleveland Cavaliers stunned the top-seeded Detroit Pistons with a ruthless 125-94 blowout on Sunday night, punching their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018.
And they did it by completely overwhelming Detroit from the opening tip.
How The Cavs Punked The Pistons
After their frustrating Game 6 collapse, Cleveland arrived in Detroit looking like a team on a mission. The Cavaliers attacked the paint relentlessly, dominated the boards and played with an intensity the Pistons simply could not match.
By halftime, the game already felt over.
Cleveland had built a lead that ballooned past 20 points in the first half itself, exposing Detroit’s surprisingly passive defense and punishing every missed rotation. The Pistons repeatedly lost rebound battles, surrendered open three-pointers and never established any offensive rhythm.
At the center of it all was Donovan Mitchell, who delivered another playoff masterclass.
Mitchell led a balanced Cavaliers attack that saw four players finish with at least 21 points, alongside Jarrett Allen, Sam Merrill and Evan Mobley.
Every time Detroit threatened to make a push, Cleveland responded immediately, ensuring there would be no comeback from the Pistons this time.
Cavs Riding A High, Pistons’ Dream Season Ends
The result capped a remarkable postseason turnaround for the Cavaliers, who finished just fourth in the Eastern Conference during the regular season before suddenly catching fire in the playoffs.
After eliminating the Toronto Raptors earlier in the postseason, Cleveland now heads to its first conference finals since LeBron James’ final season with the franchise.
For Detroit, meanwhile, it was a brutal ending to what had looked like a dream campaign.
The Pistons finished atop the East with a dominant 60-22 regular-season record and had already shown resilience by clawing back from 3-1 down against the Orlando Magic in Round 1. But their flaws finally caught up with them.
Now, the Cavs move on to face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals beginning Tuesday.
(with agency inputs)
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