The Detroit Pistons brought back their championship DNA on Friday night, reminding everyone why they were the East's No. 1 seed and 60-game winners. In a must-win Game 6, the Pistons dominated the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-94, forcing a decisive Game 7 back in Detroit.
From the opening tip, Detroit imposed its will with physicality and defensive intensity. The Pistons owned the paint, outscoring Cleveland 48-29, and held the Cavaliers to just 38.5% shooting. Donovan Mitchell struggled all night, going 6-of-20 from the field, while Evan Mobley managed just 6-of-14. It was the kind of lockdown defense that defined Detroit's regular-season success.
The Pistons' bench proved to be the difference-maker, pouring in 48 points compared to Cleveland's 19. Paul Reed led the charge with 17 points off the bench, providing a much-needed spark. But the real story was Jalen Duren, who finally played like the All-Star the Pistons have been waiting for. Duren finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks, anchoring the interior on both ends of the floor.
Cade Cunningham, as always, was the engine driving this team. The Pistons' leader scored 21 points, knocked down five 3-pointers, and dished out eight assists. What made the difference this time was the supporting cast stepping up around him. Detroit shot 44.4% from beyond the arc, hitting 16 3-pointers as a team—a far cry from their recent shooting struggles.
The Cavaliers came out with energy early, riding the home crowd to a 17-7 run in the first quarter. But Detroit showed its resilience, closing the period with a 10-2 run to take a 27-25 lead. From there, the Pistons never looked back, forcing 18 turnovers and converting them into easy transition buckets—something that had been missing in previous games.
For the second straight series, the Pistons have kept their season alive with a road win in Game 6. Now they return home for a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday. If this version of Detroit shows up—defense, physicality, and a balanced attack—the Pistons might just have another deep playoff run in them.