What happened: Detroit opened its Eastern Conference Semifinal series with a Game 1 win over the Cavaliers, with Jalen Duren drawing public praise from ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike on SportsCenter. The result follows Detroit's Game 7 escape over Orlando, where Duren posted a 15-point, 15-rebound double-double to punch the Pistons' ticket to the second round. The young Pistons core continues to outperform expectations on the road.

Why it matters: It is Detroit's first conference semifinal appearance since 2008 and the franchise's first back-to-back playoff trips since the 2008-09 era. A Game 1 win on the road flips home-court advantage and puts pressure on a Cavaliers team that entered as the higher seed. For a Pistons roster built around Cade Cunningham, Duren, and Ausar Thompson, every series win compounds the development arc.

What to watch: Game 2 in Cleveland is the swing game — a Cavaliers response or a 2-0 Detroit lead reframes the series. Watch Duren's foul trouble and Cleveland's interior adjustments after getting beaten on the glass in Game 1.