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NBA·RECAP·May 8, 2026 12:17 PM ET

Pistons take 2-0 series lead over Cavaliers, head to Cleveland with chance to close out

Detroit two wins from Eastern Conference finals.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated May 82 min read
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via espn

What happened: The Detroit Pistons took care of business at home and head to Cleveland holding a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference playoff series against the Cavaliers. Cade Cunningham fueled the Game 2 win with 25 points and 10 assists, including 12 points in the fourth quarter. Tobias Harris also contributed a strong performance as Detroit defended home court.

Why it matters: A 2-0 series lead is historically commanding — teams in this position win the series at a high rate, and Detroit now needs just two wins to reach the Eastern Conference finals. The result extends a remarkable turnaround for the Pistons, who entered the postseason having lost 12 straight playoff games to Cleveland before snapping that streak in Game 1. Cunningham's emergence as a closer reshapes the East's pecking order.

By the numbers: Cade Cunningham Game 2: 25 PTS (12 in 4Q), 10 AST. Per cited reporting, Cunningham leads these playoffs in points and assists and is the 4th player ever with 20+ points in each of his first 15 career playoff games. Series: Pistons lead 2-0; Games 3 and 4 in Cleveland.

What to watch: Game 3 shifts to Cleveland, where the Cavaliers must defend home court to avoid a 3-0 hole. Watch whether Cunningham can sustain his fourth-quarter scoring on the road and how Cleveland adjusts defensively after dropping both home games.

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NBARecapDetroit PistonsCleveland CavaliersCade CunninghamTobias Harris
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