Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons Game 7 Preview, Picks & Odds for Sunday, May 17, 2026

By Braxton Reynolds | May 16, 2026, 8:00pm

Game 7 between the Cleveland Cavaliers (3-3) and Detroit Pistons (3-3) is set for 8 p.m. Eastern on Amazon Prime. The winner advances to face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Cavaliers vs. Pistons Betting Analysis

The Cavaliers entered Game 6 with a 6-0 record at home this postseason, but they could not close out the series. Donovan Mitchell, in particular, had a rough performance. The 7x All-Star shot 6-for-20 from the field, committed as many turnovers as assists, and was a non-factor defensively. It’s nothing new, as Mitchell has been highly inconsistent this playoffs. He often swings from MVP impact to minimal impact on a game-to-game basis. Will he be Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde in Game 7? Cleveland’s fate likely hinges on this outcome.

Meanwhile, Duncan Robinson’s return was most welcome. The sharpshooter missed Game 5 due to a back injury but suited up in Game 6 and scored 14 points off the bench. His movement shooting is crucial because Detroit’s roster lacks spacing and three-point shooting outside of him.

Paul Reed is quickly becoming a Pistons hero. After not playing the first two contests, the backup center has totaled 53 points in 57 minutes over the past four games. That’s a jaw-dropping rate of 33.4 points per 36 minutes. He’s also been a big presence on the boards. Jalen Duren picked up his play in Game 7, but Reed will still see meaningful (and perhaps closing) minutes.

The first best bet for Game 7 is taking Evan Mobley to record at least four steals plus blocks. Game 7s are almost always ugly, low-scoring affairs that feature a ton of turnovers. Detroit’s lack of perimeter shooting means the offense also has to force shots inside the paint, thus leading to more contests for Mobley. Overall, Mobley has logged 2, 2, 4, 4, 6, and 8 stocks in this series. He’s reached the threshold in four of six games, which is encouraging for a plus-money prop.

Cavaliers vs. Pistons Best Bet, Pick & Prediction

Best Bet: Evan Mobley O3.5 Steals + Blocks (+120)
Score Prediction: Pistons 99, Cavaliers 96

Cavaliers vs. Pistons Game Odds

Cavaliers vs. Pistons Game Information

Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026
Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
Network: APVO
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Venue: Little Caesars Arena – 224.4 ppg; 23-24 O/U
Series Score: Tied 3-3

Cavaliers vs. Pistons Betting Resources

Cavaliers vs. Pistons Key Players

Cavaliers

Donovan Mitchell – Last Game: 18 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
James Harden – Last Game: 23 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists
Evan Mobley – Last Game: 18 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists

Pistons

Cade Cunningham – Last Game: 21 points, 2 rebounds, 8 assists
Jalen Duren – Last Game: 15 points, 11 rebounds, 0 assists
Tobias Harris – Last Game: 6 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists

Braxton Reynolds

Braxton has been covering the NBA for Lineups since the 2022 season. He's worked with multiple collegiate coaching staffs regarding analytics and scouting, which has allowed him to understand the game on a deeper level. Braxton also currently writes about the Oklahoma City Thunder for Thunder Roundtable.