Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers Match Player Stats

The Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers Match Player Stats from Game 1 of the 2026 Eastern Conference Semifinals tell a story that goes well beyond the 111-101 final score. Detroit built a huge early advantage, Cleveland fought back to make the fourth quarter competitive, and the Pistons ultimately separated themselves through ball pressure, rebounding, and better execution in the closing minutes.

The game was played at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit and drew 20,062 fans. Detroit entered the matchup with a 60-22 regular-season record and a 31-9 home mark, while Cleveland came in at 52-30 overall and 25-16 on the road. The Pistons took a 1-0 series lead with the victory.

One date detail is worth clarifying for readers searching for this game. The official NBA game record lists the contest as Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Some next-day reports and supplied datasets show May 6 because the game recap was published after midnight. For the actual game date, May 5 is the accurate listing.

This breakdown looks closely at the player production, team numbers, quarter-by-quarter flow, and the statistical reasons Detroit won.

Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers Match Player Stats at a Glance

Here are the most important individual numbers from Game 1:

Player	Team	Key production
Cade Cunningham	Detroit	23 points, 7 assists
Tobias Harris	Detroit	20 points
Duncan Robinson	Detroit	19 points
Jalen Duren	Detroit	11 points, 12 rebounds
Daniss Jenkins	Detroit	12 points, 4 steals
Donovan Mitchell	Cleveland	23 points
James Harden	Cleveland	22 points, 7 assists
Max Strus	Cleveland	19 points
Evan Mobley	Cleveland	14 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks

Cunningham and Mitchell shared the scoring lead with 23 points apiece. That makes the matchup especially interesting because neither team’s leading scorer alone explains the result.

Cleveland had two major scoring options in Mitchell and Harden, while Detroit received significant contributions from Cunningham, Harris, Robinson, Duren, and Jenkins. The distribution of production helped Detroit remain effective even when individual shooting was not particularly efficient.

The Pistons also received an important interior contribution from Duren. His 12 rebounds were the game’s highest total, and his late-game activity became particularly important after Cleveland tied the score in the fourth quarter.

How the Game Was Decided

The final score was Detroit 111, Cleveland 101, but the game was not controlled evenly across all four quarters.

Detroit opened with a 37-point first quarter. Cleveland scored only 21.

That 16-point opening-quarter difference became the foundation of the result.

Cleveland improved substantially after the opening period:

• First quarter: Detroit 37, Cleveland 21
• Second quarter: Cleveland 25, Detroit 22
• Third quarter: Cleveland 30, Detroit 24
• Fourth quarter: Detroit 28, Cleveland 25

Cleveland therefore outscored Detroit over the second and third quarters combined, 55-46. That stretch brought the Cavaliers back into the contest.

The fourth quarter became the decisive stage.

Cleveland eventually tied the game at 93 with 5:28 remaining. At that point, the early Detroit advantage had effectively disappeared. Instead of allowing the comeback to continue, Detroit responded with a 12-3 run and regained control.

That sequence is one of the most important pieces of the game’s statistical story. A box score tells you Detroit won by 10. The game flow explains how that 10-point margin survived a serious fourth-quarter comeback.

Cade Cunningham’s 23 Points and Seven Assists

Cade Cunningham was Detroit’s leading scorer, finishing with 23 points and a team-best seven assists.

His scoring total tied Donovan Mitchell for the game high, but his playmaking had another layer of importance. Detroit repeatedly relied on Cunningham to create opportunities for teammates, particularly Jalen Duren around the basket.

Cunningham did not shoot efficiently from the field, going 6-for-19 according to the game recap. That is important context when evaluating his performance.

A 23-point night can look dominant at first glance. The deeper reading is different. Cunningham’s value came from combining scoring volume with seven assists, handling the ball under playoff pressure, and creating high-value opportunities late in the game.

The final minutes demonstrated that clearly.

After Cleveland tied the game, Detroit repeatedly returned to the Cunningham-Duren combination. Duren scored on three consecutive Detroit possessions late in the game, with Cunningham supplying the assists on those plays.

That is a useful lesson when reading playoff player statistics. The most important number is not always the highest scoring total. Sometimes the relationship between two players explains the game better than either player’s individual line.

Cunningham’s 23 points therefore need to be viewed alongside his seven assists and Detroit’s late-game execution.

Tobias Harris Provides a Reliable 20-Point Performance

Tobias Harris finished with 20 points for Detroit.

His contribution mattered because Detroit did not need Cunningham to carry the entire offensive load. Harris became the second Detroit player to reach 20 points, giving the Pistons another dependable scoring option.

The balance was important against a Cleveland team featuring two experienced offensive creators in Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.

Harris also appeared in one of the game’s defensive statistics, with the supplied data identifying him among Detroit’s leaders in blocks, although the official player line gives him no block in the listed total. For that reason, the safest interpretation is to focus on his 20 points rather than treating him as a primary shot blocker in this game.

His offensive production was the clearer contribution.

Jalen Duren’s Rebounding and Late-Game Impact

Jalen Duren produced one of the most important supporting performances for Detroit.

He finished with:

• 11 points
• 12 rebounds
• 2 blocks

His 12 rebounds were the highest total for either team.

Duren’s rebounding mattered because Cleveland had 41 total rebounds while Detroit collected 45. The four-rebound team advantage was not enormous, but it helped Detroit maintain additional possessions and limit second-chance opportunities.

His importance increased in the closing minutes.

After Cleveland tied the game at 93, Duren blocked a Harden attempt and then scored on three consecutive Detroit possessions, with Cunningham creating the opportunities.

That sequence changed the feel of the game.

Instead of allowing Cleveland’s momentum to continue, Detroit used its interior presence to turn the final minutes into a controlled possession-by-possession finish.

For anyone studying the Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers Match Player Stats, Duren’s line is a good example of why rebounds, blocks, and late-game plays deserve as much attention as points.

Donovan Mitchell Leads Cleveland With 23 Points

Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points for Cleveland, tying Cunningham for the game-high total.

His scoring remained important throughout the contest, but Detroit’s defensive pressure prevented Cleveland’s backcourt from consistently turning scoring opportunities into an efficient offensive attack.

Mitchell entered the game following a remarkable run of scoring in playoff series openers, but Detroit held him below the 30-point mark that had characterized his previous streak of series openers.

His 23 points still made him Cleveland’s leading scorer.

However, scoring output has to be considered within the larger team context. Cleveland shot 36-for-80 from the field, or 45 percent, while Detroit made 37 of 84 attempts, or about 44 percent.

The shooting percentages were relatively close.

The decisive difference came elsewhere.

Detroit forced turnovers, generated transition opportunities, and made more free throws. Those factors allowed the Pistons to win despite not having a major field-goal percentage advantage.

James Harden Finishes With 22 Points and Seven Assists

James Harden was Cleveland’s second-leading scorer with 22 points and also led the Cavaliers with seven assists.

That gave Cleveland two players with at least 22 points and a high-level playmaker capable of creating shots for teammates.

Harden also contributed as a rebounder and passer, but Detroit’s defensive pressure made it difficult for Cleveland to maintain consistent offensive rhythm.

The fourth quarter illustrated the problem.

Cleveland had enough offense to erase the deficit and tie the game at 93. But once Detroit responded, Cleveland could not generate enough efficient offense to regain the lead.

This is where the turnover statistics become especially useful.

Cleveland committed 19 turnovers compared with 11 for Detroit. That eight-turnover gap created extra possessions for the Pistons and reduced the number of opportunities Cleveland had to turn its offensive talent into points.

Evan Mobley Fills the Box Score

Evan Mobley had a quieter scoring night than Mitchell or Harden, but his overall statistical contribution was significant.

He recorded:

• 14 points
• 9 rebounds
• 5 assists
• 2 blocks

Mobley was Cleveland’s leading rebounder and contributed in several categories.

His 9 rebounds helped Cleveland finish with 41 total boards, only four fewer than Detroit.

His five assists also showed that Cleveland’s offense was not dependent exclusively on Mitchell and Harden creating every possession.

The challenge for Cleveland was that Mobley’s all-around production did not compensate for the team’s turnover problems.

This is one of the clearest examples of why player evaluation should not rely on points alone. Mobley produced across four statistical categories, but the team still finished with a 10-point loss.

The Biggest Statistical Difference Was Turnovers

If there is one team statistic that deserves special attention, it is turnovers.

Cleveland recorded 19 turnovers.

Detroit recorded 11.

That created an eight-turnover difference.

Detroit also converted Cleveland’s mistakes into significant offensive production. The official game summary credited the Pistons with 31 points off turnovers, compared with 16 for Cleveland.

That is a 15-point advantage in a category directly connected to ball security.

The importance becomes even clearer when the shooting numbers are compared.

Field Goal Shooting

Cleveland:

• 36-for-80
• 45 percent

Detroit:

• 37-for-84
• 44 percent

Cleveland actually had the slightly better field-goal percentage.

Three-Point Shooting

Cleveland:

• 14-for-38
• 37 percent

Detroit:

• 10-for-26
• 38 percent

Again, the difference was minimal.

Free Throws

Cleveland:

• 15-for-16
• 94 percent

Detroit:

• 27-for-35
• 77 percent

Cleveland was dramatically more accurate from the free-throw line.

Yet Detroit won.

That tells us something important about the game. The Pistons did not win because they were dramatically more accurate overall. They won because they created more opportunities and made better use of those opportunities.

Detroit’s 35 Free-Throw Attempts Mattered

Detroit attempted 35 free throws.

Cleveland attempted only 16.

That is a difference of 19 attempts.

Even though Detroit converted its free throws at a lower rate, the sheer volume produced a major scoring advantage.

Detroit made 27 free throws.

Cleveland made 15.

That means the Pistons scored 12 more points from the free-throw line.

This is an important part of the Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers Match Player Stats because a simple field-goal comparison would miss it.

When a team shoots roughly the same percentage from the field but gets to the line far more often, the overall scoring picture can change dramatically.

Detroit’s free-throw volume, combined with its turnover advantage, helped offset Cleveland’s strong 94 percent free-throw shooting.

Three-Point Shooting Was Not the Main Story

Modern NBA analysis often starts with three-point shooting.

That is understandable, but it was not the defining statistical factor here.

Cleveland made 14 three-pointers.

Detroit made 10.

The Cavaliers therefore made four more three-pointers.

Yet Detroit still won by 10 points.

Cleveland shot 37 percent from three, while Detroit shot 38 percent.

This was not a game where one team simply overwhelmed the other from long range.

Instead, Detroit’s advantage came from a combination of:

1. Creating a huge first-quarter lead
2. Forcing turnovers
3. Generating more free-throw attempts
4. Winning the overall rebounding battle
5. Executing better after the fourth-quarter tie
6. Getting multiple double-figure scorers

That combination is more informative than focusing on any single shooting category.

The First Quarter Created the Game’s Statistical Shape

Detroit’s 37-21 first quarter deserves special attention.

A 16-point advantage in the opening 12 minutes meant Cleveland spent most of the game trying to recover.

The Cavaliers did respond.

They outscored Detroit by three points in the second quarter and by six points in the third. By the fourth quarter, the game was again highly competitive.

But the first-quarter damage forced Cleveland to spend significant energy chasing the game.

The quarter breakdown is therefore:

Quarter	Cleveland	Detroit	Margin
1st	21	37	Detroit +16
2nd	25	22	Cleveland +3
3rd	30	24	Cleveland +6
4th	25	28	Detroit +3
Final	101	111	Detroit +10

The table shows something that the final score alone cannot.

Detroit did not dominate all four quarters.

The Pistons dominated the first quarter, Cleveland gradually recovered, and Detroit then made the key plays required to protect the lead after the game was tied.

Detroit Won the Rebounding Battle

Detroit collected 45 rebounds.

Cleveland collected 41.

That four-rebound difference was modest, but it still favored the winning team.

Jalen Duren led Detroit with 12 rebounds, while Evan Mobley led Cleveland with nine.

The broader point is that Detroit avoided being dominated on the glass despite Cleveland having strong size and interior talent.

Rebounding also connects with the turnover story.

When a team wins both possessions created through ball security and possessions extended through rebounding, it can overcome an otherwise narrow shooting margin.

Detroit’s 45 rebounds and 11 turnovers helped create a more favorable possession profile.

Assists Were Even, but the Context Was Different

Both teams finished with 23 assists.

At first glance, that suggests the passing and creation battle was even.

The player leaders were also comparable:

• Cade Cunningham: 7 assists
• James Harden: 7 assists

But the identical team assist totals do not mean the offenses operated in exactly the same way.

Detroit’s late-game offense repeatedly used Cunningham’s creation to put Duren in scoring positions.

Cleveland relied heavily on the Mitchell-Harden combination while also receiving passing contributions from Mobley.

The important distinction is that Detroit paired its 23 assists with only 11 turnovers.

Cleveland paired its 23 assists with 19 turnovers.

That produces a much different assist-to-turnover profile.

Detroit had approximately 2.09 assists per turnover.

Cleveland had approximately 1.21.

That gap helps explain why equal assist totals did not translate into equal offensive efficiency.

Caris LeVert and Detroit’s Defensive Pressure

The supplied game data identifies Caris LeVert as Detroit’s steals leader with four.

Detroit finished with 12 steals as a team.

That defensive activity was central to the Pistons’ ability to pressure Cleveland’s ball handlers.

The turnover battle was not simply a random box-score difference. It reflected Detroit’s ability to create defensive disruptions.

The Cavaliers had enough offensive talent to recover from the early deficit, but the Pistons repeatedly challenged their possessions.

That pressure was particularly valuable against a Cleveland lineup built around Mitchell and Harden.

A Closer Look at the Team Shooting Numbers

The shooting statistics offer an interesting contrast.

Category	Cleveland	Detroit
Field goals	36-80	37-84
FG percentage	45%	44%
Three-pointers	14-38	10-26
3-point percentage	37%	38%
Free throws	15-16	27-35
FT percentage	94%	77%
Rebounds	41	45
Assists	23	23
Turnovers	19	11
Steals	7	12
Blocks	5	3

The table makes one thing clear: Detroit did not win every statistical category.

Cleveland shot better from the field.

Cleveland shot better from three.

Cleveland shot much better from the free-throw line.

Cleveland also had more blocks.

Detroit’s advantage came from different areas.

The Pistons had more rebounds, fewer turnovers, more steals, and significantly more free-throw attempts.

That is why looking at the complete box score is more useful than simply asking which team shot better.

What the Player Stats Say About Each Team

The player numbers reveal different offensive structures.

Detroit’s production was more distributed

Detroit had several players providing meaningful scoring:

• Cunningham: 23
• Harris: 20
• Robinson: 19
• Jenkins: 12
• Duren: 11

That gave the Pistons multiple ways to score.

If one player was not converting consistently, another could contribute.

Cunningham’s 23 points led the team, but he was not required to score 35 or 40 points for Detroit to win.

Cleveland depended more heavily on its primary creators

Cleveland’s top two scorers were:

• Mitchell: 23
• Harden: 22

Together, they scored 45 points.

That was nearly half of Cleveland’s 101 points.

Mobley added 14 and Strus added 19, but the offensive load remained concentrated among the top scorers.

This does not mean Cleveland’s supporting cast played poorly. It means Detroit’s defensive approach had a particularly important target: make Cleveland work for every possession and prevent its primary creators from turning possessions into efficient scoring sequences.

The Fourth Quarter Deserves More Attention

The fourth quarter is where the game moved from an early Detroit advantage to a genuine playoff battle.

Cleveland entered the final period down.

The Cavaliers then reduced the deficit and eventually tied the game at 93.

At that moment, the statistical narrative could have changed completely.

Instead, Detroit responded.

The Pistons produced a 12-3 run after the tie, and Duren became a central figure. His defensive play against Harden was followed by three consecutive scoring possessions, each created by Cunningham.

That sequence illustrates the difference between regular-season production and playoff execution.

A player can have a strong statistical night over 48 minutes, but playoff games often turn on a handful of possessions.

Here, Detroit made those possessions count.

Why the Final Score Can Be Misleading

A 111-101 result might suggest Detroit controlled the entire game.

It did not.

The Pistons controlled the first quarter.

Cleveland controlled much of the middle portion.

Then Detroit controlled the critical final stretch.

That distinction matters when evaluating the Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers Match Player Stats.

Detroit’s 10-point victory was built in several stages:

Stage one: a 16-point first-quarter advantage.

Stage two: Cleveland’s gradual recovery.

Stage three: a fourth-quarter tie.

Stage four: Detroit’s 12-3 response.

The game was therefore competitive for much longer than the final margin suggests.

What the Numbers Suggest About Game 2

The Game 1 statistics also identify several areas that would naturally receive attention in the next matchup.

For Cleveland, ball security is an obvious statistical issue. Nineteen turnovers against a defense that generated 12 steals gave Detroit too many opportunities.

For Detroit, free-throw accuracy remains an area worth monitoring. The Pistons made 27 of 35 attempts, or 77 percent. The volume was excellent, but the conversion rate left points available at the line.

Three-point shooting is another area to watch.

Detroit won despite making only 10 threes, while Cleveland made 14. If Cleveland continues to create more perimeter makes while reducing turnovers, the statistical balance could look very different.

Detroit, meanwhile, demonstrated that it can win without relying on an extraordinary three-point night.

That is one of the more useful observations from the opening game.

How to Read These Player Stats Properly

A useful approach to playoff box scores is to separate production into four layers.

1. Scoring

Start with points, but do not stop there.

Cunningham and Mitchell both scored 23, yet their teams had very different outcomes.

2. Efficiency

Look at field-goal attempts and shooting percentages.

Cleveland actually shot slightly better from the field.

That means points alone cannot explain the result.

3. Possession control

Look at rebounds, turnovers, steals, and free-throw attempts.

This is where Detroit created its clearest advantage.

4. High-leverage execution

Finally, look at what happened when the game became close.

Cleveland tied the score at 93.

Detroit answered with a 12-3 run.

That final layer often explains why two teams with relatively similar shooting numbers can finish with a double-digit margin.

Most Important Numbers From the Game

For readers who want the essential statistics without reading the entire box score, these are the numbers that matter most:

• Final score: Detroit 111, Cleveland 101
• Series: Detroit leads 1-0
• Cunningham: 23 points, 7 assists
• Harris: 20 points
• Mitchell: 23 points
• Harden: 22 points, 7 assists
• Duren: 11 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks
• Mobley: 14 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks
• Detroit rebounds: 45
• Cleveland rebounds: 41
• Detroit turnovers: 11
• Cleveland turnovers: 19
• Detroit steals: 12
• Cleveland steals: 7
• Detroit three-pointers: 10-of-26
• Cleveland three-pointers: 14-of-38
• Detroit free throws: 27-of-35
• Cleveland free throws: 15-of-16
• Detroit first-quarter points: 37
• Cleveland first-quarter points: 21

Taken together, those figures explain the game much better than the final score alone.

Final Takeaway

The Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers Match Player Stats show a game decided by possession quality and late execution as much as scoring.

Cade Cunningham and Donovan Mitchell shared the game-high scoring total at 23 points. James Harden added 22 points and seven assists for Cleveland, while Tobias Harris scored 20 for Detroit. Jalen Duren supplied 12 rebounds and became a major factor during the decisive closing sequence.

The shooting numbers were surprisingly close. Cleveland shot 45 percent from the field compared with Detroit’s 44 percent. Cleveland also made more three-pointers and converted free throws at a much higher rate.

Detroit won because the Pistons created advantages in other areas.

They won the rebounding battle 45-41. They committed eight fewer turnovers. They recorded 12 steals compared with Cleveland’s seven. They attempted 35 free throws compared with Cleveland’s 16. Most importantly, they opened the game with a 37-point first quarter and responded immediately after Cleveland tied the score late.

That combination made the difference.

The game also demonstrates why a serious basketball analysis should go beyond a list of points and rebounds. Player statistics become much more useful when they are connected to possessions, efficiency, game situation, and team strategy.

For this matchup, the clearest statistical lesson is simple: Cleveland had enough shooting and star scoring to recover from a poor start, but Detroit’s pressure, possession control, and late-game execution allowed the Pistons to turn a close fourth quarter into a 111-101 Game 1 victory.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score of the Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 1?

The Detroit Pistons defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 111-101 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Who was the top scorer in the game?

Cade Cunningham of Detroit and Donovan Mitchell of Cleveland both scored 23 points, tying for the game-high total.

How many points did James Harden score against Detroit?

James Harden scored 22 points and led Cleveland with seven assists.

How many rebounds did Jalen Duren have?

Jalen Duren recorded 12 rebounds, which was the highest rebounding total by either team.

Which team had more turnovers?

Cleveland had 19 turnovers, while Detroit had 11. The eight-turnover difference was one of the game’s most important statistical gaps.

When was the game played?

The official NBA record lists Game 1 as Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

Conclusion

The opening game between Cleveland and Detroit was a strong example of how playoff basketball can be decided by more than star scoring.

Cunningham and Mitchell both reached 23 points, Harden added 22, and several supporting players made meaningful contributions. Yet the defining numbers were Detroit’s 45 rebounds, 11 turnovers, 12 steals, and 35 free-throw attempts.

The Pistons also showed composure when Cleveland erased the early deficit and tied the game at 93. Their response in the closing minutes protected the home-court advantage and gave Detroit a 1-0 series lead.

For anyone studying the Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers Match Player Stats, the central lesson is that the box score becomes much more informative when points are viewed alongside possession control, defensive activity, shooting efficiency, and late-game execution.

The result was not simply a case of Detroit’s stars outscoring Cleveland’s stars. It was a broader team performance in which several statistical advantages combined to produce the final 111-101 margin.