Cleveland Cavaliers vs Detroit Pistons Prediction, Preview and Odds - 05/17/2026

Game Time: 8:00 pm ET, Sunday, May 17, 2026

Venue:  Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI 

Where to Watch:  Prime Video

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Cavaliers +4.5, Pistons -4.5; Over/Under:  205.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Cavaliers +4.5, Pistons -4.5; Over/Under:  205.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Cavaliers +4.5, Pistons -4.5; Over/Under:  205.5 points

Cleveland Cavaliers:  52-30 (2nd place, Central Division)

Detroit Pistons:  60-22 (1st place, Central Division)

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Cleveland Cavaliers:  5-5 last 10

Detroit Pistons:  6-4 last 10

The Cavaliers are entering the playoffs with a 52-30 record overall this season and they were 25-16 in their road games where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Detroit Pistons. James Harden led the team in points in that game with 23 while Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell each were next on the team with 18 points. James Harden led the team in assists in that game with 4 while Jarrett Allen and Max Strus each led the team in rebounds with 8. They were 39% from the field, 34.3% from 3-point range, and 73.3% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 119.5 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 115.4 PPG against them. The Cavaliers have an ATS record of 39-56 this season and their O/U record is 48-47.

The Pistons are entering the playoffs with a 60-22 record overall this season and they were 31-9 in their home games where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cade Cunningham led the team in points in that game with 21 while Paul Reed was next on the team with 17 points. Cade Cunningham led the team in assists in that game with 8 while Jalen Duren led the team in rebounds with 11. They were 52.4% from the field, 44.4% from 3-point range, and 68.4% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 117.8 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 109.6 PPG against them. The Pistons have an ATS record of 50-45 this season and their O/U record is 44-50-1.

The current betting odds have the Pistons listed as a 4.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Pistons have looked great in their games this season with their 60-22 record overall which had them right at the top of the East with one of the best records in the entire NBA. They have looked great on their home court too with their 31-9 home record this season. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers have looked good in their games this season with their 52-30 record overall which had them in the top half of the East. They have been a good road team too with their 25-16 road record this year. This is game 7 of a 7-game series between the 1 seeded Pistons and the 4 seeded Cavaliers in the East for the 2nd round of the NBA playoffs. This series is all evened up 3-3 after the Pistons won game 6 by a score of 115-94. The Cavaliers have been rolling at home in the playoffs and they had the Pistons on the brink of elimination, but their 1st home loss in the playoffs couldn't have come at a worse time. They got crushed by the Pistons on their own home court and now the Pistons have the momentum on their side going back home where they have looked a lot better in the playoffs. The Cavaliers haven't looked bad in their road games this season, but they have looked terrible on the road in the playoffs. They lost all 3 of their road games against a mediocre Raptors team in the 1st round and it took everything they had just to win that game on the road in this series in game 5. The Cavaliers couldn't finish it off at home though and now the Pistons look like they are ready to crush the Cavaliers again and end this series at home. The Cavaliers can't be trusted in this game with how bad they have looked on the road in the playoffs this year and especially after squandering that opportunity to end the series at home in the last game. The best way to place a bet here is on the Pistons to cover the spread in this game. 

Cavaliers Pistons Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Sunday, May 17, 2026 (8:00 pm ET start time) is Pistons 106 Cavaliers 98.

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Cleveland Cavaliers: 17-29 ATS in road games. 4-11 ATS revenging a home loss vs opponent. 10-16 ATS versus teams who average 9 or more steals/game on the season. 6-3 UNDER on the road revenging a home loss vs opponent. 

Detroit Pistons: 8-4 ATS off an upset win as an underdog. 10-6 ATS after a blowout win by 20 points or more. 3-1 ATS when facing elimination in a playoff series. 23-14 UNDER as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points. 10-4 UNDER off a win against a division rival.

Cleveland Cavaliers:  None.

Detroit Pistons:  None.

“We never really kicked it to that second level. And we need to get to that third and fourth level. It was never just a consistent flow at either end of the floor, which is frustrating.” - James Harden after their loss against the Pistons in the 6th game of this series on Friday.

“We did what needed to be done. When we’re at our best, it’s the defense and the physicality that’s going to carry us. I was pleased that we were allowed to play our style of basketball tonight where we can be legally physical and handsy, and just make it difficult on people.” - J.B. Bickerstaff after his team’s win against the Cavaliers in game 6 of this series on Friday.

PG James Harden

SG Donovan Mitchell

SF Dean Wade

PF Evan Mobley

C Jarrett Allen

PG Cade Cunningham

SG Duncan Robinson

SF Ausar Thompson

PF Tobias Harris

C Jalen Duren

PPG: Donovan Mitchell (27.9)

APG: James Harden (7.7)

Reb/G: Evan Mobley (9)

PPG: Cade Cunningham (23.9)

APG: Cade Cunningham (9.9)

Reb/G: Jalen Duren (10.5)

Coaches:

Cleveland Cavaliers: Kenny Atkinson (2nd season)

Detroit Pistons: J.B. Bickerstaff (2nd season)