3 keys to Pistons taking 2-0 lead over Cavaliers, plus prediction

Detroit Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins (24) dribbles against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Keon Ellis (14) during the first half of Game 1 of second round of NBA playoffs at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

Bickerstaff’s trust paid off. After shooting 26.3% through Games 1-5, Jenkins knocked down four 3-pointers and scored 16 points in a crucial Game 7 win. He also dished five assists, continuing his lone constant in the playoffs – he’s the best pure one guard on the roster outside of Cade Cunningham, and they need Jenkins’ secondary ball-handling next to him.

Through eight games, Jenkins has 21 assists and just six turnovers. He followed Sunday’s effort with another strong performance against the Cavaliers, tallying 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists and four steals.

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“Young players don’t develop if they don’t feel that belief and trust in them,” Bickerstaff said of his decision to stick with Jenkins. “And if you’re just yanking them and pulling them in and out, they don’t get the opportunities to grow.

“There’s mistakes that are made because of lack of effort or mistakes that are made because of lack of attention to detail, that you have to have consequences. But he didn’t have those mistakes. It was just a matter of him settling in.”

Ron Holland is ready for the spotlight

The second-year forward has appeared in all 159 regular season games in which he’s been eligible to play. The postseason has been a different story – he didn’t appear in Game 6 of the playoffs against the New York Knicks last April. And after playing Games 1 and 2 against the Magic, he was benched for the rest of the series.

Holland likely will have a more substantial role against the Cavaliers due to him being their best defensive option (outside of Ausar Thompson) for superstar guards James Harden and Donovan Mitchell. He played 10 minutes in Game 1 and finished with six points and a steal.

“Even when we were playing against Orlando, he was telling me to stay ready, keep your head up,” Holland said of Bickerstaff. “I just came in the gym every single day and did just that. I stayed ready and, like you said, it’s going to be different moments going quarter-by-quarter, game-by-game. I want to be ready when my name is called because I want to go out there with no regrets.”

Winning the possession game again is a must

The Pistons accomplished many of their goals in Game 1, forcing 19 Cavaliers turnovers for 31 points and beating them on the glass, 16-11 in offensive rebounding and 45-41 in total rebounds. They also had a 19-11 advantage in second-chance points.

Duren controlled the paint on both ends with 11 points, 12 rebounds (seven offensive) and two blocks. Four players had at least two steals, led by Jenkins’ four. They defended without fouling, getting to the line 35 times while holding the Cavaliers to 16 attempts. It was a team-wide effort that they’ll need to sustain to take a 2-0 lead back to Cleveland.

Pistons vs Cavaliers Game 2 prediction

Game 1 might've been a touch too close for comfort for the Pistons, who lost an 18-point lead but withstood several late Cleveland runs and never trailed in the second half. They will continue their razor sharp focus in Game 2 and ideally will get a stronger performance from Cunningham (23 points, seven assists, two steals, 31.6% overall shooting). The final score: Pistons 115, Cavaliers 110

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Contact Omari Sankofa II atosankofa@freepress.com. Follow him onXand/orBluesky.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers: Keys to Game 2 and prediction