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The Cavaliers will face the Pistons in the Eastern Conference semifinals after advancing past the first round. Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff, a former Cavs coach, will lead his team against Cleveland, who secured the No. 4 seed.
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CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers know the Detroit Pistons extremely well because the two Eastern Conference teams reside in the Central Division and Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff guided the Cavs for four-plus seasons until he was fired in May 2024.
The Cavs hired coach Kenny Atkinson as Bickerstaff's replacement. Nearly two years later, Atkinson and the Cavs will meet Bickerstaff and the Pistons in the Eastern Conference semifinals, otherwise known as the second round of the NBA playoffs.
The Pistons went 60-22 in the 2025-26 regular season to capture the East's No. 1 playoff seed. They will have home-court advantage in a best-of-seven series against the Cavs, who earned the East's No. 4 seed amid a bevy of injuries with a regular-season record of 50-32.
May 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; A general view of Rocket Arena before game seven between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
May 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Toronto Raptors players warm up before game seven between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Raptors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The Cavaliers finished the regular season with a record of 50-32, earning the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Pistons had a regular season record of 60-22, capturing the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The Pistons are coached by J.B. Bickerstaff, who previously coached the Cavaliers for over four seasons before being fired in May 2024.
The Cavaliers and Pistons will compete in a best-of-seven series in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
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May 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; A general view of Rocket Arena before game seven between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
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May 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; A general view of Rocket Arena before game seven between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
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May 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Toronto Raptors players warm up before game seven between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Raptors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
In the first round, the Cavs and Pistons seized 4-3 series wins over the No. 5 Toronto Raptors and No. 8 Orlando Magic, respectively. Game 1 between the Cavs and Pistons is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, in Detroit.
Check below for much more information about Cavs versus Pistons.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) tries to drive past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dennis Schroder (8) on Feb. 27, 2026, in Detroit, Michigan.
Here are the Pistons starters with stats from this year's playoffs:
Other top Pistons players: guard Daniss Jenkins, forward/center Isaiah Stewart, guard Javonte Green, forward Paul Reed and guard Caris LeVert
The Pistons had one player on their injury report for Game 7 against the Magic. They ruled out wing Kevin Huerter (left abductor strain).
Cavs vs. Raptors predictions: How did we see Game 7 of an NBA playoff series unfolding in Cleveland?
Jan 4, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has words with referee Jason Goldenberg (not pictured) during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The Cavs went 2-2 against the Pistons in the 2025-26 regular season.
Here are the results from those Cavs-Pistons games:
The Cavs-Pistons series will start with Game 1 at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, in Detroit. It will be televised by Peacock and NBC Sports Network.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: How the Cavs match up vs Pistons in NBA playoffs second round