Detroit Pistons fans flock to Little Caesars Arena for second round

Fans flocked to Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday, May 5 to see the Detroit Pistons play in the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time in almost 18 years.

There was music at a ticketed fan event outside the arena, as well as Tigers fans and their dogs making their way to Comerica Park for a Bark in the Park game against the Red Sox, with the first pitch scheduled for 20 minutes before the Pistons' game tipped off.

Detroit Pistons fan Amanda Cece, 38, of Troy, takes a selfie of herself as she arrives with her family at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit for Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

Waiting outside of Little Caesars Arena for 2.5 hours before game time, lifelong fans Kendra Robinson, 52, and her husband James Robinson, 48, of Detroit, said they have been waiting for a season like this for years and this could be the year the team wins the championship. Kendra Robinson said she feels “grateful and blessed” to be a Pistons fan.

Friendship and respect for each other and the coach have been factors in carrying the team this far, she said, as well as star player Cade Cunningham.

“This is so amazing and real exciting that Cade wants to be with us,” Kendra Robinson said. “He could be with any team he wants to, but he wants to be with us to bring us a championship.”

Derek Fennicks, 54, also got to Little Caesars Arena 2.5 hours before game time to be one of the first fans in the game. He went to one playoff game last week and said he’s more excited for tonight’s game.

“Outstanding,” he said of what it feels like to be a Pistons fan. “It’s good to have a winning team. It looks like a lot of Detroit is coming back with the Red Wings, Tigers and ... winning now. Now the Pistons [are] winning, so this is a good feeling. It's definitely a good feeling. We haven't had all our teams winning at one time in a long time.”