Jalen Duren late dunks power Pistons past Cavs in Game 1 of second round
TL;DR
Jalen Duren's late dunks led the Detroit Pistons to victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The win challenges previous perceptions of the Pistons' competitiveness.
Key points
- Jalen Duren scored late dunks
- Pistons defeated Cavaliers in Game 1
- Game 1 of Eastern Conference semifinals
- Cavaliers player previously criticized Pistons
- Pistons challenged perceptions of their competitiveness
Jalen Duren late dunks power Pistons past Cavs in Game 1 of second round
An anonymous Cleveland Cavaliers player said back in February, after an overtime loss on the road to the Detroit Pistons:
“They aren’t in our class.”
The Pistons had something to say about that in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series.
The Pistons took the first punch to the Cavs, led by as many as 18, then hung tough late and opened the second round with a convincing 111-101 victory on Tuesday, May 5, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. They lead the series, 1-0.
Cade Cunningham collected 23 points and seven assists, including three straight assists for Jalen Duren dunks to break a 93-all tie. Tobias Harris added 20 points and Duncan Robinson had 19 points with five 3s.
James Harden cooked in the fourth quarter and finished with 22 points and eights assists but with seven turnovers. Donovan Mitchell added 23 points.
This story will be updated.
Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff speaks at a press conference before Game 1 of second round of NBA playoffs between Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson speaks at a press conference before Game 1 of second round of NBA playoffs between Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
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Detroit Pistons host Cavaliers in first Round 2 game since 2008
Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff speaks at a press conference before Game 1 of second round of NBA playoffs between Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
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Detroit Pistons host Cavaliers in first Round 2 game since 2008
Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff speaks at a press conference before Game 1 of second round of NBA playoffs between Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
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Detroit Pistons host Cavaliers in first Round 2 game since 2008
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson speaks at a press conference before Game 1 of second round of NBA playoffs between Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pistons score vs Cavs: Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren win Game 1
Q&A
What were Jalen Duren's key plays in the Pistons' win over the Cavaliers?
Jalen Duren made crucial late dunks that helped secure the Pistons' victory against the Cavaliers.
How did the Pistons perform against the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the playoffs?
The Pistons won Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, showcasing their competitiveness against the Cavaliers.
What did a Cavaliers player say about the Pistons earlier this season?
An anonymous Cavaliers player stated that the Pistons 'aren’t in our class' after a previous overtime loss to them.