Paul Reed, Jalen Duren help Pistons stun Cavs in Game 6, 115-94, force Game 7
TL;DR
The Detroit Pistons defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-94 in Game 6, forcing a decisive Game 7 in the NBA playoffs. Key contributions came from Paul Reed and Jalen Duren, with the Pistons' bench scoring 48 points.
Key points
- Pistons defeated Cavaliers 115-94 in Game 6
- Game 7 will be played in Detroit
- Pistons bench scored 48 points
- Cade Cunningham led with 21 points
- Jalen Duren had 15 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks
CLEVELAND – The Detroit Pistons season is alive and well.
They got contributions up and down the lineup, including big-time bench performances from Paul Reed, Duncan Robinson, Caris LeVert and Marcus Sasser to stun the Cleveland Cavaliers, 115-94, in Game 6 at Rocket Arena and force a decisive Game 7 in Detroit in the second round of the NBA playoffs.
The Pistons got 48 points from their bench.
Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 21 points and the maligned Jalen Duren had arguably his best game of the playoffs with 15 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, despite rolling his left ankle in the third quarter. Daniss Jenkins poured in 15 points starting for the second straight game, and Ausar Thompson collected 10 points, nine rebounds, four assists, four steals and a gigantic two-hand block in 24 minutes before fouling out with 3:56 to play.
Paul Reed scored 17 and Duncan Robinson had 14 points after missing Game 5 and coming off the bench in Game 6.
A Detroit Pistons fans watches warm up ahead of Game 6 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena between Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland on Friday, May 15, 2026.
Beat Detroit t-shirts on every seat ahead of Game 6 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Friday, May 15, 2026.
Detroit Pistons forward Duncan Robinson (55) warms up ahead of Game 6 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Friday, May 15, 2026.
Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson (9), right, talks to assistant coach Kevin Burleson at warmup ahead of Game 6 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Friday, May 15, 2026.
Detroit Pistons forward Duncan Robinson (55) warms up ahead of Game 6 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Friday, May 15, 2026.
Detroit Pistons guard Javonte Green (31) warms up ahead of Game 6 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Friday, May 15, 2026.
Detroit Pistons guard Kevin Huerter (27) warms up ahead of Game 6 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Friday, May 15, 2026.
Detroit Pistons assistant coach Jerome Allen warms up with guard Javonte Green (31) ahead of Game 6 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Friday, May 15, 2026.
Detroit Pistons forward Ronald Holland II (5), left, talks to assistant coach Jarrett Jack at warmup ahead of Game 6 of second round of NBA playoffs between Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Friday, May 15, 2026.
warms up ahead of Game 6 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Friday, May 15, 2026.
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See Detroit Pistons fight to keep season alive vs Cleveland Cavaliers
A Detroit Pistons fans watches warm up ahead of Game 6 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena between Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland on Friday, May 15, 2026.
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See Detroit Pistons fight to keep season alive vs Cleveland Cavaliers
A Detroit Pistons fans watches warm up ahead of Game 6 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena between Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland on Friday, May 15, 2026.
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See Detroit Pistons fight to keep season alive vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Beat Detroit t-shirts on every seat ahead of Game 6 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Friday, May 15, 2026.
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See Detroit Pistons fight to keep season alive vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Detroit Pistons forward Duncan Robinson (55) warms up ahead of Game 6 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Friday, May 15, 2026.
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See Detroit Pistons fight to keep season alive vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson (9), right, talks to assistant coach Kevin Burleson at warmup ahead of Game 6 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Friday, May 15, 2026.
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See Detroit Pistons fight to keep season alive vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Detroit Pistons forward Duncan Robinson (55) warms up ahead of Game 6 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Friday, May 15, 2026.
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See Detroit Pistons fight to keep season alive vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Detroit Pistons guard Javonte Green (31) warms up ahead of Game 6 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Friday, May 15, 2026.
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See Detroit Pistons fight to keep season alive vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Detroit Pistons guard Kevin Huerter (27) warms up ahead of Game 6 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Friday, May 15, 2026.
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See Detroit Pistons fight to keep season alive vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Detroit Pistons assistant coach Jerome Allen warms up with guard Javonte Green (31) ahead of Game 6 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Friday, May 15, 2026.
9 / 10
See Detroit Pistons fight to keep season alive vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Detroit Pistons forward Ronald Holland II (5), left, talks to assistant coach Jarrett Jack at warmup ahead of Game 6 of second round of NBA playoffs between Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Friday, May 15, 2026.
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See Detroit Pistons fight to keep season alive vs Cleveland Cavaliers
warms up ahead of Game 6 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Friday, May 15, 2026.
Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals is Sunday night at Little Caesars Arena at 8 p.m., streaming exclusively on Prime Video.
Both the 1-seed Pistons (over Orlando) and 4-seed Cavaliers (over Toronto) won Game 7s in the first round, both at home.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) celebrates a play against Cleveland Cavaliers with forward Duncan Robinson (55) during the second half of Game 6 of second round of NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Friday, May 15, 2026.
The winner will play the 3-seed New York Knicks on Tuesday night. The Pistons would host if they advance; the Cavs would be on the road.
This breaking news story will be updated.
>>Follow the best Pistons coverage all year round at freep.com/sports/pistons.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Epic Pistons Game 6 performance vs Cavs led by Paul Reed, Jalen Duren
Q&A
What was the score of the Pistons vs. Cavaliers Game 6?
The Pistons won Game 6 against the Cavaliers with a score of 115-94.
Who were the standout players for the Pistons in Game 6?
Paul Reed and Jalen Duren were standout players, with Reed scoring 17 points and Duren contributing 15 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks.
How many points did the Pistons' bench score in Game 6?
The Pistons' bench scored a total of 48 points in Game 6.
When and where is Game 7 of the Pistons vs. Cavaliers playoff series?
Game 7 will take place in Detroit, but the exact date is not specified in the article.