Detroit Pistons-Cleveland Cavaliers    (lost)

The Pistons have truly exceeded expectations this season. They finished the regular season with a 60-22 record and secured the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, proving that their rise was no fluke. In the first round against the Magic, Detroit once trailed 3-1 and was pushed to the edge of elimination, but this team showed tremendous resilience. In Game 5, Cade Cunningham exploded for 45 points to keep their season alive. In Game 6, the Pistons were down 60-38 at halftime, yet they held Orlando to only 19 points in the entire second half and completed a 93-79 comeback win. Back at home for Game 7, Cunningham delivered another strong performance with 32 points and 12 assists, while Tobias Harris added 30 points. Detroit won convincingly, 116-94, becoming only the 15th team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 series deficit. There is no doubt that advancing in this fashion will give the team a huge confidence boost.

However, the problem is that Detroit paid a heavy price in the first round, both physically and mentally. Their offensive consistency is still a concern. Against Orlando, the Pistons had several games where their offense completely stalled, and they relied heavily on defensive intensity and Cunningham’s individual brilliance to survive. Now facing Cleveland, the game rhythm is unlikely to be easy. The Cavaliers also went through a seven-game battle against the Raptors in the first round. Although the process was not smooth, they dominated Game 7 with a 38-19 third quarter run and took full control of the game. Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen both scored 22 points, with Allen also grabbing 19 rebounds. James Harden added 18 points, while Evan Mobley and Sam Merrill each had 13, and Max Strus contributed 12. Cleveland has more reliable scoring options, and their roster is also capable of handling playoff pressure.

It is understandable that the market gives Detroit the edge at home, especially with home-court advantage and the momentum from their comeback. But Cleveland are not an ordinary underdog. Since Harden joined the team, the Cavaliers’ offensive organization has clearly improved. Mitchell’s isolation scoring, together with Allen and Mobley’s interior protection, can create plenty of problems for the Pistons. During the regular season, the two teams met four times and split the series 2-2, which shows that the gap between them is not as big as the line suggests. It will not be easy for Detroit to pull away comfortably in this matchup.

Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers +3.5