DETROIT (AP) 鈥� The stunning turnaround season for the Detroit Pistons ended Sunday night with a harsh reminder of how difficult the final step can be.
After winning 60 games and earning the top seed in the Eastern Conference, the Pistons were overwhelmed at home by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who rolled to a of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Detroit, which forced the deciding game with a road win Friday night, never found its footing offensively and struggled to match Cleveland鈥檚 physicality and pace from the opening tip. The Pistons shot just 35.3% from the floor, were outscored 58-34 in the paint and trailed by as many as 35 points in the second half.
鈥淚t sucked,鈥� All-Star Cade Cunningham said. 鈥淏eing back home, definitely wanted to get this win for the fans. Reminded me of last year, losing on the home court. It鈥檚 not a great feeling.
鈥淪o I hadn鈥檛 been thinking about the offseason, so my mind鈥檚 been racing now, trying to figure out what I got to do, what it鈥檚 going to look like.鈥�
The abrupt ending came just two years after Detroit endured one of the worst seasons in NBA history. The Pistons finished 14-68 during the 2023-24 season and set an NBA single-season record with 28 consecutive losses before emerging this year as one of the league鈥檚 biggest surprises under coach JB Bickerstaff.
Despite the lopsided defeat, Bickerstaff refused to call the ending a disappointment.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not a disappointment at all,鈥� Bickerstaff said. 鈥淣ot ever will I be disappointed in these guys. These guys every single day give us what they got. So it is not a disappointment. It鈥檚 a loss, and it鈥檚 a tough loss. But that adjective will never be used.鈥�
Bickerstaff repeatedly praised the growth and resilience of a roster that rapidly developed into a contender.
鈥淭his team is awesome, and they鈥檙e a special group of guys,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be more appreciative of how they allow us to coach them, work with them every single day. The spirit they carry, their willingness to grow, their willingness to sacrifice. It鈥檚 a special group.鈥�
Ausar Thompson said the loss will fuel the Pistons moving forward.
鈥淲e have to get better as a team, but I鈥檓 focused on what I can do to not be in this situation again,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淚t sucks, but you can鈥檛 take it back. We already lost.鈥�
Cleveland controlled the game almost immediately.
The Cavaliers turned Detroit鈥檚 cold shooting into transition opportunities while building a 31-22 lead after one quarter. After the Pistons scored the first two baskets of the second, Cleveland answered with a 24-9 run to take command and carried a 64-47 advantage into halftime.
Detroit pulled within 17 in the third quarter before Cleveland buried any comeback hopes behind a dominant stretch from Donovan Mitchell, who scored 15 of his 26 points in the period.
Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill each added 23 points for the Cavaliers, while Evan Mobley finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds as Cleveland advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2018.
鈥淭hey had X-factor guys that had the ability to contribute,鈥� Bickerstaff said. 鈥淲e knew it was going to be a tough series and a tough test for us, but just like we did last year, we鈥檒l learn from it. We鈥檒l put it in our pocket, we鈥檒l get better from it, and next year we鈥檒l grow and be a better team.鈥�
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