Cleveland ties series with Detroit, San Antonio eliminates Minnesota
In the NBA playoffs, Cleveland crushed Detroit 115-94 on the road (series tied 3-3), while San Antonio closed out Minnesota with a 139-109 win (4-2).
Main Event
On May 15, 2026, two second-round playoff games in the NBA set the stage for the conference finals. The Detroit Pistons routed the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-94 on the road, forcing a decisive Game 7. Later that evening, the San Antonio Spurs demolished the Minnesota Timberwolves 139-109, closing out the series 4-2 and advancing to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2017.
Details and Statistics
Cleveland vs. Detroit: Collapse in the Third Quarter
The game at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, attended by 19,432 fans, started relatively evenly: after the first half, the Pistons held a slim 54-51 lead. However, the third quarter was a disaster for the home team—a 30-19 run by the visitors effectively decided the outcome. The key moment came when Evan Mobley missed a dunk, and Marcus Sasser drove the length of the court at the buzzer to make it 84-70.
Pistons leader Cade Cunningham scored 21 points, hitting five three-pointers, and added 8 assists. Jalen Duren posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, his best game of the series after coming off the bench in the previous game. The reserves made a significant contribution: Paul Reed scored 17 points, Duncan Robinson added 14 (4 three-pointers), and Detroit's bench outscored Cleveland's bench by a staggering 48-19.
For the home team, James Harden had 23 points and 7 rebounds but committed 8 turnovers. Donovan Mitchell had an off night—6-of-20 shooting (18 points)—while Evan Mobley also added 18 points. Symbolically, the Cavaliers' only aggression came with 0.3 seconds left, when bench players got into a scuffle with an opponent.
Minnesota vs. San Antonio: Record and Helplessness
In Minneapolis, there was no suspense at all. The Spurs made 18 three-pointers (a franchise playoff record) and never trailed. Stephon Castle was the star of the night with 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 three-pointers on his first five attempts.
De'Aaron Fox scored 21 points (8-of-10 shooting, 3-of-3 from deep) and dished 9 assists, posting a plus-minus of +26—best in the game. Victor Wembanyama added 19 points in just 27 minutes. Rookie Dylan Harper scored 15 points off the bench, and Julian Champagnie added 18.
For Minnesota, Anthony Edwards scored 24 points but shot just 9-of-26. Terrence Shannon Jr. added 21 points, and Naz Reid had 18. However, the home team's frontcourt completely collapsed: Julius Randle shot 1-of-8 (3 points), Rudy Gobert scored 0 points and grabbed just 3 rebounds, and Jayden McDaniels, Randle, and Gobert combined for only 5-of-25 shooting.
Context and Significance
For Detroit, this win was their fourth elimination game victory in the current playoffs—earlier, the Pistons trailed Orlando 1-3 in the first round before winning three straight. Now the team is one step away from their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2008.
Cleveland suffered their first home loss of these playoffs and risk ending a season that began with championship aspirations. As analysts note, Game 7 is not just about a conference finals berth but also about "legacy and jobs" for several players and coaches.
For San Antonio, reaching the Western Conference Finals is their first since 2017—the Kawhi Leonard era. Their total point differential in the series against Minnesota was +97, a testament to the young team's overwhelming dominance.
Minnesota has now ended their playoff run with a blowout loss for the third straight year: in 2024, they lost to Dallas by 21 in Game 5 of the West Finals; in 2025, they lost to Oklahoma City by 30; and now, a 30-point loss to San Antonio. This raises serious questions about the team's frontcourt future.
What's Next / Next Game Preview
The decisive Game 7 between Cleveland and Detroit will take place on Sunday, May 17, at the Pistons' home arena. The winner will face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals.
San Antonio will begin the Western Conference Finals against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, May 18. The Thunder have gone 8-0 through the first two rounds, making them clear favorites, but the Spurs' dominant form promises one of the most thrilling postseason matchups.
— Editorial Team
