The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons will go at it again in Game 2 of their second-round series. Will the Cavs tie it up at 1-1? Or, will the Pistons zoom to a 2-0 series lead?

Catch this game live on Friday, May 8, 2026 at 7:00 AM, Manila time.

Away: Cleveland Cavaliers (0-1)

Projected Starting Five:

  • James Harden
  • Donovan Mitchell
  • Dean Wade
  • Evan Mobley
  • Jarrett Allen

The Cavs took a major stumble in the series opener, as they lost to Detroit on the road, 111-101. Most of their problems in Game 1 concerned ball security. 

The Cavaliers committed 20 turnovers, and Detroit capitalized on it, with the Pistons turning those miscues into 31 points. James Harden was the biggest culprit in that department. 

The former league MVP scored 22 points with eight rebounds and seven assists, but he also gave the ball away seven times. Harden’s turnover woes are becoming a bigger issue. He is turning the ball over 5.6 times per game so far in the playoffs. 

That will have to be cleaned up by the Cavaliers, who should also get more from their frontcourt duo of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. The two combined for just 16 points and 12 boards in Game 1.

Home: Detroit Pistons (1-0)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Cade Cunningham
  • Duncan Robinson
  • Ausar Thompson
  • Tobias Harris
  • Jalen Duren

The Pistons look alright again. After a first-round scare against the Orlando Magic, Cade Cunningham and company appear to have learned their lesson, and they are using that in this Cavs series. In Game 1, Cunningham led the Pistons with 23 points to go with seven assists and three rebounds. 

Meanwhile, Tobias Harris continues to impress. After dropping 30 points in Game 7 of the Orlando series, he scored 20 points in Game 1 against the Cavs. He’s been answering the call in support of Cunningham, and the same can be said about Duncan Robinson after the sharpshooter unloaded 19 points with five 3-pointers versus Cleveland. 

It’s not going to be like that all the time for Robinson, but he’s done enough to at least keep the Cavs’ defense extra honest in Game 2, potentially stretching the floor even more and creating wider pathways to the basket for his teammates.

PICKS

Spread: Cleveland Cavaliers (+3.5)
Over/Under: Over (216.0)