The Cleveland Cavaliers knocked out Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons in Game 7 after trading blows for six games in an electric series.
The Pistons went down 125-94 in the conference semifinal on Sunday. With the loss, the NBA world was stunned by the Pistons’ inability to put up a fight in a must-win game.
Reactions poured in on social media after the young unit’s gutting loss.
NBA World Calls Out Cade Cunningham and the Pistons’ Game 7 Loss
Taking to X, the NBA circuit wasted no time in weighing in on the tough loss and focused on Cunningham’s forgettable night on the floor.
“Just hard to fathom how Cade Cunningham’s team just did not show up from the tip for a home Game 7. So disappointed in him and them. No energy. No urgency. No life. No heart. After winning all those elimination games and winning the East by 4 games???,” wrote Skip Bayless.
FS1’s Kevin Wildes added, “We’ve moved from ‘the game got away from Pistons’ to ‘this is an embarrassing game 7 performance.'”
We’ve moved from “the game got away from Pistons” to “this is an embarrassing game 7 performance.”
— Wildes (@kevinwildes) May 18, 2026
Pistons reporter Omari Sankofa II didn’t hold back: “What a nightmare of a game to end the season with. Ultimately they reset the standard with 60 wins and making it out of the first round. But going out like this tastes bitter regardless of what expectations were during preseason. One of their worst performances in a long time.”
What a nightmare of a game to end the season with. Ultimately they reset the standard with 60 wins and making it out of the first round. But going out like this tastes bitter regardless of what expectations were during preseason. One of their worst performances in a long time.
— Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) May 18, 2026
Hoops podcast Ball Don’t Stop shared its two cents, “It’s simple. Both teams are defending their a** off in a do or die game. Cavs just have more shot makers and creators to can get shooters good looks.”
Looking towards the future was analyst Jake Weinbach. “It’ll be an active summer for the Pistons. Jalen Duren is a restricted free agent, Ausar Thompson is extension-eligible, and the front office must pursue at least one splashy move to raise this team’s ceiling. Detroit’s window to build a contender around Cade Cunningham is now,” he posted.
It’ll be an active summer for the Pistons.
Jalen Duren is a restricted free agent, Ausar Thompson is extension-eligible, and the front office must pursue at least one splashy move to raise this team’s ceiling. Detroit’s window to build a contender around Cade Cunningham is now.
— Jake Weinbach (@JWeinbachNBA) May 18, 2026
Kevin O’Connor had a more blunt statement: “I can’t believe the Pistons front office looked at this roster and really thought it’d be good enough to make a run.”
I can’t believe the Pistons front office looked at this roster and really thought it’d be good enough to make a run.
— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnor) May 18, 2026
Cunningham finished fifth in the MVP voting this season. However, the Cavaliers held him to just 13 points. Duncan Robinson chipped in with 13 points off the bench while Daniss Jenkins led the side with a team-high 17 points.
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As for the Cavaliers, it was pure dominance on both ends of the floor. While James Harden had an off game with just 9 points, Donovan Mitchell took over.
The guard finished with 26 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. Evan Mobley had a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Jarrett Allen added 23 points.
For a team that prided itself on playing gutsy and impressive ball through the season, Detroit came up short in a game that mattered most.
With the loss, the Pistons will now enter the summer with a clear understanding of their current roster ceiling and the players they still lack to complement Cunningham.
