The NBA playoffs have been as intense as ever. With four series already going to seven games before the Conference Finals, it is shaping up to be a wildly competitive final stretch. After a thrilling series, it is the Cleveland Cavaliers who are moving on to face the New York Knicks.
A rocky start to the season has fallen by the wayside. Adding James Harden to the mix, they’ve made their first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals since 2018. But the way in which they got there was nothing short of dominant.
Cavaliers Stun the Pistons in Game 7
A back-and-forth series had seen both teams put on some impressive displays, while also having a few rough showings. After seven games in the first round for both squads, they were prepared for another grueling series.
However, in Game 7, it was the sheer talent mismatch in favor of the Cavaliers that made the difference. Despite James Harden, in typical fashion, having a brutal outing, Cleveland still won 125-94.
No one for the Pistons scored more than 17 points, as four Cavaliers finished with 20+ on the night. It left Michael Irvin in shock. Taking to X, the three-time Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer wrote, “I can not believe Detroit Pistons are taking a beat down like this from Cavs!!!!”
However, for other NFL stars who are part of the sports media, the story of the game was another failure from Harden. Former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Emmanuel Acho had a brutal breakdown of the game, as the former MVP finished with just nine points in 36 minutes.
“The fact that James Harden was the fifth-best player on the Cavs today, make that make sense. Spidey [Donovan Mitchell], Merrill, Allen, Mobley, and then Harden,” he listed them off. “He’s not a lockdown defender. So if you’re not giving us anything offensively, James Harden, then what are you giving us?”
“Donovan Mitchell won in spite of James Harden”
– @EmmanuelAcho responds to James Harden’s lackluster game 7 performance
WE ARE LIVE RIGHT NOW ➡️ https://t.co/DuSHvFcppC pic.twitter.com/LnmDTwEJ2R
— Speakeasy (@speakeasytlkshw) May 18, 2026
“I was utterly disappointed in James Harden’s performance,” Acho concluded. “Donovan Mitchell didn’t win because of James Harden. Donovan Mitchell won in spite of James Harden’s lack of help. Spidey still got the job done.”
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Legendary NFL tight end Shannon Sharpe had a similar analysis for the game. On the latest episode of “Nightcap,” the Hall of Famer exclaimed, “When one of your stars is off, where are we going to get the production for our star?” He then talked about how Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen were able to cover up for Harden.
Cavs beat down the Pistons in Game 7. Unc and Iso need to take notes from Ocho cause he’s been running laps around them in this basketball talk 👀😂@ShannonSharpe | @ochocinco | @TheJoeJohnson7 | #Nightcap pic.twitter.com/ylKEOxnINS
— Nightcap (@NightcapShow_) May 18, 2026
Thankfully, though, with Allen and Mobley combining for 44 points and 19 rebounds, they were able to get by even with Harden having a brutal performance. Now, they move to a Conference Finals against the Knicks, who have the best point differential in the playoffs by far.
It will be an uphill battle once again for the Cavaliers, but they’ve shown so far that they are capable of keeping up with everyone in front of them.
