Game 7s have been kind to Cavaliers, Pistons over the years. But one will fall on Sunday

Game 7. That's a phrase that surely brings back a lot of good memories for fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons.

Of course, only one of those groups will be happy on Sunday night.

For the second consecutive round, the Cavaliers and Pistons are heading to a winner-take-all contest. Detroit plays host to Cleveland on Sunday night in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series, with the winner set to face New York in the East finals starting Tuesday.

Detroit is 6-1 in Game 7s since 1990, while Cleveland is 5-0 in Game 7s since 2016 — with two of those wins coming in road games.

“I’ve seen this movie before,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “It’s tough. It’s hard. And it should be hard. The good thing is we’ve put ourselves in a position to have a Game 7. But this is what it’s about. Playoffs are hard. We’ve got to close it out in Game 7.”

Cleveland's seven-game win in Round 1 this season was over Toronto; Detroit's seven-game win in Round 1 this season was over Orlando. The Cavaliers and Pistons both got to be at home for those games; Cleveland doesn't have that luxury this time around.

The Cavs won Game 5 in Detroit to take command — albeit briefly — of the series, then lost 115-94 with a chance to close out the series at home on Friday. So, back to Detroit they go.

“It’s one game on the road. There’s no other way to put it,” Cavaliers guard James Harden said. “You’ve got to be detailed, you’ve got to get off for a really good start, and you’ve got to maintain and sustain it for an entire game, however long that takes. It really is just one game. Not saying you’ve got to be perfect, but we’ve got to do the details that we’ve been preaching.”

The Pistons are now 4-0 this season when facing elimination after Friday's victory. They won four elimination games — total — in the last 20 seasons combined, though in fairness most of those years came and went without Detroit even making the playoffs.

But this team is different. A 14-win laughingstock of a club two seasons ago held the No. 1 seed in the East for almost this entire season, and a sense of poise seems to have grown from that success.

“We stay in the moment,” Pistons guard Cade Cunningham said. “We don't get ahead of ourselves. But most importantly, we stick together. When things get ugly or whatever, we come together, we talk, we get back in the moment and then we move forward from there.”

Added Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff: "They just don't quit. The resolve that they have, the belief that they have in one another, they just have the ability to bounce back mentally where they don't hang onto things. Quarters don't bother them. Halves don't bother them. They just move on to the next play, stay moment to moment and try to win what's in front of them.”

Sunday's winner will be the sixth team in this playoff format (the NBA began using best-of-seven series in Round 1 in 2003) to advance to the conference finals after winning Game 7s in both Round 1 and Round 2.

The others:

— Dallas, 2003

The Mavs went 60-22 in the 2002-03 season and were the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. They beat Portland 4-3 in Round 1, Sacramento 4-3 in Round 2, but fell in six games to San Antonio in the West finals.

— Phoenix, 2006

The Suns went 54-28 in the 2005-06 season and were the No. 2 seed in the West. They beat the Lakers 4-3 in Round 1, the Clippers 4-3 in Round 2, but fell in six games to Dallas in the West finals.

— Boston, 2008

The Celtics won the NBA title in 2007-08 the hard — really hard — way. Boston went 66-16 to grab the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, then needed seven games to topple both Atlanta in Round 1 and Cleveland in Round 2. The Celtics beat Detroit in six games to win the East finals, then beat the Lakers in six games in the NBA Finals.

Toronto, 2016

The Raptors went 56-26 in 2015-16 and were the No. 2 seed in the East. They needed seven games to beat Indiana in Round 1 and Miami in Round 2, then lost in six games to Cleveland in the East finals.

Denver, 2020

In the bubble season the Nuggets finished 46-27 to grab the West's No. 3 seed. They beat Utah 4-3 in Round 1, the Clippers 4-3 in Round 2 — rallying from 3-1 down in both of those series — then lost to the Lakers 4-1 in the West finals.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

Cleveland Cavaliers' James Harden (1) shoots as Detroit Pistons' Caris LeVert (8) defends in the second half of Game 6 of a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Friday, May 15, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, right, shoots past Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley, left, in the second half of Game 6 of a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Friday, May 15, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson shouts in the first half of Game 6 of a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Detroit Pistons Friday, May 15, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus (2) gestures as he comes back into the game in the second half of Game 6 of a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Friday, May 15, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Detroit Pistons' Ausar Thompson, left, and Cleveland Cavalirs' Max Strus, center, reach for the ball over Caris LeVert, right, in the first half of Game 6 of a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Friday, May 15, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

TORONTO (AP) — Nolan McLean and three relievers combined on a six-hitter, Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens both hit solo home runs and the New York Mets beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 on Tuesday night.

Brooks Raley pitched the seventh, Luke Weaver worked the eighth and Devin Williams finished for his 12th save in 13 chances.

The Mets posted their fourth shutout and won for the second time in five games since Andy Green took over as interim manager when Carlos Mendoza was fired last Friday.

With their second win in 11 games, the Mets (36-50) avoided falling 16 games below .500. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the most games under .500 for a team that reached the postseason was 16 by the 1914 Boston Braves (12-28).

The Mets are 19-10 when they hit two or more home runs.

The Blue Jays have lost seven of eight. The shutout loss was their fourth.

Toronto slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was scratched because of a sore back.

McLean (5-5) allowed five hits, four singles, to win for the second time in three starts. He walked two and struck out seven.

Alvarez opened the scoring with a leadoff homer off Kevin Gausman in the fifth, his ninth.

Gausman (4-7) allowed one run and five hits in six innings, his seventh straight winless start. He walked two and struck out seven.

Torrens doubled New York’s advantage with a one-out blast in the seventh against Mason Fluharty, his second of the season.

Brett Baty's sacrifice fly off Tommy Nance in the ninth made it 3-0.

The Blue Jays bumped struggling LHP Patrick Corbin from Wednesday’s scheduled start and moved him to the bullpen. Toronto hadn’t named a replacement starter for the Canada Day matinee. RHP Freddy Peralta (5-6, 4.53 ERA) is scheduled for the Mets.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) gestures to a teammate against the New York Mets during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) flies out against the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

New York Mets third baseman Bo Bichette (19) fields the ball on a single by Toronto Blue Jays' George Springer during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean (26) works against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

New York Mets' Francisco Alvarez (4) celebrates his solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays with teammate Brett Baty (7) during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)