05/17/26 11:53:00
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05/17 23:51 CDT Bickerstaff says Pistons will learn from their blowout loss in
Game 7 against the Cavaliers
Bickerstaff says Pistons will learn from their blowout loss in Game 7 against
the Cavaliers
By BOB TRIPI
Associated Press
DETROIT (AP) --- The stunning turnaround season for the Detroit Pistons ended
Sunday night with a harsh reminder of how difficult the final step can be.
After winning 60 games and earning the top seed in the Eastern Conference, the
Pistons were overwhelmed at home by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who rolled to a
125-94 victory in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Detroit, which forced the deciding game with a road win Friday night, never
found its footing offensively and struggled to match Cleveland's physicality
and pace from the opening tip. The Pistons shot just 35.3% from the floor, were
outscored 58-34 in the paint and trailed by as many as 35 points in the second
half.
"It sucked," All-Star Cade Cunningham said. "Being back home, definitely wanted
to get this win for the fans. Reminded me of last year, losing on the home
court. It's not a great feeling.
"So I hadn't been thinking about the offseason, so my mind's been racing now,
trying to figure out what I got to do, what it's going to look like."
The abrupt ending came just two years after Detroit endured one of the worst
seasons in NBA history. The Pistons finished 14-68 during the 2023-24 season
and set an NBA single-season record with 28 consecutive losses before emerging
this year as one of the league's biggest surprises under coach JB Bickerstaff.
Despite the lopsided defeat, Bickerstaff refused to call the ending a
disappointment.
"It's not a disappointment at all," Bickerstaff said. "Not ever will I be
disappointed in these guys. These guys every single day give us what they got.
So it is not a disappointment. It's a loss, and it's a tough loss. But that
adjective will never be used."
Bickerstaff repeatedly praised the growth and resilience of a roster that
rapidly developed into a contender.
"This team is awesome, and they're a special group of guys," he said. "I
couldn't be more appreciative of how they allow us to coach them, work with
them every single day. The spirit they carry, their willingness to grow, their
willingness to sacrifice. It's a special group."
Ausar Thompson said the loss will fuel the Pistons moving forward.
"We have to get better as a team, but I'm focused on what I can do to not be in
this situation again," Thompson said. "It sucks, but you can't take it back. We
already lost."
Cleveland controlled the game almost immediately.
The Cavaliers turned Detroit's cold shooting into transition opportunities
while building a 31-22 lead after one quarter. After the Pistons scored the
first two baskets of the second, Cleveland answered with a 24-9 run to take
command and carried a 64-47 advantage into halftime.
Detroit pulled within 17 in the third quarter before Cleveland buried any
comeback hopes behind a dominant stretch from Donovan Mitchell, who scored 15
of his 26 points in the period.
Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill each added 23 points for the Cavaliers, while
Evan Mobley finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds as Cleveland advanced to
the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2018.
"They had X-factor guys that had the ability to contribute," Bickerstaff said.
"We knew it was going to be a tough series and a tough test for us, but just
like we did last year, we'll learn from it. We'll put it in our pocket, we'll
get better from it, and next year we'll grow and be a better team."
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
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