The Detroit Pistons are staring down elimination, and according to one NBA expert, their season is all but over. After a gut-wrenching loss in Game 5, the Cleveland Cavaliers are poised to close out the series on Friday night and punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals. Here are three key reasons why the Pistons are in serious trouble.
1. Cade Cunningham's Turnover Troubles
On paper, Cade Cunningham had a monster Game 5, dropping 39 points with nine assists and six three-pointers. But the All-Star guard's performance came with a costly flaw. He turned the ball over six times, bringing his playoff total to a staggering 69 turnovers in just 12 games. That's an average of nearly six per game—a number that's almost impossible to overcome in high-stakes moments. Even worse, Cunningham was caught sleeping in overtime, failing to box out James Harden on a missed free throw, allowing the Cavs star to grab his own rebound and extend the possession. Mental lapses like that are fatal in a closeout game.
2. Jalen Duren Has Disappeared
After a breakout 2025-26 season where he looked like a future star, Jalen Duren has been a ghost in this series. The young big man, who was supposed to be a difference-maker in the paint, has been consistently outplayed and outworked. His lack of production on both ends has left the Pistons without a reliable interior presence, forcing them to rely too heavily on perimeter scoring. In a series where every possession matters, Duren's disappearance has been a massive hole in Detroit's lineup.
3. The Collapse in Game 5 Was a Killer
The Pistons had Game 5 in their grasp, leading by nine points in the final minutes. Then, the wheels came off. They committed a series of bad turnovers, missed crucial free throws, and allowed the Cavaliers to storm back. For a young team that already had to claw out of a 3-1 hole against Orlando in the first round, suffering a collapse of this magnitude is devastating. It's the kind of loss that can break a team's spirit, especially when the same issues—turnovers, poor defense down the stretch, and a lack of composure—keep resurfacing.
The Pistons have shown heart before, but this time the odds feel insurmountable. Friday night in Cleveland, expect the Cavaliers to finish the job and send Detroit packing for the offseason.