Cleveland Cavaliers vs Detroit Pistons Final Score & Over/Under Result — May 5, 2026

The opening quarter set the tone for a defensive grind. Cleveland and Detroit combined for 58 points in Q1—the game's highest-scoring frame—but the Cavaliers fell behind 37–21 in that opening stretch. The Pistons never relinquished that early cushion, holding firm through a sluggish second half despite a late push from the visitors.

Cleveland tightened the screws after halftime, outscoring Detroit 30–24 in the third quarter to claw within single digits, but Detroit's balanced fourth quarter—28 combined points split evenly between the teams—sealed a 111–101 final. The Cavaliers managed just 21 first-quarter points and couldn't fully recover. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 23 points, while James Harden added 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. For Detroit, Cade Cunningham notched 23 points and 7 assists, and Tobias Harris contributed 20 points and 8 rebounds. The combined total landed at 212, finishing well south of the 217.5 market open—DAGGER leaned under, and it cashed by 5.5. Detroit's recent defensive form (101.6 allowed per game over its last 10) paired with Cleveland's struggles in early-game execution proved decisive in a defensive affair that deviated sharply from the season series pattern, where these teams had combined for 222, 241, and 224 points in three earlier meetings.