The Cleveland Cavaliers have secured their place in the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA league after defeating the Detroit Pistons 125-94 in a decisive Game 7. This is the first time Cleveland has reached this stage since 2018, when LeBron James led the team.

The question of the winner in Ohio was never in doubt. Cleveland imposed a fierce tempo from the start, dominating the rebound count (58-34) and leading by a significant +17 (64-47) at halftime. The lead grew to a humiliating +35 in the second half.

Team star Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 26 points, scoring 15 in the third quarter when he decisively turned the game in their favor. Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland contributed 23 points each, while Evan Mobley dominated under the hoop with 21 points and 12 rebounds.

"We didn't come here just to get through one round. Last year, we marked the finals as our goal. Now we are one step closer. We can take a 12-hour break and then get back to work," Mitchell said after the game.

On the other hand, Detroit completely collapsed in the most crucial game of the season. Team star Cade Cunningham was neutralized, scoring only 13 points, 16 less than his playoff average. Danilo Gallinari was the most effective for the Pistons with 17 points, but it was not enough to threaten the home team.

Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff emphasized that the key to victory was the "strength" with which his team played on both ends of the court, something lacking in the previous game.

Cleveland (4th seed) will now face the New York Knicks (3rd seed) in the Eastern Conference finals, with the series beginning on Wednesday at the iconic Madison Square Garden.