Cavaliers vs. Pistons prediction: Detroit to win, Donovan Mitchell projected for big game in Sunday's NBA matchup [5/17/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Ryan Leaver, Senior Sports and Betting Editor
Get Cleveland Cavaliers vs Detroit Pistons predictions for NBA Playoffs Sunday.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons NBA prediction for Sunday, May 17, 2026.
The Detroit Pistons will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday, starting at 8:00 PM ET.
Based on the latest simulation results and today’s injury reports, Dimers' proven NBA model predicts the Pistons as the most likely winner of the Cavaliers vs. Pistons game.
This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the Pistons lineup will feature players like Cade Cunningham, Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren, while the Cavaliers will look to Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Evan Mobley.
This article offers an expanded analysis of Sunday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.
Cavs vs. Pistons prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using innovative machine learning and data analysis, we have simulated the result of Sunday's NBA Playoffs game between the Cavaliers and Pistons, forming part of our NBA predictions coverage.
Our leading predictive model gives the Pistons a 63% chance of beating the Cavaliers. Our predicted final score has the Pistons winning 105-101.
According to our model, the Cavaliers (+4.5) have a 53% chance of covering the spread, while the 205-point over/under has a 52% chance of going over.
Cavaliers vs. Pistons odds
We have researched the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
Bet Type
Cavaliers
Pistons
Spread
+4.5 (-110)
-4.5 (-106)
Moneyline
+160
-184
Total
o205 (-110)
u205 (-110)
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Cavaliers vs. Pistons picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
According to our NBA best bets, the top play to make on this game is Cavaliers +4.5 at the spread.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Cavaliers vs. Pistons player props
NBA player props are a great way to wager on Sunday's Cavaliers vs. Pistons matchup without necessarily betting on the outcome. We have crunched the numbers to project how each team's leading players will perform at Little Caesars Arena.
Donovan Mitchell is expected to lead the Cavaliers with 27 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, while Cade Cunningham is projected to have 26 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists for the Pistons.
Donovan Mitchell is projected to score 27 points tonight.
The NBA Playoffs is an annual elimination tournament held to determine the league's champion.
Sixteen teams, including the Cavaliers and Pistons, made the 2026 NBA Playoffs, which spans four rounds: the First Round, Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and NBA Finals.
Each round is played as a best-of-seven series, with the first team to four wins moving on to the next round until a champion is crowned.
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Conclusion
We predict the Pistons, with a 63% win probability, will likely beat the Cavaliers in Sunday's NBA playoffs matchup.
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Ryan Leaver uses advanced statistical models and simulations to predict outcomes and provide predictions for the NBA, NFL, college football, college basketball, and soccer. He offers detailed game previews, best bets, props, and futures articles.
