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Has this series really gotten underway? As the saying goes, it doesn’t truly begin until a road team steals a win.
The Detroit Pistons came out strong early, but the Cleveland Cavaliers answered with back-to-back victories once the series shifted to Ohio.
While my Cavaliers vs. Pistons predictions and NBA picks aren’t quite strong enough to side firmly with either team in Game 5, they do point toward another standout showing from Donovan Mitchell on Wednesday, May 13.
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UPDATE: Added prediction for who will win & +1400 SGP.
Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 5 prediction
Who will win Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 5?
Pistons: Until a road team wins in this series, do not expect one to. That was the exact rhythm of the Cavaliers’ first-round series win, and for now, expect that to continue. This second round should gift us at least one Game 7.
Cavaliers vs Pistons best bet: Donovan Mitchell Over 27.5 points (-105)
Donovan Mitchell takes some flak for being on so many 60-win teams but never reaching a conference finals. If the Cleveland Cavaliers fall short of the Eastern Conference Finals this year, do not blame Spida.
Mitchell has cleared this prop in three straight games, most notably scoring 39 points in Monday’s second half.
Will he stay at that kind of rate? Almost certainly not. But Mitchell is carrying Cleveland’s scoring load no matter what the Detroit Pistons’ defense tries.
Covers
COVERS INTEL:
Mitchell is already a volume scorer, taking 20.0 field-goal attempts per game in the regular season. That has jumped to 21.7 this postseason and 23.3 in this series.
Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 5 same-game parlay
Mitchell is not moving the ball much this series, a reflection of Detroit’s defense. While the bulk of Cleveland’s roster struggles, Mitchell understands the better scoring option is to simply keep the ball himself.
He has cleared this modest assists prop in just one of four games, averaging 2.75 assists per game. Yet, as his scoring became more efficient in the last two games, it helped spur them both Over their totals.
Cavaliers vs Pistons SGP
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Donovan Mitchell Over 27.5 points
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Donovan Mitchell Under 3.5 assists
Our “from downtown” SGP: Spida at The Rim
Donovan Mitchell’s long-range shooting has fallen off in the postseason, down to 32.3% from 36.4% in the regular season. Worse yet, he has shot just 12-of-39 from beyond the arc this series, 30.8%. Yet, he is scoring in bunches.
As absurd as it may seem, this exact same-game parlay cashed in Game 3, Mitchell hitting just 2-of-8 from deep yet scoring 31 points.
Cavaliers vs Pistons SGP
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Donovan Mitchell Over 27.5 points
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Donovan Mitchell Under 2.5 3-pointers
Covers NBA betting tools
Cavaliers vs Pistons odds for Game 5
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Spread: Cavaliers +4 | Pistons -4
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Moneyline: Cavaliers +150 | Pistons -180
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Over/Under: Over 212.5 | Under 212.5
Cavaliers vs Pistons betting trend to know
The Pistons have won the first half outright in 29 of their last 40 home games while the Cavaliers have lost the first half outright in 18 of their last 30 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Pistons.
How to watch Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 5
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Location |
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI |
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Date |
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 |
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Tip-off |
7 p.m. ET |
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TV |
ESPN |
Cavaliers vs Pistons latest injuries
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