How to watch the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons 2026 NBA Playoffs Second Round Game 3
Down 2-0, the Cavs need to get a home win on Saturday night if they want to stay in the series.
In the first round of the 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs, the top-seeded Detroit Pistons had to win three elimination games to advance to the second round. But once they were in the second round, they have flexed their muscles against the Cleveland Cavaliers, taking a quick 2-0. However, beginning on Saturday, May 9, the Cavs are back at home and looking to make the most of home-court advantage in Game 3. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on NBC. If you are looking for a live TV streaming service to watch the game, we recommend streaming it with a five-day free trial to DIRECTV. You can also stream it with one of the Peacock Premium subscriptions.
How to watch Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons
- When: Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC
- Stream: Watch with a five-day free trial to DIRECTV or Peacock.
- From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a VPN.
Everything you need to know to stream Cavs vs. Pistons
What is the schedule of the Cavs vs. Pistons 2026 NBA Playoffs series?
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Matchup | Outlet(s)/Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, May 5 | Game 1 | 7 p.m. | Cavaliers at Pistons | Pistons 111, Cavs 101 |
| Thursday, May 7 | Game 2 | 7 p.m. | Cavaliers at Pistons | Pistons 107, Cavs 97 |
| Saturday, May 9 | Game 3 | 3 p.m. | Pistons at Cavaliers | NBC, Peacock |
| Monday, May 11 | Game 4 | 8 p.m. | Pistons at Cavaliers | NBC, Peacock |
| Wednesday, May 13 | Game 5^ | TBA | Cavaliers at Pistons | TBA |
| Friday, May 15 | Game 6^ | TBA | Pistons at Cavaliers | TBA |
| Sunday, May 17 | Game 7^ | TBA | Cavaliers at Pistons | TBA |
^=if necessary
Why we recommend DIRECTV to watch Cavs vs. Pistons
When it comes to offering the most channels in streaming, every live TV streaming service is chasing DIRECTV. The platform offers more of cable’s top 35 channels than any of its competitors, so if you are looking for a breadth of programming options, DIRECTV is a surefire hit. In addition, the streamer has the industry’s best guaranteed free trial. While others can roll out longer options depending on what time of year it is and what qualifications you meet as a customer, DIRECTV offers a five-day trial to all new users. So, if you are specifically looking to watch the Cavs vs. Pistons game, this is the option that makes the most sense.
Related: How to make the most out of your NBA experience with DIRECTV
But for the first time, DIRECTV is able to offer an even more compelling package of channels for sports fans. Last year, DIRECTV launched its Genre Packs that allow people to pick curated channel lineups around central themes and genres, and for sports fans, that means the MySports Pack.
The MySports plan runs $65 a month after the aforementioned five-day free trial, which gives you a way to check out everything that it has to offer before having to pay a penny. You’ll also get a bunch of great sports channels with MySports, including ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, FS1, FS2, Golf Channel, MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network, NHL Network, SEC Network, TBS, TNT, and USA Network, and depending on your market, ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC.
These channels bring you an incredible selection of games from across pro and college sports, oh, and MySports also comes with a free ESPN Unlimited subscription? Pretty solid. All these channels and features are available for just $65, which is why it’s our favorite way to watch. Then, you can also add the MyHome Team add-on for $20 more per month to get your local regional sports networks (RSNs), so you never miss your hometown team’s games.
Can you watch Cavs vs. Pistons for free?
If you are just looking for a streaming service to watch this specific game and nothing else, there are options available for you. DIRECTV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and YouTube TV all offer free trials, but they vary in length, so be wary. DIRECTV’s industry-leading trial runs for five days, while Hulu + Live TV’s is a solid three days.
Those are pretty straightforward, but when it comes to the sports-minded streamer Fubo, things can get a little complicated. As The Streamable’s expert David Satin discovered when signing up for the services, figuring out how long Fubo’s trial is — even as you are signing up — can be a bit difficult. Nonetheless, it will be at least one day, with the potential to be as many as seven, depending on a wide range of factors that Fubo does not share publicly.
The YouTube TV trial is currently up to 21 days, which is an incredible offer. But it doesn’t always apply to every potential customer. But for three free weeks, it is probably worth going through the signup process to see if you qualify. If you are looking to watch the game for free, I would recommend DIRECTV, because that streamer has the longest guaranteed free trial and gives you the best channel options, but YouTube TV isn’t a terrible option if you don’t mind a little legwork.
| DIRECTV | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free 3-Day Trial | Free Trial | Save with Sling | Free Trial | |||||
| $20.99 | $9.99 | $28.99 | $25 | $19.99 | $29.99 | $45.99 | $45.99 | $64.99 | ||
| NBC | + $19 | + $11 | + $61 | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
Watch highlights from Cavs vs. Pistons Game 2
What are all of the streamers you can use to watch the Cavs vs. Pistons game?
Fortunately for hoops fans, there are six different streaming services that will stream the game, so you have options to choose from if you don’t already subscribe to any of them. We discussed DIRECTV and the free trial options above, but there is one more, and it offers a different type of streaming arrangement.
In addition to the live TV streaming options, since the game is being broadcast on NBC, you will be able to stream it on Peacock’s two Premium tiers. Peacock Premium runs $11 per month, while Premium Plus comes with additional features for $17 per month.
Ultimately, there are tons of different ways to stream the game, and while we recommend DIRECTV as the best way to stream this game, you have plenty of options to find the platform that meets your needs.
Peacock
Peacock is a subscription video streaming service from NBCUniversal that includes original shows, blockbuster movies, and classic television series. Peacock is home to “Yellowstone,” “The Office,” and original hits like “Poker Face” and “Bel-Air.” You can also watch live sports and NBC programming, including the NFL, MLB, WWE, the Olympics, the Premier League, NASCAR, the French Open, college football and basketball, and the PGA Tour. Premium Plus subscribers can stream their local NBC feed in all 210 markets.
How to watch Cavs vs. Pistons from anywhere
If you’ll be away from home and can’t watch the game as you normally would, you can still catch all of the action, no matter where you are in the world, with a VPN. A VPN can be used on your phone, tablet, or computer and make you appear to be back home — even when you’re not — making sure you feel at home no matter where you are. A VPN is a safe and secure way to stay protected online while streaming your favorite sports, movies, and shows on the go. Keep in mind that you will still need to be subscribed to a live TV streaming like DIRECTV in order to stream the game with a VPN.
ExpressVPN is one of the best providers around, at one of the best prices. Currently, you can get a month of service for as little as $5. ExpressVPN is the most-trusted VPN on the market and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN has servers in 105 countries, best-in-class encryption, 24-hour live support, and the best speeds available.
While ExpressVPN is our recommendation for the best VPN to use while you are traveling, there are a number of other high-quality options available depending on what you are looking for.
- Most Secure: NordVPN | Starting at $3.09 per month
- Best Budget Option: Surfshark | Starting at $2.50 per month
- Best Free Option: Proton VPN | Free plan available