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How to watch the Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers 2026 NBA Playoffs Second Round Game 1

The Pistons and Cavs will kick off their Eastern Conference series in Motown on Tuesday night.

Matt Tamanini
Matt Tamanini is the News Editor at The Streamable, where he oversees daily news coverage and editorial strategy, with a particular focus on breaking stories, streaming comparisons, and major industry events. A well-rounded journalist with a diverse background, Matt joined The Streamable in 2022 after holding key editorial roles at several high-profile outlets. He has an extensive career in sports and entertainment journalism, having served as a senior editor for BroadwayWorld, the world’s largest theater website, and as managing editor for Land-Grant Holy Land, which covers Ohio State sports.
Read full bio ›
Matt Tamanini
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With a background in sports and entertainment reporting, he’s covered everything from Broadway to college football. He cut the cord in 2014 and has a sharp eye for streaming trends and a soft spot for Hallmark movies.
With a background in sports and entertainment reporting, he’s covered everything from Broadway to college football. He cut the cord in 2014 and has a sharp eye for streaming trends and a soft spot for Hallmark movies.

It will be Ohio vs. Michigan in the second round of the 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs. On Tuesday, May 5, the Detroit Pistons will welcome the Cleveland Cavaliers to Little Caesars Arena for Game 1. The top-seeded Pistons fought back from a 3-1 deficit in Round 1 to beat the Orlando Magic, while the Cavs needed all seven games to knock off the Toronto Raptors. The Pistons and Cavs will tip at 7 p.m. ET and will be a Peacock exclusive; however, if your TV provider carries NBC Sports Network, you will be able to watch it there. We recommend that you watch with a subscription to Peacock.

How to watch Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Everything you need to know about Pistons vs. Cavaliers

What is the schedule of the Pistons vs. Cavaliers 2026 NBA Playoffs series?

Date Game Time (ET) Matchup Outlet(s)
Tuesday, May 5 Game 1 7 p.m. Cavaliers at Pistons Peacock, NBCSN
Thursday, May 7 Game 2 7 p.m. Cavaliers at Pistons Prime Video
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 do we recommend watching Pistons vs. Cavaliers on Peacock?

For the first time ever, as part of NBC’s new rights deal with the NBA, Peacock is hosting occasional streaming-exclusive playoff games throughout the postseason. So, the only way to watch the Pistons vs. Cavaliers game is with a Peacock subscription. Peacock provides access to sports action available on your local NBC affiliate, as well as tons of streaming exclusives from the NFL. NBA, English Premier League, the Olympics, and much more.

The top two subscription levels on Peacock provide access to the game, so you can sign up for the Peacock Premium plan for $11 and catch the game and a full month of content.

Can you watch Pistons vs. Cavaliers for free?

You can, but it’s a little bit tricky. Peacock does not currently offer a free trial, so there is no way to watch the game via Peacock without having to pay. However, with its return to hoops broadcasting, NBCUniversal brought back its previously shuttered sports channel NBC Sports Network.

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 Sports Network - + $59 - - - - - - ✓

Watch a preview for Pistons vs. Cavaliers

How to watch Pistons vs. Cavaliers 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 Peacock 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

 

Matt Tamanini
Matt Tamanini is the News Editor at The Streamable, where he oversees daily news coverage and editorial strategy, with a particular focus on breaking stories, streaming comparisons, and major industry events. A well-rounded journalist with a diverse background, Matt joined The Streamable in 2022 after holding key editorial roles at several high-profile outlets. He has an extensive career in sports and entertainment journalism, having served as a senior editor for BroadwayWorld, the world’s largest theater website, and as managing editor for Land-Grant Holy Land, which covers Ohio State sports.
Read full bio ›
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