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Has this series even started? Per the trusted adage, a playoff series does not begin until a road team wins a game. The Detroit Pistons looked dominant to start this series. The Cleveland Cavaliers then responded with two wins at home.
My Cavaliers vs. Pistons predictions and these NBA picks are not bold enough to firmly pick a side in Game 5, but they do expect to see more from Donovan Mitchell after a stellar start to this series. Tip comes at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 13.
Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 5 prediction
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:
Donovan 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
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Over 212.5
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
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Tip-off
7 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Cavaliers vs Pistons latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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