CLEVELAND – Marcus Sasser had barely gotten onto the court through most of the 2026 NBA playoffs. But with the Detroit Pistons’ season on the line, he played with the confidence and know-how of a player who had been in the rotation the entire time.
He checked in late in the first quarter of Game 6 on Friday, May 15, at Rocket Arena – a must-win situation – and immediately made positive plays on two consecutive possessions: a layup on the baseline and a steal on Donovan Mitchell.
All night, he hounded Cleveland’s guards defensively and hit clutch shots during an all-around hot offensive night.
Sasser finished the night an absurd plus-27 – meaning the Pistons scored 27 points more than the Cleveland Cavaliers in his personal playoff-high 18 minutes – in a dominant 115-94 win.
He hadn’t cracked the rotation for the better part of two playoff series – either not appearing at all or only playing mop-up minutes in 11 games – until Wednesday’s Game 5.
But in Game 6, the Pistons leaned on their reserves while facing elimination, and it led to their finest performance of the playoffs. With the win, they forced a Game 7 at Little Caesars Arena (8 p.m., Prime Video) to keep their season alive.
Sasser and Paul Reed were among the Pistons’ top performers in Game 6 against the Cavaliers – a win that showcased the roster depth compiled by second-year president of basketball operations Trajan Landon and developed by the coaching staff – that served them well throughout their franchise-reviving 60-22 regular season.
“That was the plan,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said of his decision to lean on the bench Friday. “We have so much depth. Obviously, foul trouble changed a couple of things for us, but we just trust these guys and trust the depth that we have and that they can go out and make an impact. Guys like Sass, in the two years we’ve been here, has proven that when his number’s called, he’s prepared and he goes out and can give us buckets, defend at a high level. I thought he was great tonight. Up and down the roster, I thought we had great production, great intensity.”
Six players scored in double figures in the win.
Reed had yet another strong performance, finishing with his personal playoff high of 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting and six rebounds (three offensive) in just 16 minutes.
Sasser scored nine points and hit two big baskets early in the fourth quarter when the Cavaliers threatened a run. Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson, who came off of the bench after missing Game 5 with lower back soreness, hit timely shots throughout the night and finished with eight and 14 points, respectively.
The 25-year-old Sasser only played in 38 games during the regular season. The 26-year-old Reed, 26, appeared in 65, but in limited minutes behind Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart. They both have mastered the ability to enter a game after long rests and immediately impact it.
That Bickerstaff had few qualms about leaning on them in the most important game of this season speaks to their readiness – and the behind-the-scenes work that inspires that confidence in them.
“I always tell the guys you have to always keep hooping,” Pistons veteran Tobias Harris said. “This is the game that we love and that we play every single day. You’ve got to maintain the reps even if you’re not getting into the game. Always on the guys to make sure they’re playing five-on-five, putting in the work. You saw it tonight.
“Sass is one of the hardest workers on this team. We said before in the playoffs, everybody’s gotta stay ready. Keep working as hard as you can. Keep putting in time, even if you’re not in the rotation early on because everybody’s moment is going to come at a certain point if we’re going to make the run that we’re trying to make.”
“Bball Paul,” as he became known in a four-season stint with the Philadelphia 76ers, has earned a spot in Bickerstaff’s playoff rotation due to his consistency. He rarely was seen in the first round against the Orlando Magic, but his coach turned to him against the Cavaliers, beginning with Game 3 last weekend. His minutes have increased since, and he tallied 16 on Friday. He has scored in double figures in four consecutive games.
Initially, the coaching staff only turned to him in the second half if Duren – who had one of his best performances Friday with 15 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks – wasn’t getting it done. Reed played the entirety of the fourth quarter and overtime in Game 5 against the Cavs on Wednesday.
In Game 6, he and Duren split the center minutes through the second, third and fourth quarters.
Reed was a luxury for the Pistons in the regular season. In the playoffs, he has become a necessity. Against the Cavs, he’s shooting 22-for-29 – 75.9%. His uncanny ability to find lanes to the rim and use his deft touch at weird angles, along with his mobility, has provided a nice contrast from Duren’s power-based game. Reed also has had at least two offensive rebounds each game.
“He’s done a great job rebounding the ball, first of all,” said All-Star guard Cade Cunningham, who finished with 21 points and eight assists in Game 6. “Flying around, going way outside his area. He’s super-mobile for a big so that poses threats to other bigs, but got great touch around the rim, great feel for the game, and he’s just a madman out there. He wants to get the job done every time. He works his tail off. There’s no surprise he’s the player he is.”
In all, it was the Pistons’ best win of the postseason. They held the Cavaliers to 39% shooting – and just 29.3% in the second half while outscoring them, 61-43. All-Star Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, who has had an electric series, was held to 18 points on 6-for-20 shooting.
The Pistons led by double digits the entire fourth quarter. Cavaliers fans began exiting Rocket Arena with three minutes left after a corner 3-pointer from Daniss Jenkins extended the lead to 16. It was a true team effort, with players at the end of the bench setting the tone for the rest of the group.
Now, they head back to Little Caesars Arena with an opportunity for the franchise’s first Eastern Conference finals appearance since a run of six straight from 2003-08.
“It was great,” Cunningham said. “We needed every bit of it. Sass was amazing, Bball obviously did it again and had another great game. [LeVert’s] been great all series. It’s been a collective effort. Having Dunc come back, he hit some big shots for us. It’s been a collective effort. We needed every bit of it. Great team win.”
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Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on X and/or Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons depth produces amazing stories to set up thrilling Game 7
Reporting by Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
