Sports
Coaching ties, tired legs in focus as Pistons open semis vs. Cavs
Jan 4, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives to the basket against Detroit Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart (28) during the second half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images J.B. Bickerstaff spent four-plus years building Cleveland into a contender. Now he gets to try to dismantle it.
Just two days after surviving a Game 7, the top-seeded Detroit Pistons open the Eastern Conference semifinals Tuesday night at home against the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, the franchise that fired Bickerstaff two years ago.
The Cavaliers have won the last three playoff series between the teams and carry a 12-game postseason winning streak against Detroit. But with both sides coming off Game 7s, this one may come down to which team recovers fastest.
Detroit advanced with a 116-94 win over Orlando on Sunday, fueled by 32 points and 12 assists from Cade Cunningham and 30 points from Tobias Harris.
“I know a lot of people would’ve liked it to just be easier, but I think it was great for our guys; to go through what they went through, to understand what it looks like and where they have to be in order to get it done,” said Bickerstaff, who received a contract extension on Monday. “We understand that now, and we (will) take that with us to the second round.”
Cleveland also needed seven games to defeat Toronto. The Cavs beat the Raptors 114-102 Sunday behind 22 points and 19 rebounds from Jarrett Allen and 22 points from Donovan Mitchell.
Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson, who replaced Bickerstaff in May 2024, expects a similar grind.
“I think a lot of similarities. Physicality, right?” Atkinson said when asked what he expects. “We’re going to have to be mentally and physically tough to beat this team.
“They’ve had a great year. They’re the favorites. We go in there as underdogs, which is a challenge. I think it’s going to be a similar series (to the Toronto matchup), being able to handle their pressure, their rebounding, their force, their physicality.”
The Pistons were among the league’s best at protecting the paint during the regular season, limiting both attempts at the rim and efficiency once opponents got there. That carried into the first round, where they forced Orlando into difficult half-court possessions, including a 19-point second half in Game 6.
That approach could create problems for the Cavaliers, especially Mitchell. Toronto had success crowding driving lanes and turning him into a perimeter scorer, and the Cavaliers’ offense stalled at times as a result.
Detroit doesn’t have a single defender like Toronto’s Scottie Barnes, but makes up for it with collective physicality. If the Pistons can replicate that formula, Cleveland could again find itself grinding on offense.
“They’ve been phenomenal,” said Mitchell, who averaged 23.1 points per game against the Raptors. “(Bickerstaff has) done a phenomenal job over there. They’ve been phenomenal all year. They’re tough, right? They’re physical. They’ve got Cade, who’s the head of the snake.
“It’s going to be a tall task. … We got to go out there and find a way to get one on the road.”
On the other end, Detroit faces its own questions. The Pistons have leaned heavily on Cunningham all season, and that dependence showed in the first round when their half-court offense stalled.
Cunningham delivered in three elimination games by averaging 36.3 points per game, but sustaining that level against Cleveland’s defense is another challenge. The Cavaliers have multiple options to throw at him, including Dean Wade, who has handled tough assignments throughout the postseason.
If Cleveland can limit Cunningham’s impact as both a scorer and facilitator, the pressure shifts to Detroit’s supporting cast, which has been productive but inconsistent as secondary creators.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Steven Kwan saves run, drives in 2 as Guardians beat Marlins
Jul 11, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee (28) throws against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images Nine-hole hitter Steven Kwan lined a two-out, two-strike, two-run double and also produced a run-saving defensive gem, leading the Guardians to a 4-1 win over the host Miami Marlins on Saturday afternoon.
Cleveland also got a two-out, two-strike, two-run double from eight-hole hitter Patrick Bailey in the eighth to add some insurance.
Tanner Bibee, who started this season 0-7 with six no-decisions, earned the win. Bibee (3-9) turned in a quality start, allowing five hits, four walks and one run in 6 2/3 innings.
Eury Perez, who pitched seven perfect innings in his previous start, took the loss. Perez (5-7) allowed eight hits, two walks and two runs in six innings. He struck out six.
Cleveland loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning, but Perez struck out Kyle Manzardo and got Kahlil Watson to bounce into a double play.
Miami threatened in the third on two-out walks to Otto Lopez and Kyle Stowers. Xavier Edwards then followed with a single that nearly scored Lopez. However, before Lopez could step on home plate, Stowers was thrown out by Kwan, a four-time Gold Glove winner in left field. On the play, Stowers made too wide a turn from second base.
Cleveland opened the scoring in the fourth on a rally that started with singles from Gabriel Arias and Petey Halpin. The Guardians then executed a double steal before Kwan gave them a 2-0 lead with his opposite-field double down the left-field line.
Miami got on the board in the seventh as rookie Joe Mack doubled, took third on a groundout and scored on Liam Hicks’ bloop single.
Cleveland came right back and extended its lead to 4-1 in the eighth. Manzardo was hit by a pitch, Watson doubled and Bailey nearly hit one out, settling for a two-run double off the wall in left.
In the bottom of the eighth, Kwan made another stellar play, sliding to grab a foul fly off the bat of Stowers.
With All-Star Cade Smith having pitched in each of the past three games, the Guardians turned to Colin Holderman, who pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his fourth career save and first this year.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Pirates take Game 2 to sweep doubleheader against Brewers
Jul 11, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe (5) throws to first base to turn a double play over Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Luis Lara (18) during the second inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Bryan Reynolds went 2-for-3 and drove in the go-ahead run for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who defeated the visiting Milwaukee Brewers 3-2 to sweep a doubleheader on Saturday.
Starting pitcher Bubba Chandler struck out six while limiting Milwaukee to two runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings for the Pirates, who won the first game 7-6.
Shane Drohan (4-3) allowed three runs on five hits and fanned six in 6 1/3 innings for the Brewers, who have lost three of their past four games after going 8-2 in their previous 10.
Pittsburgh went ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth.
Brandon Lowe connected for a one-out double, knocking a fly ball to center field. He then scored when Reynolds followed with a single to right.
Milwaukee threatened to take the lead in the top half of the frame against reliever Johan Ramirez (6-2). Joey Ortiz doubled and Christian Yelich was hit by a pitch, but a pop-out ended the inning.
Held to one baserunner on just one hit through the first three innings, the Pirates finally connected for more in the fourth. With one out, Reynolds lined a double down the right field line. Esmerlyn Valdez then followed with a home run to left field to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.
It was Valdez’s 10th homer of the season and third straight game sending one out of the park. The 22-year-old rookie also had two in the opener of the doubleheader, including the go-ahead grand slam that gave Pittsburgh the win.
The Brewers tied it in the top of the fifth inning.
Joey Ortiz and Christian Yelich connected for back-to-back one-out ground-ball singles before Jackson Chourio grounded into a forceout that took out Yelich. Brice Turang then knocked a double off the wall in left field that drove in Ortiz and Chourio.
That ended Chandler’s outing, with reliever Brandon Eisert stepping in for his Pittsburgh debut. The Pirates acquired the left-hander, along with infielder Jacob Gonzalez, in a trade with the Chicago White Sox on Friday night.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Andruw Monasterio, Masataka Yoshida homer as Red Sox blank Mets
Jul 11, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rivera delivers a pitch during the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Andruw Monasterio and Masataka Yoshida each belted two-run homers Saturday and five pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout as the visiting Boston Red Sox blanked the New York Mets 4-0 for their eighth straight win.
Reliever Jovani Moran (2-2) got the win with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless work. Fill-in starter Eduardo Rivera fired 3 2/3 scoreless innings in just his second major league appearance. Rivera gave up one hit, walked two and struck out three.
Freddy Peralta (5-8) absorbed the loss after working 4 1/3 innings and allowing two runs off three hits and five walks. Peralta whiffed six.
Monasterio gave Boston the only runs it would need when he pounced on a fastball right down the middle in the top of the fourth with one out and Caleb Durbin aboard after a walk. Monasterio pulled it an estimated 378 feet into the seats in left field for his fifth homer of the year.
Yoshida supplied insurance in the top of the eighth following a leadoff single by Durbin. Yoshida laced a cutter from reliever Tobias Myers an estimated 360 feet just inside the right field foul pole for his third homer of the season.
Most of the game’s remainder was an exhibition of futility for New York, particularly when it got runners into scoring position. Carson Benge walked and stole second to start the second but never even got to third as Rivera sandwiched two strikeouts around a popup.
The biggest blown chances came in the seventh and eighth. The Mets filled the bases with two outs in the seventh via walks by Eric Wagaman and Bo Bichette sandwiched around a single from Francisco Alvarez. But Justin Slaten slipped a called third strike by A.J. Ewing to quash the threat.
In the eighth, walks by Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor started the inning. Benge’s fly ball to right pushed Soto to third but Jorge Polanco bounced into a 5-4-3 double play to end the threat.
New York went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, stranding nine for the day.
–Field Level Media
Steven Kwan saves run, drives in 2 as Guardians beat Marlins
Pirates take Game 2 to sweep doubleheader against Brewers
