Cleveland hosts Detroit for Game 3 in hopes of avoiding a 0-3 series deficit on Peacock and NBC.
Enjoy the best of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news and highlights from Saturday’s action.
We’ve got two monumental Game 3s on the docket today! Cleveland will host Detroit to kick things off (Live, Peacock/NBC), followed by Los Angeles welcoming Oklahoma City to town for the nightcap (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
What we know about Saturday’s games:
Cleveland will host Detroit in search of answers to get back in the series and avoid going down 3-0. The Pistons’ defense ranks second in the 2026 NBA Playoffs with a defensive rating of 103.0, but the Cavs remain undefeated at Rocket Arena in the postseason and look to improve to 5-0 on their home court.
The Lakers host the defending champion Thunder as their conference semifinals series shifts to Los Angeles. Following consecutive 18-point losses, LA is now 0-6 on the season against OKC, with an average margin of defeat of 25.5 points. The Lakers are averaging 19.5 turnovers through the first two games, resulting in 23.0 points off TOs for the Thunder.
MAY 9, 2026 / 4:00 ET
Cleveland stepping up at home
The Cavs are shooting 69.6% (16-23 FG) overall while holding Detroit to 36.4% (12-33 FG) shooting, as Cleveland holds a 41-34 advantage with 7:36 left in the first half. It’s their largest lead of the series to this point.
Got that SPIDA SAUCE.@spidadmitchell | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/kVRoKaCuLm
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 9, 2026
Donovan Mitchell has a game-high 13 points and 5 rebounds on 6-for-9 shooting in 12 minutes.
MAY 9, 2026 / 3:44 ET
Cavs lead 32-30 after 1Q
The turnovers continue to be an issue for Cleveland (6 in first quarter), but a spark from Dennis Schröder (8 pts, 2 3PM, 2 ast, 1 blk) off the bench helps the Cavs take a 2-point lead heading to the second.
DET/CLE TIED, 1-1 | GAME 3 ON NBC & PEACOCK 📺
TAP TO WATCH: https://t.co/r4ZPci4ubU
— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2026
Donovan Mitchell (9 pts, 3 reb) and Jarrett Allen (9 pts on 4-4 FG) fuel Cleveland’s best start through three games in this series.
Spida is 3-4 early in Game 3 on NBC & Peacock! pic.twitter.com/H32jh6CkrJ
— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2026
Tobias Harris powers Detroit with 8 points on 3-for-5 shooting, and Cade Cunningham stuffs the stat sheet with 6 points, 5 boards, 4 assists and one steal.
LeVert workin’ early on both ends 😤 pic.twitter.com/PCksouDjua
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 9, 2026
MAY 9, 2026 / 3:26 ET
Game 3 underway in The Land
Donovan Mitchell powers Cleveland with 7 points and 3 rebounds, but the Cavs trail Detroit 18-15 with 6:26 remaining in the opening quarter on Peacock/NBC.
Start off with a step back!@JHarden13 | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/M1hJCIkXiE
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 9, 2026
MAY 9, 2026 / 2:55 ET
Thunder eyeing history tonight
Oklahoma City aims to make it 7-0 to start their journey for back-to-back titles with a Game 3 victory against the Lakers in LA.
With a win tonight, OKC would become the SIXTH reigning champs in NBA history to start the playoffs 7-0 or better!
Joining…
’16-17 Cavs (10-0)
’00-01 Lakers (11-0)
’92-93 Bulls (7-0)
’88-89 Lakers (11-0)
’49-50 Lakers (7-0)
OKC/LAL Game 3: 8:30 PM ET, ABC NBA… https://t.co/67gc1kpZvu pic.twitter.com/mZHHDXGivA
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 9, 2026
MAY 9, 2026 / 2:50 ET
Detroit Pistons:
PG – Cade Cunningham (24.0 ppg, 8.5 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.0 bpg)
SG – Duncan Robinson (18.0 ppg, 5.0 3PM on 58.8 3P%, 2.5 spg)
SF – Ausar Thompson (10.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.5 spg)
PF – Tobias Harris (20.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.0 spg, 1.0 bpg)
C – Jalen Duren (9.5 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 1.0 bpg)
Kevin Huerter (adductor) remains out for Detroit, meaning JB Bickerstaff will rely on Daniss Jenkins, Isaiah Stewart and Caris LeVert in the second unit.
Cleveland Cavaliers:
PG – James Harden (16.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.0 spg)
SG – Donovan Mitchell (27.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.5 spg)
SF – Dean Wade (6.5 ppg, 1.5 3PM, 4.0 rpg)
PF – Evan Mobley (11.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.5 spg, 2.5 bpg)
C – Jarrett Allen (12.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.0 bpg)
Cleveland gets a boost to their 3-point shooting (30% this series) with Sam Merrill (hamstring) available off the bench after leaving early in Game 1 and missing all of Game 2. Max Strus, Jaylon Tyson and Dennis Schröder should continue to get opportunities in the second unit for the Cavs.
MAY 9, 2026 / 2:30 ET
Today’s injury report
DET @ CLE — Kevin Huerter (adductor) is out for the Pistons.
Sam Merrill (hamstring) is available to play for the Cavaliers.
OKC @ LAL — Jalen Williams (hamstring) remains out for the Thunder.
Luka Dončić (hamstring) will miss his ninth consecutive playoff game, and Jarred Vanderbilt (finger) is questionable for the Lakers after missing Game 2.