Did someone leak the \u201cscript\u201d for the NBA\u2019s Eastern Conference finals?<\/p>\n
In a mistake sure to motivate the Pistons<\/a> and provide fodder for conspiracy theorists who believe sports are fixed, ABC affiliates from Alabama to California, South Carolina and Nebraska aired a commercial promoting the Knicks-Cavaliers conference finals series, according to Awful Announcing<\/a>.<\/p>\n The only problem is that the Pistons beat the Cavaliers, 115-94, in Game 6 of their conference semifinals series Friday night, setting up a winner-take-all Game 7 at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday.<\/p>\n ABC wants to get you hyped up for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Knicks and the\u2026 Cavaliers? pic.twitter.com\/YLj9NvDXTA<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson reacts after scoring during the first quarter during Game 4 against the 76ers. Charles Wenzelberg \/ New York Post<\/p>\n The Pistons are a 4.5-point favorite at FanDuel.<\/p>\n ABC and ESPN will air the entire Eastern Conference finals.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Cavs eye another upset,\u201d the commercial began, showing video of the Cavaliers with an advantage over the Pistons, \u201cwhile the Knicks carry the dreams of all of New York<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n The tease then showed a promo for Cavaliers at Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, when it would have been the standalone game.<\/p>\n All that would have been the case if the Cavaliers had finished off the Pistons in Game 6 at home Friday night, but Detroit rebounded from a tough home overtime loss in Game 5 to force Game 7.<\/p>\n The promo that aired \u2026 for a game that won\u2019t happen. @awfulannouncing\/X<\/p>\n Cleveland Cavaliers\u2019 James Harden (1) shoots between Detroit Pistons\u2019 Jalen Duren (0) and Daniss Jenkins (24) in the second half of Game 6 of a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Friday, May 15, 2026, in Cleveland. AP Photo\/Sue Ogrocki<\/p>\n Star Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 21 points in a balanced effort, while Donovan Mitchell had a rough night for the Cavaliers with a minus-25 rating despite scoring 18 points.<\/p>\n Instead, the series will start Tuesday night \u2014 either with the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden or with the Knicks visiting the Pistons in a rematch from last year\u2019s first-round series.<\/p>\n So, the network has plenty of time between Sunday night\u2019s Game 7 in Detroit and Tuesday night to promote the correct two teams squaring off without getting button-happy.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t