The Detroit Pistons did a lot of good work during the 2025-26 campaign, but the lasting image of the season is going to be the team’s 125-94 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series on Sunday night. It’s clear the Pistons are headed in the right direction, but they have a lot of work to do before emerging as a legitimate Finals contender.
Detroit went toe-to-toe with a talented Cleveland team in this series, and as is often the case, things got chippy between these two teams. Those tensions lingered after the final buzzer sounded, as Ausar Thompson took a shot at the Cavaliers after they ended the Pistons’ season with a blowout win.
Ausar Thompson’s Blunt Reaction to Loss vs. Cavaliers
Said this series felt personal for him and “I’m not forgetting it.”
For a while now, the Pistons have been working on finding a way to properly build their roster around Cade Cunningham. This season, Thompson proved that he is definitely a part of the team’s long-term future, and while he may not necessarily be able to become Cunningham’s sidekick from an offensive perspective, he’s quickly turned himself into one of the best defenders in the league.
Thompson suited up in a career-high 73 games this season, and he responded by averaging 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 52.5% from the field. On defense, Thompson led the league with two steals per game, while also averaging 0.9 blocks per game, despite standing at just 6-foot-7. His work in this area did not go unnoticed, as the third-year star earned a third-place finish in the Defensive Player of the Year race.
Against the Cavs, Thompson found himself tasked with slowing Donovan Mitchell down, and for the most part, he managed to help keep him relatively quiet throughout this series. It wasn’t enough, though, as the Pistons still came up short when all was said and done. While the loss was still fresh, Thompson didn’t appear thrilled to have lost to Cleveland, given how things played out on the court.
“I’m not forgetting it. That series, that felt personal,” Thompson said when speaking to reporters after the loss.
Pistons Have Some Big Decisions to Make This Offseason
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 29: Ausar Thompson #9 of the Detroit Pistons dribbles during the third quarter in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on April 29, 2025 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
During the regular season. Detroit managed to find success with its incredible depth. In the playoffs, though, the team could not find a consistent option to step up alongside Cunningham. Jalen Duren struggled mightily, and while Tobias Harris briefly starred for the team, he struggled late in the series against the Cavaliers.
Finding a No. 2 option to come in and work alongside Cunningham is going to be crucial for the Pistons this offseason. Thompson is a key piece for this team, but he’s not capable of shouldering the load on the offensive side of the ball when Cunningham needs a breather. Truthfully, that’s fine, because Thompson does more than enough on defense, but this defeat to Cleveland exposed Detroit’s flaws, and now, it must address them before returning to action next season.
Pistons’ Ausar Thompson Takes Shot at Cavaliers After Game 7 Loss