The Cleveland Cavaliers clinched the Eastern Conference semi-final series with a 125-94 pounding of the Detroit Pistons in Game 7 on Sunday night at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
The Cavaliers took control of the deciding game from tipoff and closed out the seven-game series, 4-3.
Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley and the rest of the team set up an Eastern Conference Finals clash with the New York Knicks.
The opener will kick off at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.
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Dan Gilbert brings 25 buses to Detroit
Added to the buzz of the matchup between the Central Division rivals was the gesture made by Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert on Sunday to ensure his team would not be overwhelmed by the pro-Pistons crowd inside the arena.
Gilbert, who bought the Cavaliers franchise for $375 million in 2005, has been generous to the Cleveland fanbase this series, ensuring the team can hear Clevelanders cheering at Little Caesars Arena.
In Games 1, 2, and 5, Gilbert, whose net worth Forbes is estimated to be $22.4 billion, deployed fewer than 10 buses to bring pro-Cleveland fans to cheer for the Cavaliers.
The concept worked in Game 5 when the Cavs beat Detroit, 117-113, for a 3-2 lead.
Although Cleveland failed to finish the series at home with the Pistons forcing a Game 7, Gilbert was ready.
He deployed 25 buses to be filled by season-ticket holders for an all-expenses-paid trip to the arena.
The gesture received positive raves from NBA fans, with one person calling the experience “unreal” and “insane.”
Another fan pointed out that the effort to bring the fans to see Game 7 live and inspire the team was “incredible.”
Wearing a Cavs wrestling belt, Señor Cleveland enjoyed the experience, leading most of the fan chants on his side and praising Gilbert for the good vibes he brought on Sunday.
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Kenny Atkinson praises Gilbert’s gesture
In a postgame interview, Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson was also grateful for his owner’s unwavering support.
“I think it speaks to watching how this organization operates. All the little stuff on the margins.”
“He believes in every little thing counts, and if he thought that was going to give us just a tiny bit of boost, which he obviously did, he’s going to make the effort,” Atkinson said.
“There’s a whole group that made that possible. I’ve never seen that in the NBA, college maybe, you know, and it mattered. I think it mattered. I think it helped. I think our guys would agree,” he added.
The wine and gold-clad Cavaliers are onto the next round thanks to their fan-friendly manager, who is hoping that his kind gesture will lead them back to the NBA Finals – a feat the team has not achieved since 2018, when Cleveland great LeBron James was still leading the squad.
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