Detroit Pistons fans flock to Little Caesars Arena for second round

Natalie Davies, Detroit Free PressTue, May 5, 2026 at 11:15 PM UTC

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Fans flocked to Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday, May 5 to see the Detroit Pistons play in the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time in almost 18 years.

There was music at a ticketed fan event outside the arena, as well as Tigers fans and their dogs making their way to Comerica Park for a Bark in the Park game against the Red Sox, with the first pitch scheduled for 20 minutes before the Pistons' game tipped off.

Detroit Pistons fan Amanda Cece, 38, of Troy, takes a selfie of herself as she arrives with her family at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit for Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

Waiting outside of Little Caesars Arena for 2.5 hours before game time, lifelong fans Kendra Robinson, 52, and her husband James Robinson, 48, of Detroit, said they have been waiting for a season like this for years and this could be the year the team wins the championship. Kendra Robinson said she feels “grateful and blessed” to be a Pistons fan.

Friendship and respect for each other and the coach have been factors in carrying the team this far, she said, as well as star player Cade Cunningham.

“This is so amazing and real exciting that Cade wants to be with us,” Kendra Robinson said. “He could be with any team he wants to, but he wants to be with us to bring us a championship.”

Derek Fennicks, 54, also got to Little Caesars Arena 2.5 hours before game time to be one of the first fans in the game. He went to one playoff game last week and said he’s more excited for tonight’s game.

“Outstanding,” he said of what it feels like to be a Pistons fan. “It’s good to have a winning team. It looks like a lot of Detroit is coming back with the Red Wings, Tigers and Lions ... winning now. Now the Pistons [are] winning, so this is a good feeling. It's definitely a good feeling. We haven't had all our teams winning at one time in a long time.”

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Detroit Pistons fans Kaon White, 40, her son Ka’Den Harris (11) and her daughter Khai Stewart (3), all of Detroit take a picture together in front of the “All Dawg” sign as they arrive at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit for Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

More: What the world looked like the last time Pistons won a playoff series

Sprinkled in the sea of Pistons fans, Cavaliers fans could be seen with white shirts with gold lettering saying "beat Detroit" and decked out in other Cleveland gear. Fans also said they came from as far as South Carolina to watch the game with friends.

Marisela Reyes Penn, 42, of Farmington Hills, and her wife Natae Penn, 42, said they were excited to attend their first Pistons playoff game. Reyes Penn used the word “hopeful” to describe what it’s like to be a Detroit fan in 2026.

“Hope we get the W in the D,” Reyes Penn said, headed into the arena Tuesday evening.

Humberto Calzada, 39, of Detroit, said he’s been a season ticket holder for four years. He and his young son Jayden have come to almost all the games this year. Calzada said his hearing hasn’t recovered from Game 7 of the finals on Sunday, when the Pistons beat the Orlando Magic, 116-94. His favorite part of this year’s team is the resilience, he said.

“They work hard and you can see it every day on the court,” Calzada said. “They don’t give up. It shows a lot for Detroit. It’s basically the spirit of the city.”

More: What channel is Pistons vs Cavaliers Game 1? TV, time, where to stream

The 1-seed Pistons play the 4-seed Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the second round of the playoffs at 7 p.m.

Contact Natalie Davies at ndavies@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons fans excited heading into Round 2 of 2026 NBA playoffs

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