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Miami Heat vs Detroit Pistons
It's been a great run for the Miami Heat the last few games as they carry a four-game winning streak as we near Christmas. The streak included victories over the Lakers, Suns, Cavaliers, and Raptors with the most impressive wins coming over Phoenix and Cleveland. Miami would take the streak into Detroit to face the Pistons which is a game the Heat are expected to win. The Pistons sit 10th currently within that window of the play-in tournament. They've struggled this season with an 11-16 record and with a loss coming into this game against the Boston Celtics.
Jimmy Butler who's been the speculation of trade rumors with the Heat open to listing to trade offers for him led the game in scoring with 35 points. Tyler Herro who's been playing like an all-star followed with 23 points. Bam Adebayo contributed to the game with 15 points and eight rebounds with Duncan Robinson entering the stat sheet right after with 13 points. It was a tough night for Haywood Highsmith with just three points. Coming off the bench it was Jaime Jaquez Jr with 13 points.
For the Pistons it was Malik Beasley who struggled immensely against the Celtics with just three points came out against Miami and dropped 28 points. Cade Cunningham would follow that performance with 20 points. Ausar Thompson would contribute to the game with 19 points followed by Miami native Tim Hardaway Jr with 16 points. Jalen Duren closed off the starting lineup for Detroit with just nine points. Coming off the bench for the Pistons it was Simone Fontecchio with just nine points.
Herro would go four of 17 from behind the three-point line making his streak to now 58 games with at least one three pointer. Duncan Robinson currently holds the franchise record with 69 games. The Pistons have been dealing with some injuries playing this game without Jaden Ivey and Tobias Harris. Detroit would lose Isaiah Stewart in the first half after hyperextending his knee and would not return.
The Pistons would outscore the Heat 11-2 in the first four opening minutes of the second half. Butler would become the third player in NBA history to finish with 35 points, 19 rebounds, 10 assists, and four steals in a game. Miami were down 19 points in the second half and would finish the game on an 18-2 run sending the game to OT. In OT the hot run for Miami continued opening up an eight-point lead but Hardaway Jr with three three-pointers cut the lead. A missed Herro three-pointer at the buzzer saw Miami fall 125-124 to Detroit ending the winning streak.
Next up for the Miami Heat is a home game welcoming the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Kaseya Center.
Written by: Daniel Torres
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