DETROIT — Bam Adebayo had 22 points and nine rebounds in 29 minutes, and the Miami Heat ended a four-game losing streak with a 108-95 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.
Adebayo went 10 for 14 from the field before sitting out the fourth quarter as Miami cruised to victory. Caleb Martin and Terry Rozier each had 18 points.
“Bam was going to impose his will in this game, and he did it on both ends of the floor,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “That’s what leaders do. In the most difficult moments of the season, they mobilize and we follow them.”
The Pistons were attempting their first three-game winning streak since the 2021-22 season, but committed 18 turnovers that led to 33 Miami points.
“It’s a big part of the game, just because giving up that many points is demoralizing,” Pistons coach Monty Williams said. “We had some very difficult offensive possessions where we were not organized. This was responsible for some turnovers.
Simone Fontecchio scored 24 points and Jalen Duren added 15 points and 17 rebounds.
“It’s easy for me to play with this group,” said Fontecchio, who replaced Ausar Thompson (illness) in the starting lineup. “They make everything easier for me, especially playing with Cade (Cunningham).”
Cunningham, playing with a sore knee, had 11 points, nine rebounds and six assists in 31 minutes.
The teams play again Sunday afternoon in Detroit.
Miami led 56-54 at halftime, but outscored Detroit 8-2 in the first two minutes of the third quarter. Four of the points came from Detroit turnovers, giving the Heat 24 for the game.
“When you give up 33 points on turnovers and you don’t make a lot of shots, it becomes very difficult,” Fontecchio said.
The Heat struggled from the 3-point line over the first two-plus quarters, missing 17 of their first 20 attempts, but Duncan Robinson scored three in a row to take an 83-65 lead with 2:14 left in the quarter.
“He’s as fired up as anyone in the league,” Spoelstra said. “The first one was on the clock and probably one of the hardest ones he’s hit in the last few games.
“When it hits one, it can turn into an avalanche.”
Miami’s lead was 84-72 heading into the fourth and the Pistons never forced Adebayo back into the game. Thomas Bryant, Adebayo’s replacement, scored 11 points in the quarter.
Adebayo and Fontecchio each scored 16 points in the first half, while Duren had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
