Jimmy Butler scored a game-high 26 points and added eight assists and six rebounds, leading the host Miami Heat to a 118-110 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night.
Cade Cunningham had 23 points and eight assists for the Pistons, who at 9-52 are tied with the Washington Wizards for the worst record in the NBA. Cunningham scored 30 points on the Heat on opening night.
Miami also got 18 points and seven rebounds from Bam Adebayo as the Heat improved to 11-3 in their last 14 games. Terry Rozier added 17 points and seven assists, and Caleb Martin scored 15 points off the bench despite missing time due to a sprained right ankle suffered in the second quarter.
For the Pistons, Jalen Duren had a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, and reserve Simone Fontecchio added 22 points, including 5 of 12 on 3-pointers. Detroit has lost nine of its last 10 games.
Miami played without second-leading scorer Tyler Herro and key reserve Kevin Love, who both missed the game with foot injuries. Miami’s Josh Richardson will be out long-term with a dislocated shoulder.
Additionally, Heat forward Nikola Jovic, who pleaded for a foul, received his second technical and was therefore ejected with 5:43 remaining in the third period. These were his first technical fouls in his career.
Miami, despite five early lead changes, had a 36-26 advantage after the first quarter. Miami shot 60 percent overall and 4 of 4 on 3-pointers. Detroit shot just 43.5 percent, including 1 of 8 from 3-point range.
The Pistons cut their deficit to 61-60 at halftime. Detroit got 11 points in the second quarter from Fontecchio and 10 from Duren, who was perfect from the field (4 for 4) and at the foul line (2 for 2).
Miami got 11 points from Adebayo in the third quarter as the Heat increased their lead to 93-88. The Heat went on a 13-0 run in the third, but Detroit still stayed close.
In the fourth quarter, Miami closed the game with a decisive 12-5 run.
–Field media/Reuters
