money James Wiseman thrives, but Detroit Pistons scorched late by Miami Heat, 112-100
A hot night from James Wiseman put the Detroit Pistons in the driver's seat late. But Tyler Herro’s heroics allowed the Miami Heat to escape Little Caesars Arena with a needed victory.
Herro scored eight points — including the dagger 3-pointer with 1:10 remaining — to help power a 12-0 run that allowed the Heat to clinch a 112-100 win Sunday night. Wiseman’s tip in with 4:20 remaining in the game gave the Pistons a 98-96 lead, but Miami’s run followed. Herro’s 3-pointer gave the Heat a 108-98 lead, and Wiseman's bucket ended up being Detroit's final field goal of the night. The Pistons were outscored 38-19 in the fourth quarter.
Wiseman finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds while making 10 of 13 shot attempts for the NBA-worst Pistons (16-56), who have lost 14 of 15. Killian Hayes also had a double-double with 13 points and 11 assists, and Cory Joseph (16 points), Rodney McGruder (15 points, nine rebounds), Marvin Bagley II (14 points) and Jaden Ivey (11 points, five assists) also reached double figures.
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Jimmy Butler led all scorers with 26 points and 10 assists, and Bam Adebayo added 22 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the Heat (39-34).
The Pistons started strong, shooting 13-for-20 in the first quarter, but went cold in the second quarter with a 5-for-19 performance. It allowed Miami to build an 11-point lead after a 13-2 run in the second quarter, before the Pistons answered with a 22-12 third-quarter run that helped them carry an 81-74 lead going into the final period. Detroit also finished cold, making just six of 19 shots in the final period. Ivey knocked down a pair of free throws with 58 seconds remaining for Detroit's final points of the night.
Jalen Duren left the game in the third quarter with a head injury. The Pistons' injury report is long, already without Cade Cunningham, Bojan Bogdanovic, Alec Burks, Isaiah Stewart, Isaiah Livers, Hamidou Diallo and R.J. Hampton. Hampton was listed as questionable before the game with low back spasms before being ruled out.
Wiseman thrives in two-big lineup; Duren exits with injury
The Pistons have wanted to play their young big men together frequently this season, but repeated injury issues have forced the coaching staff to shift course. Bagley’s return Sunday allowed coach Dwane Casey to start him alongside Wiseman, with Duren coming off the bench once again.
Wiseman found his rhythm in the third quarter, scoring 12 points in the period while showcasing his faceup game. He knocked down his lone 3-pointer of the night with 8:14 remaining in the third for a 56-55 lead, and added a midrange jumper a couple of minutes later.
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Wiseman also got a steady diet of second-chance opportunities, including a tipped-in missed 3-pointer from Joseph to give Detroit an 98-96 lead with 4:20 remaining in the fourth quarter. He continued rolling through the final period, scoring six points on 3-for-3 shooting, while playing as the Pistons' lone big on the floor during the final eight minutes and 38 seconds.
Duren played just nine minutes before exiting the game with 3:29 remaining in the third quarter after he was headbutted in the chin by Kevin Love while coming down from a jump. Both players were roughed up by the play, and Love needed four stitches.
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Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @omarisankofa.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: James Wiseman thrives, but Detroit Pistons scorched late by Heat
