Heat withstand late Pistons charge to secure fourth straight victory
Alta Sports3 months ago · 256 views
Photo: Getty Images
By Rafael Bandayrel
The Miami Heat stunned the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons, 118-112, during their 2025-26 NBA regular season clash on Friday morning (PH time) at Little Caesars Arena.
Norman Powell powered the Heat with 36 points, while Jaime Jaquez Jr. poured in 19 markers. Andrew Wiggins also provided a lift for the visiting side, adding 17 points.
The Heat found their groove early, dictating the tempo and establishing a double-figure lead heading into the final frame. While the Pistons trimmed the deficit to single digits multiple times in the fourth, Miami consistently regained control by knocking down timely buckets.
The drama intensified with under two minutes remaining as Ausar Thompson forced his way inside the paint to earn a trip to the line. He split his free throws to trim the Miami lead to 114-104. Cade Cunningham then fueled the home crowd by nailing a clutch triple to bring Detroit within seven, 114-107.
A defensive stop set the stage for a rapid fastbreak as Thompson finished a powerful jam to make it 114-109 with 1:06 left, before Javonte Green turned it into a two-point game with a clutch three-pointer.
With the momentum swinging, Jaquez Jr. finally stopped the bleeding by nailing a short jumper to restore a two-possession cushion.
In the final seconds, Detroit threw away a crucial inbounds pass, forcing them to send Powell to the line. Powell calmly sank the free throws to make it a six-point lead, effectively sealing the win for the Heat.
The victory pushed the Heat to 19-15 as they extended their winning streak to four games. Miami will look to keep the streak alive when they face the Minnesota Timberwolves next. Meanwhile, the Pistons (25-9) will look to bounce back when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday.
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