Watch CBS News

Pistons Struggle Without Rose & Griffin, Lose In Miami

MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler knows this Miami Heat team can get much better.

That being said, he's quite happy with the start.

 

Miami Heat v Atlanta Hawks
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 31: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat reacts after a dunk against the Atlanta Hawks in the first half at State Farm Arena on October 31, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

 

Butler scored 11 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, added 13 assists and the Miami Heat wasted most of what was a 29-point lead before hanging on to beat the shorthanded Detroit Pistons 117-108 on Tuesday night.

"We want it to be tough to come here and play," Butler said. "We don't want people to come here and want to play the Miami Heat. We don't want people to want to play the Miami Heat, home or away."

Kendrick Nunn also had 20 for Miami, while Bam Adebayo scored 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for the Heat. Goran Dragic also had 18 points for the Heat (7-3), who matched the third-best 10-game start in Heat history.

 

Memphis Grizzlies v Miami Heat
MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 23: Kendrick Nunn #25 of the Miami Heat reacts after a three pointer against the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half at American Airlines Arena on October 23, 2019 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

 

Butler's 13-assist, zero-turnover game was the fifth in Heat history and the first since Dwyane Wade had one in 2009.

Luke Kennard was 0 for 7 in the first half, but recovered to score 22 for Detroit. Andre Drummond had 16 points and nine rebounds before fouling out, and Christian Wood added 16 for the Pistons — who never led, but made the second half plenty interesting by getting as close as seven late.

 

Detroit Pistons v Indiana Pacers
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - OCTOBER 23: Luke Kennard #5 of the Detroit Pistons celebrates after making a three point shot against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on October 23, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

 

"NBA basketball games are long," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "And you have to play all the way through to the end. ... But these are good experiences for our team."

Detroit held Blake Griffin (hamstring, knee) and Derrick Rose (hamstring) out, not wanting to play either on a back-to-back after both played Monday.

 

Minnesota Timberwolves v Detroit Pistons
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 11: Derrick Rose #25 of the Detroit Pistons smiles while playing the Minnesota Timberwolves at Little Caesars Arena on November 11, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Minnesota won the game 120-114. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

 

That wasn't the Pistons' only issue.

Record snow — Detroit's biggest November storm ever, according to the National Weather Service, with 9.2 inches as the official mark and some suburbs reporting more than a foot — made just getting to Miami a problem for the Pistons, who played Monday night at home and then were hoping to be airborne sometime in the 11 p.m. hour.

The Pistons didn't leave their airport gate in Detroit until 2:40 a.m., got in the air 10 minutes later and were at their gate at Miami International Airport at 5:34 a.m. That was more than four hours behind their intended schedule.

"Whether we got in at 11 o'clock last night or 5 o'clock this morning, we've got to have that type of toughness and that type of resilience versus adversity that we haven't exhibited so far this year," Pistons coach Dwane Casey said.

He saw plenty of that.

 

Minnesota Timberwolves v Detroit Pistons
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 11: Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons reacts to a missed shot against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Little Caesars Arena on November 11, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Minnesota won the game 120-114. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

 

Detroit got down by as many as 29 in the first half, going into the break trailing 59-37. The Pistons got it down to 13 in the third, only to see Miami push the margin back out to 20 entering the fourth.

Miami's lead was 15 when Drummond fouled out early in the fourth and it still wasn't over. Kennard made a 3-pointer with about 2 minutes left to get the Pistons within 111-103, but the Heat escaped.

"They came out ready to go from the jump and we were relaxing and let them punch us in the face," Pistons guard Bruce Brown said.

TIP-INS

Pistons: The 22-point halftime deficit was the second-largest Detroit has ever faced against Miami. The Pistons trailed the Heat 59-36 at the break of a game in 2012. .. Detroit came into the night shooting a league-best 41% from 3-point range. The Pistons shot 15 of 41 from deep on Tuesday.

Heat: The 1999-2000 and 2011-12 Heat teams were 8-2. There have been eight others to start 7-3, the most recent before now being 2013-14. ... Meyers Leonard has started all 10 games this season, the first time he's had that long a starting streak in his career.

HASLEM PLAYS

Udonis Haslem got in for the first time this season, making this officially his 17th year with the Heat. Miami was without Justise Winslow (concussion), James Johnson (sick), Tyler Herro (ankle), Derrick Jones Jr. (hip), KZ Okpala (Achilles) and Dion Waiters (suspended).

HOME COOKING

The Heat are 4-0 at home for the first time since 2012-13. They haven't trailed at home at any point in their last 11-1/2 quarters, going back to a 10-9 deficit against Atlanta — a total of 136 minutes, 9 seconds.

UP NEXT

Pistons: Visit Charlotte on Friday.

Heat: Visit Cleveland on Thursday.

 

© 2019 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.