Pistons-Heat Preview

By JEFF MEZYDLO
Posted Jan 24 2013 11:47AM

Minus Dwyane Wade, Miami's lengthy winning streak versus Detroit came to an end last month.

Based on the way Wade has performed in the last two games overall, the Heat might have a good chance to lay the foundation for another positive run against the Pistons.

Coming off his highest-scoring game of the season, Wade looks to help the Heat to a fourth consecutive victory when they host the Pistons on Friday night.

Wade's 20.5-point average is his lowest since his rookie season, but he's averaging 2.0 fewer shot attempts than last season and shooting a career-best 51.2 percent to remain a big reason why Miami (27-12) has the best record in the Eastern Conference.

He totaled 37 points while taking 28 shots over a three-game stretch before scoring 27 in a 99-90 road win over the Los Angeles Lakers last Thursday. Wade followed that with 35 points Wednesday to help the Heat rally from a 15-point first-half deficit for a 123-116 overtime victory against Toronto.

"I think I have been playing decent," said Wade, who is 24 of 39 (61.5 percent) from the field in the last two games. "I just want to stay focused and hope to have the ability to have more games like this."

Wade's performance, coupled with 31 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds from LeBron James and 18 points from Ray Allen, allowed the Heat to shake off the rust of a five-day layoff. Wade added seven assists, the last of which came on Allen's 3-pointer with 59.3 seconds left in overtime to seal the victory.

"It was set was up to be an excuse game," coach Erik Spoelstra said after the Heat's first home game in 17 days. "Hopefully the second half is more indicative of how we are playing now."

Serving a one-game suspension for flailing his leg and making contact with Charlotte's Ramon Sessions on Dec. 26, Wade missed a 109-99 loss at Detroit two nights later that snapped the Heat's seven-game series winning streak. Wade has played in only three of Miami's last seven meetings with the Pistons, scoring 24 points in each while shooting 55.3 percent.

James, who has averaged 31.8 points on 60.9 percent shooting in his last four games overall, scored 35 while Chris Bosh added 28 as the Heat allowed the Pistons to shoot a season-high 58.1 percent - including 12 of 19 from 3-point range - last month.

Miami has won five of six at home over Detroit (16-26), which was in excellent position for a third consecutive victory but blew a 17-point second-half lead in Wednesday's 85-82 loss at Chicago. The Pistons shot 36.6 percent in the final 24 minutes to fall to 4-15 on the road.

"Especially on the road, when things aren't going your way, we have to maintain our poise, our discipline, our execution on both ends to win the game," coach Lawrence Frank told the Pistons' official website. "We have to play with more poise and discipline down the stretch."

Will Bynum had 25 points and 10 assists to help Detroit's bench outscore the Heat reserves 64-20 last month.

Wade leads Heat past Pistons 110-88

By STEVEN WINE
Posted Jan 25 2013 11:43PM

MIAMI (AP) Dwyane Wade's fallaway jumper went swish as he skidded across the hardwood on his backside.

Lately he's scoring from all over the court.

Wade had 29 points and sparked a pivotal run to help the Miami Heat earn their fourth victory in a row Friday by beating the Detroit Pistons 110-88.

Wade began the night at 20.5 points per game, his lowest average since his rookie season in 2003-04. But he scored a season-high 35 points Wednesday in a win over Toronto, and had 23 in the first half against Detroit to put Miami ahead to stay.

"I'm just getting healthier," said Wade, who had left knee surgery last July. "I'm being more active. I feel in a lot better shape than I was early in the year. Lately I've been put in the right position to be aggressive."

After falling behind by nine points, the Heat outscored Detroit 26-4 during a seven-minute stretch in the second quarter to take a 60-47 lead. Wade scored 15 points during the spurt.

"You can see the spring in D-Wade's legs," teammate LeBron James said.

Despite several acrobatic baskets by Wade, the night's biggest cheer came when a 50-year-old computer technician from McHenry, Ill., made a half-court shot to win $75,000 and a hug from James.

As part of a contest sponsored by James' foundation, Michael Drysch sank a one-handed hook shot from midcourt between periods. James watched from the bench, and when the shot swished in, he happily sprinted at Drysch and embraced him, and both tumbled to the court.

"I was excited," James said. "I would have probably air-balled that one in that situation."

Wade sank some improbable shots, too, including a jumper when he was fouled, landed on his rear and slid toward the Heat bench.

James added 23 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Heat, who shot 56 percent. Over the past two seasons, they're 34-2 when shooting at least 50 percent.

On three successive possessions late in the first half, James and Wade took turns feeding each other. First, James threw an alley-oop pass to Wade for an easy layup.

The Heat then forced a turnover to start a fast break that ended with Wade's alley-oop pass to James for a dunk. Next came another Pistons turnover, and Wade flipped an underhand pass across the lane to James for another dunk and a 60-47 lead.

"They hit us, and we were playing catch-up," Detroit's Will Bynum said. "D-Wade took over, and LeBron was his usual self. It's just tough to defend when they're playing like that."

Miami, last in the NBA in rebounds, even won the battle of the boards, 36-35.

Greg Monroe scored 31 points for the Pistons, who never got close in the second half. They committed 19 turnovers, which led to 26 Miami points.

"You look what those turnovers turn into. They are hard to recover from," coach Lawrence Frank said. "Some of those turnovers were just dribbling the ball too much. We're not moving it where it needs to be moved."

Wade's final points came on a dunk to make it 99-79. He was then replaced by Chris Andersen, making his first appearance in an NBA game since playing with Denver last March. The veteran forward-center signed a 10-day deal with the Heat on Sunday.

Andersen, who played the final 3 1/2 minutes, had two points and two rebounds.

"To actually get on that court tonight, it was exhilarating," Andersen said.

The Heat got even for a loss at Detroit on Dec. 28. They improved to 18-3 at home, while the Pistons fell to 4-16 on the road.

Miami travels to Boston on Sunday for the first time since last year's Eastern Conference final. The Heat are in a stretch where they play 10 out of 12 games on the road.

"You would think," James said with a slight smile, "that winning an NBA championship would give you a better seed."

Notes: The Heat improved to 13-0 at home when leading at halftime. ... Detroit's Andre Drummond ranks among the league's top rookies in shooting (first), rebounds (second) and blocks (second). ... James' streak of reaching double figures in the first quarter ended at five games.

Notebook: Heat 110, Pistons 88

Zachary Paul, for NBA.com
Posted Fri Jan 25, 2013 10:57 PM - Updated Fri Jan 25, 2013 10:57 PM

THE FACTS: The Miami Heat defeated the Detroit Pistons 110-88 Friday at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Guard Dwyane Wade led the way with 29 points while LeBron James added 23 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Forward Chris Bosh finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.

The Heat trailed by nine in the second quarter before taking control behind Wade and James. The Heat shot 65 percent from the field in the decisive quarter, outscoring the Pistons 30-20. It was the Miami's third straight victory and it improved to 18-3 at home.

The Heat now leave for a four-game road trip that begins Sunday at Boston, the first time Ray Allen faces his former team at TD Bank Garden

Greg Monroe led the Pistons with 31 points.

QUOTABLE: "He had a very productive week as well. He's really been working ... The practice days we had earlier in the week , we had an 11 o'clock practice on Tuesday and he was in her by 8:45. It surprised me."
-- Heat coach Erik Spoelstra on Wade's work ethic this week. He averaged 32 points in two wins.

THE STAT: Wade and James shot 11 of 13 and combined for 26 points in the decisive second quarter. They alone outscored the Pistons in the quarter.

TURNING POINT: Trailing 43-34, the Heat went on a 26-4 run midway through the second quarter.

QUOTABLE II: "When they score 60 (points) in the first half, it is going to be hard for us to maintain that type of shooting. We just gave up so many easy baskets and too many opportunities in the paint."
-- Pistons coach Lawrence Frank.

HOT: Wade continues to light it up from the field. This was his third consecutive strong game, showing signs that he's finally healthy. He scored 23 points in the first half.

NOT: The Pistons defense in the second quarter was almost non-existent. The Heat scored 30 points while shooting 13 of 20 from field. Several of the baskets came on easy layups and dunks.

GOOD MOVE: The Heat once again proved they turn it on when they want. After yet another sluggish start, they got things going in the second quarter. For a quarter, it looked like the Pistons were headed toward another upset but reality quickly set in once Wade and James got going.

BAD MOVE: The Pistons were in trouble once it was evident they were unable to stop any of the Big Three. Wade, James and Bosh all had big games, which usually means a loss for the opposition.

NOTABLE: Fan Michael Drysch, of McHenry, Ill., won $75,000 after making a halfcourt shot before the start of the fourth quarter... Heat forward Chris Andersen made his debut, playing the final three minutes after the outcome was already decided.

UP NEXT: For the Heat, Sunday @ Celtics, Wednesday @ Nets, Friday @ Pacers. For the Pistons, Sunday @ Magic, Tuesday vs. Bucks, Wednesday @ Pacers.

• Pistons: Kravtsov, Middleton
• Heat: Pittman, Varnado

• Pistons: --
• Heat: --

• Lead Changes: 14
• Times Tied: 7

• Arena: American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
• Officials: #49 Tom Washington, #12 Violet Palmer, #52 Scott Twardoski
• Attendance: 20236
• Duration: 2:11