DETROIT — Norman Powell carried the Miami Heat on Thursday night, scoring a game-high 36 points to lift the visitors to a 118-112 victory over the Detroit Pistons, extending Miami’s winning streak to four games and asserting their dominance early in the new year.
Bam Adebayo added a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds, providing the Heat with the inside presence and defensive stability that proved crucial against a Pistons squad desperate to keep pace.
From the outset, Miami imposed its will on both ends of the floor, forcing Detroit into hurried shots, contested 3-pointers, and a style of play that exposed the Pistons’ ongoing struggles with consistency and perimeter shooting.
Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 31 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds, demonstrating his scoring versatility and playmaking ability, though even his high-level production could not overcome the Heat’s methodical execution and defensive pressure.
Marcus Sasser contributed 18 points off the bench, while Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren provided complementary scoring, but Detroit’s depth was hampered by inconsistency, particularly in critical stretches of the second half.
Miami’s early dominance was evident by halftime, as the Heat held a 63-54 lead, largely due to Powell’s sharpshooting, hitting five of eight 3-pointers and energizing his teammates with every confident drive and midrange jumper.
The Heat’s defensive rebounding was another key factor, grabbing 22 of 24 available boards in the first half and denying Detroit the second-chance opportunities that often keep struggling teams in contention despite poor outside shooting.
The third quarter served as a defining moment, as Miami opened with a 15-2 run, extending its lead to 22 points while Detroit missed its first seven shots and committed multiple turnovers that highlighted their inability to adjust under pressure.
Paul Reed offered a bright spot for the Pistons’ reserves, scoring six points and grabbing five rebounds in the period, but even his efforts were not enough to halt Miami’s offensive momentum and suppress the Heat’s balanced attack.
Entering the final minutes of the game, Detroit remained down 114-103 with two minutes left, but a late surge gave the home team hope as they scored six straight points, trimming the deficit to just five points and igniting a tense finish.
Javonte Green made a critical 3-pointer to bring the Pistons within two points with under a minute remaining, exemplifying Detroit’s late-game resilience despite fatigue and Miami’s pressure defense.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. then converted a short jumper to push Miami back ahead, and a costly turnover by Ausar Thompson forced the Pistons into fouling, setting the stage for Powell to clinch the victory with a pair of clutch free throws — his first points of the fourth quarter.
Andrew Wiggins contributed 17 points for Miami, complementing Powell and Jaquez while adding defensive versatility and scoring efficiency, a combination that allowed the Heat to maintain their edge during Detroit’s brief comeback attempt.
The Pistons’ inability to secure offensive rebounds early in the game proved pivotal, as they relied heavily on outside shooting, making just 20 percent of their first-half three-pointers and struggling to generate rhythm against Miami’s disciplined rotation.
Powell’s performance highlighted not only his scoring prowess but also his ability to influence the game’s pace, creating opportunities for teammates, stretching the floor, and maintaining composure under the bright lights of Little Caesars Arena.
Detroit’s challenges were magnified by lapses in defensive execution and insufficient pressure on Miami’s ball-handlers, allowing the Heat to initiate fast breaks and high-percentage scoring opportunities that widened the gap in the second half.
The back-and-forth nature of the late fourth quarter, however, revealed that the Pistons are far from a non-competitive team, as their young core pushed the tempo and displayed resilience despite Miami’s experienced roster and strategic depth.
Miami now turns its attention to Saturday’s home matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves, aiming to extend its streak and maintain the cohesion that has allowed them to climb in confidence heading into the New Year.
Detroit, meanwhile, will travel to Cleveland on Sunday, seeking to recalibrate and find consistency, particularly in their perimeter shooting and defensive rotations, as Cade Cunningham and his supporting cast look to build momentum for upcoming games.
The Heat’s performance exemplifies a combination of veteran savvy, offensive versatility, and defensive discipline, a formula that has enabled them to withstand challenges and close out tight games while keeping opponents on the back foot.
Powell’s hot hand, coupled with Adebayo’s inside dominance, has transformed Miami into a balanced threat capable of both perimeter shooting and paint control, a duality that Detroit found difficult to counter despite spirited individual efforts.
Ultimately, the Heat’s victory showcased a team firing on all cylinders, leveraging depth, timing, and strategic execution to overcome a Pistons roster rich in talent but inconsistent in execution during critical stretches.
For Detroit, the loss underscores areas requiring attention: offensive rebounding, three-point efficiency, and late-game decision-making, particularly if the Pistons hope to convert close games into wins against playoff-caliber teams.
Meanwhile, Miami continues to demonstrate why it is a team to watch this season, blending star performances with bench contributions and a defensive system capable of neutralizing individual talent while creating high-percentage scoring chances.
Thursday night’s game served as a microcosm of the Heat’s season trajectory — disciplined, opportunistic, and resilient — while simultaneously highlighting Detroit’s growing pains and the potential of its young core to develop into a formidable opponent.
