Pistons defeated Heat 123-121 thanks to Chris Webber technique

by Junna Base November 13, 2024

The Detroit Pistons led by nine points with just under two minutes left. Tyler Herro struck afterward.

The Miami Heat winner knocked down three big 3-pointers to tie the game at 111 with 32 seconds left, the third coming after a Pistons turnover. This sent the game into overtime after the Pistons’ ensuing possession ended with another turnover by Cade Cunningham and a foul on the ball. Herro’s game-winning attempt from mid-range at the buzzer missed.

Malik Beasley, Cade Cunningham Jalen Duren and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra ultimately saved the night for the Pistons – Beasley with a 3 that tied the game at 119 with 40.9 seconds left, Cunningham and Duren with an inbounds alley-oop, to tie the game at 121 after another clutch push from Herro and finally Spoelstra with a timeout the Heat didn’t have.

Beasley knocked down the technical free throw and split the ensuing pass to the finish line, giving the Pistons (5-7) a wild 123-121 win. Cunningham and Beasley led them with 21 points each, and Cunningham added nine assists, seven rebounds and seven turnovers.

Cunningham had eight assists and two turnovers before a turnover-prone stretch ended the game. In addition to a turnover with 21.2 seconds left that almost decided the game in the fourth, he scored three goals in overtime – the third allowing the Heat to take a 118-116 lead. Cunningham nearly saved the ball with a chase-down block against Michigan alumnus Duncan Robinson, but Robinson recovered the rebound and put it in.

Herro led the Heat, who were without Jimmy Butler, with 40 points.

Duren, returning to the starting lineup after missing two games with a sprained left ankle, missed two free throws that would have tied the game before Beasley scored the equalizer. Cunningham nearly committed a fourth down, losing the ball on a drive before forcing a jump ball with Adebayo. The center appeared to grab Cunningham’s arm as he jumped, but it wasn’t called.

What followed was a potentially game-winning mid-range jumper from Herro that gave the Heat the lead, before a series of crucial plays followed at the end. Tim Hardaway Jr. left the game in the third quarter after taking a hit to the head.

The Pistons started the night hot on both ends, opening the game with a 10-0 run and leading by 18 points early in the second quarter. A 23-6 run followed, helped by them going 6-13 from three in the second period after shooting just 2-8 in the first. They knocked down five 3s during the run and briefly took a one-point lead before the Pistons tied the game at 47 points.

On the other hand, the Pistons were just 4 of 19 from 3 in the first half. But Hardaway Jr. and Stewart helped the Pistons regain the lead 57-51 at halftime, with two layups from the latter and a three-pointer – plus a goalie from Bam Adebayo – from the former. Stewart made two energetic plays and deflected a missed shot after throwing the ball to himself twice before completing a layup in transition off a pass from Cunningham just before the halftime buzzer.

They finally found a rhythm from 3 in the second half and knocked down 6 of 12 attempts in the third half. A 3 by Simone Fontecchio with 33 seconds on the clock sparked a 10-0 run that increased their lead to 14, 96-82, early in the fourth period. It wasn’t enough to end the game as Herro made three crucial 3s to send the game into overtime.

Pistons win first NBA Cup game

It was the first of four group play games for the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup, formerly known as the in-season tournament. The Pistons officially unveiled their specialty spot for the tournament. Blue circles with black outlines could be seen on the main square, with one of the team’s brand slogans written at the bottom: “In It For My City.”

Before the game, JB Bickerstaff said the tournament’s heightened atmosphere would provide good learning experiences for a young basketball team that hasn’t played much high-stakes basketball.

“That’s a conversation we’ve had among our coaches. This is great for our guys,” he said. This seasonal tournament gives our boys, especially our young boys who haven’t had to play in many meaningful basketball games, an opportunity to play in meaningful basketball games. Understanding that possessions are more important, turnovers, rebounds, execution, all of those things are more important in meaningful basketball games.

“This is a great opportunity for our guys to experience that against a really good basketball team that has played in a lot of these games.”

The Pistons learned a lesson the hard way with their late turnovers, but ultimately they passed the test.

Hardaway’s status unknown after head injury

Hardaway, who tried to attack Adebayo, was elbowed in the mouth, fell and appeared to be in pain when he got back up. Then, during the same defensive possession, he attempted to launch an attack on Herro, fell and was elbowed in the head by Duren as the big man went down after diving. Hardaway’s head also hit the ground on the way down.

He lay bleeding on the ground for several minutes while surrounded by teammates and the Pistons’ medical staff. With help, he tried to stand up, but sat back down before a wheelchair was brought out for him. He left the game with 8:46 remaining in the third period.

The veteran has been one of the Pistons’ best players so far, starting all 12 games and averaging 12.6 points on 47% shooting from 3. He also leads the NBA with six shots.

Contact Omari Sankofa II at [email protected]. Follow him @omarisankofa.

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