Skip to main content

Miami faces Detroit on 3-game win streak

Miami Heat (18-15, seventh in the Eastern Conference) vs. Detroit Pistons (24-8, first in the Eastern Conference)

Detroit; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Miami will attempt to continue its three-game win streak with a victory against Detroit.

The Pistons have gone 17-5 against Eastern Conference teams. Detroit leads the Eastern Conference averaging 58.1 points in the paint. Jalen Duren leads the Pistons with 13.4.

The Heat are 11-10 in conference matchups. Miami ranks second in the Eastern Conference scoring 55.7 points per game in the paint led by Jaime Jaquez Jr. averaging 11.3.

The Pistons average 11.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.0 fewer makes per game than the Heat allow (14.0). The Heat average 13.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.2 more makes per game than the Pistons allow.

The two teams match up for the second time this season. The Pistons defeated the Heat 138-135 in their last matchup on Nov. 30. Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 29 points, and Andrew Wiggins led the Heat with 31 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Cunningham is averaging 26.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 9.6 assists and 1.5 steals for the Pistons. Duren is averaging 18 points and 14 rebounds over the past 10 games.

Norman Powell is scoring 23.8 points per game and averaging 4.0 rebounds for the Heat. Nikola Jovic is averaging 22.0 points and 4.0 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pistons: 7-3, averaging 120.0 points, 46.8 rebounds, 28.1 assists, 10.5 steals and 6.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.2 points per game.

Heat: 4-6, averaging 116.8 points, 45.5 rebounds, 26.4 assists, 9.6 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.8 points.

INJURIES: Pistons: Tobias Harris: day to day (hip), Caris LeVert: day to day (knee).

Heat: Pelle Larsson: day to day (ankle), Tyler Herro: day to day (toe).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

The arrival of AJ Dybantsa gives Wizards hope

For the first time in almost a half-century, the Washington Wizards could be closer to contending for an NBA title with the arrival of AJ Dybantsa. The team drafted the 6-foot-9 forward with the first pick of the 2026 NBA draft after finishing as one of the worst teams in the league in the past three years. They got the No. 1 overall pick after winning the draft lottery in May for the first time since 2010 -- when they drafted John Wall. The Wizards hope, with the arrival of Dybantsa, that they can start winning games and competing for the playoffs with a chance to win their first championship since 1978. In the past three seasons, they finished with a combined record of 50-196. “We’re definitely getting a difference maker on the basketball court. There’s no doubt about that,” Wizards general manager Will Dawkins said. “What I would want our fans to know night one is that he is a worker. He is a passionate person who loves basketball and will continue to work and get better.”
Read Next Story