Heat 100 - 94 Pistons
Final
  for this game

Heat rally in 4th to beat Pistons

Mar 24, 2011 - 4:06 AM Auburn Hills, MI (Sports Network) - Dwyane Wade scored 24 points, Chris Bosh had 23 and LeBron James added 19 as the Miami Heat buckled down in the fourth quarter for a 100-94 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

Miami, after trailing by as many as 11, closed the game on a 30-13 run that began when Mike Miller buried a three-pointer at the end of the third quarter.

"You have to give the Pistons some credit," said Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra. "They gave us everything we could handle."

Miller scored 13 and the surging Heat improved to 6-1 since their five-game losing streak.

They remained No. 3 in the Eastern Conference, but moved within 1 1/2 games of Boston for second place and within 2 1/2 games of idle Chicago for first. The Celtics lost to Memphis on Wednesday.

Richard Hamilton scored 27 points to lead the Pistons, who have lost two in a row and seven of their last 10.

Detroit had a three-game home winning streak snapped, but not without a fight -- even if that fight only lasted three quarters.

Miller's three-pointer, which pulled Miami within 81-73 heading into the fourth quarter, followed two Hamilton free throws that had given Detroit an 11-point lead.

The Pistons, suddenly stagnant in the face of better defensive pressure by the Heat, wouldn't score again for more than six minutes of game time.

Meanwhile, the Heat took control. The biggest part of their 30-13 run came in an 18-0 chunk during Detroit's cold spell, giving them an 88-81 lead with 6:43 remaining in the game.

The burst included James' left-handed drive through the paint to make it 82-81, giving Miami its first lead since 8-7 in the opening quarter. The Heat never trailed after that, going behind by as many as nine down the stretch.

They held Detroit to 4-of-19 shooting (21 percent) in a fourth quarter they ended up winning 27-13.

"We were able to get some stops," said Spoelstra, emphasizing the defensive effort. "There is no easy way in this league. If you don't bring your best effort on that side of the floor, then [falling behind] can happen to you."

Miami went 4-0 against the Pistons this season, the first time since 2000-01 it has swept the season series.

"It doesn't matter who you're playing," said James, "you have to execute."

Game Notes

Detroit led 27-21 after the first quarter and 55-53 at halftime...James, who ended 8-of-16 from the floor, failed in his bid to score at least 30 points in three straight games for the first time in a Heat uniform...The Heat have already clinched a playoff berth.






Related News