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Heat hope for 11 in a row with Detroit in town

Dec 3, 2013 - 3:31 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Miami Heat know a lot about putting together lengthy winning streaks and are currently on one right now.

The two-time defending NBA champion Heat look to extend their winning streak to 11 games when they host the Detroit Pistons Tuesday at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Miami made it 10 wins in a row with Sunday's 99-98 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats and overcame a double-digit deficit in the second half thanks to Chris Bosh's sharp shooting in the fourth quarter. Bosh made three straight 3- pointers from the top of the arc in a span on 79 seconds and scored 13 points during the surge, finishing with 22 points.

"It kind of just happened," Bosh said. "I was wide open so I figured I would take a step back and in the words of our late teammate Mike Miller, 'let it fly.' That was really it."

LeBron James battled a balk back to score a team-high 26 points, Dwyane Wade netted 17 and Mario Chalmers finished with 12 points for Miami, which had a 38-25 advantage in the final period after a 14-point third quarter and hasn't lost since Nov. 9 to Boston at home. The Heat are 9-1 in south Florida, where they have ripped off six straight victories.

The Heat will open a four-game road trip Thursday against Chicago, Minnesota, Detroit and Indiana.

Detroit will play three in a row on the road against the Heat, Bucks and Bulls, and went 2-2 on a recent homestand. The residency culminated with Sunday's 115-100 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, as Andre Drummond had his way with the visitors for 31 points, 19 rebounds and six steals.

Drummond has 12 double-doubles in 17 games this season and became the first player since Hakeem Olajuwon 23 years ago to post that many points, rebounds and steals in a game, according to media reports.

"I'm worried about what's happening now and what's going on today," Drummond said after going 12-of-15 from the field. "It was a great win, but we've got to focus. We've got another one on Tuesday and Wednesday. Today is over. You can celebrate, but for so long."

Sixers rookie Michael Carter-Williams was impressed with Drummond.

"He's tough. He's big, he can rebound, he's athletic, and he works hard," Carter-Williams said. "When you're that big and you work that hard, that's a good combination. He's a great player. He did a good job of finishing tonight."

Brandon Jennings had 20 points and 12 assists, while Josh Smith netted 20 points and Rodney Stuckey added 17 for the Pistons, who ended a two-game slide and won for the third time in five tries. Detroit managed to win despite its 23 turnovers and scored 25 points off of 20 Philadelphia miscues.

The Pistons will try to work on their 2-5 road mark in Miami.

"Right now, it doesn't get any easier," Jennings said. "We're a month into the season and we've got to keep on pushing. We've got to turn the corner right now. No excuses."

Detroit and Miami will play the first of four meetings this season and the Heat took two of three meetings a season ago. Miami has won nine of 10 and 14 of the last 16 contests with Detroit, losers in five straight at the Heat.