In a night filled with nostalgia, the Miami Heat honored their franchise icon, Dwyane Wade, and capped it with a 106-98 victory over the Detroit Pistons. Led by Jimmy Butler’s 23 points and seven assists, the Heat held off Detroit’s challenges in a closely contested game that saw contributions across their roster. The game took place on the 21st anniversary of Wade’s NBA debut, with a halftime ceremony celebrating the recent unveiling of his statue outside the arena, adding a special touch to Miami’s third game of the season.
Jimmy Butler set the tone for Miami with his all-around performance, while Terry Rozier added 20 points, including a pivotal four-point play in the second quarter that helped the Heat pull ahead. Tyler Herro had an efficient outing with 19 points, and Bam Adebayo added a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. also contributed 12 points, showcasing Miami’s depth and versatility.
The Detroit Pistons were led by Cade Cunningham, who finished with 24 points. He made his first seven shots, helping Detroit stay competitive, but struggled later, shooting just 2-for-11 after the break. Tim Hardaway Jr. added 20 points, Jaden Ivey contributed 18, and Isaiah Stewart pulled down 15 rebounds as Detroit tried to match Miami’s energy. However, their efforts fell short, and the Pistons dropped to 0-4 for the third time in the last five seasons.
Pistons: Cunningham’s early shooting success kept Detroit close, but his production tapered off as Miami tightened up defensively in the second half. Despite strong rebounding from Stewart, Detroit struggled offensively, shooting just 38% from the field and failing to maintain momentum.
Heat: Miami’s third-quarter woes continued, as they were outscored 26-14 in the frame, continuing a trend that began in the season opener. Still, they managed to recover, and a key stretch came at the start of the fourth quarter, where Miami scored 12 straight points to build a lead they would not relinquish.
Late in the second quarter, Cunningham’s 3-pointer trimmed Miami’s lead to 50-46, but he fouled Rozier on a 3-point attempt on the next play, leading to a four-point play that swung the momentum back in Miami’s favor. The Heat finished the half up 64-53, providing enough of a cushion to withstand Detroit’s second-half rally.
Miami’s 12-0 run to open the fourth quarter proved crucial as they held off Detroit’s efforts to claw back into the game.
Both teams return to action on Wednesday. Detroit heads to Philadelphia for a matchup against the 76ers, marking Tobias Harris’ first game against Detroit since early 2019. Meanwhile, Miami will host the New York Knicks as they continue their early-season homestand.
