MIAMI — The undersized and undermanned Miami Heat stretched its home winning streak to a season-best five games, defeating the Detroit Pistons 109-102 on Sunday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Shooting guard Dwyane Wade scored a game-high 40 points to lead Miami, which had just nine healthy players available in the second half.
It was Wade’s sixth 30-plus scoring game of the season, and it was just short of his season high of 42 points. Wade scored 19 of his points in the fourth quarter.
Miami, playing without four injured 6-foot-10 or taller big men, Chris Bosh, Josh McRoberts, Hassan Whiteside and Chris Andersen, somehow managed to outrebound Detroit 46-37.
The Heat (34-39) finally squared its home record at 18-18.
Detroit (28-45) had its four-game win streak snapped.
Miami started 6-9 small forward Luol Deng at power forward and moved 6-9 power Udonis Haslem to center, where he battled Detroit’s 6-11, 280-pound Andre Drummond, who is second in the NBA in rebounds. Drummond outweighs Haslem by 45 pounds.
To further complicate things for Miami, Deng left the game in the second quarter due to a right-knee injury and finished with just four points in 18 minutes.
In addition, Heat 6-9 forward Michael Beasley also left the game in the second quarter due to a left-elbow injury and finished with four points in seven minutes.
But, besides Wade, the Heat got key contributions from Haslem, who had a season-high 18 points to go with a season-high 13 rebounds; and rookie forward James Ennis, who came off the bench to score a career-high 16 points.
In addition, reserve guard Mario Chalmers, who moved into fourth place on the Heat’s all-time assist list, passing Bimbo Coles, grabbed a season-high nine rebounds to go with 11 points.
Drummond led Detroit with his 41st double-double of the season — 32 points and 14 rebounds. Guard Reggie Jackson added 31 points and 9 assists.
Detroit led 27-25 after the first quarter as Joel Anthony scored on a tip-in just before the buzzer. Detroit led by as many as eight points in the period, outshooting the Heat 54.5 percent to 42.3 percent.
Miami took its first lead of the game in the second period and stretched its advantage to nine points before settling for a 49-44 edge at the break. Miami outshot Detroit 50 percent to 27.8 percent in the second quarter.
The Heat led by as many as 17 points in the third quarter, but Detroit rallied by shooting 50 percent in the period. Miami hung on, though, and entered the fourth quarter leading 71-65.
Miami held off Detroit in the fourth quarter thanks to Wade, who hit 11 free throws and added four field goals in the period.
NOTES: Heat SG Dwyane Wade got the start despite having fluid drained from his left knee on Saturday. During the Heat’s just-completed 1-3 road trip, Wade missed one game and averaged 15 points — six below his season’s norm — in the three others. … Heat C Hassan Whiteside has a significant laceration on his right hand that could keep him out for the rest of the regular season. … Heat C Chris Andersen (bruised left calf) missed his third straight game. … Detroit F/C Greg Monroe (knee injury) missed his seventh straight game but vows to return before this season ends. Monroe, averaging 16.0 points and 10.4 rebounds this season, will be an unrestricted free agent in July. … PG Brandon Jennings (torn left Achilles tendon) is out for the season. … Recently acquired Pistons PG Reggie Jackson will also be a free agent in July. … Detroit has a heavy ex-Heat flavor, including coach Stan Van Gundy, assistant Tim Hardaway, F Shawne Williams, F Caron Butler and C Joel Anthony.
