Jimmy Butler III scored 23 points (12 in the paint), and the Miami Heat went on a 15-0 run that bridged the third and fourth quarters to beat the Detroit Pistons 106-98.
The Pistons led 79-75 with 1:05 left in the third quarter. Thomas Bryant’s free throw put the Heat ahead for good with 11:48 left in the fourth quarter. They pulled away to a 90-79 lead with 10:09 left.
The Pistons got within 90-87 on Tim Hardaway Jr.’s 3 free throws with 7:04 to play, but Tyler Herro answered with a 3-pointer, and the Pistons got no closer.
Terry Rozier scored 20 points (10 in the second quarter) with 5 3-pointers. Herro assisted on 5 of Rozier’s 7 baskets, 2 of them in the fourth quarter.
For the Pistons, Cade Cunningham had 24 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists, and Malik Beasley went 1 for 7 from 3. Hardaway scored 20 points. Jalen Duren had 10 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks.
The Heat shot 43.2% from the field to the Pistons’ 38.5%.