Miami Heat-Detroit Pistons Preview: Can Heat Beat Pistons Twice In Three Nights?
After four straight losses, the Miami Heat (36-30) bounced back against the Detroit Pistons (12-54) on Friday night.
The Heat won 108-95 in the first of two consecutive games between the teams.
Heat star Bam Adebayo broke his slump with 22 points (10 of 14 from the field) and nine rebounds while Caleb Martin impressed with 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists off the bench.
Detroit was led by Simone Fontecchio’s 24 points, including five 3-pointers. Jalen Duren tormented the Heat once again, finishing with 15 points (7 of 9 from the field) and 17 rebounds.
Previous Matchups
Sunday is the fourth and final matchup between the teams, with the Heat winning the previous three.
Co-stars Adebayo and Jimmy Butler have led the Heat in the season series thus far.
Adebayo is averaging 20.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 56.8 percent.
Butler is averaging 19.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists while shooting 42.9 percent. The 34-year-old also hit a dagger three-pointer late in Game 2.
The promising duo of Duren and Cade Cunningham have been the story for Detroit.
Duren is averaging 15.3 points and 13.7 rebounds while shooting an absurd 80.0 percent. He has posted a double-double in each game.
Cunningham struggled on Friday night, scoring just 11 points on 33.3 percent shooting and 0 of 4 from three. However, the former first-overall pick scored 30 and 23 points in Games 1 and 2, respectively.
Opposing Players to Watch
Cunningham is the future of the Pistons. The 22-year-old is averaging 22.5 points, 7.5 assists and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 45.0 percent and 35.6 percent from three. Despite his poor performance in his last game, the 6-foot-6 point guard has played solid recently. He averaged 26.5 points, 8.8 assists and 5.6 rebounds over his last four games before Friday’s loss.
Duren has the potential to be the NBA’s next dominant big man. He is averaging 14.1 points and 12.0 rebounds (5th in NBA) while shooting 63.7 percent (5th). The 20-year-old has three 20-point, 20-rebound games this season and double-doubles in five of his last six games.
Key Matchup
Jalen Duren vs. Bam Adebayo
These are two of the most athletic big men in the NBA, and both have played at an high level against each other.
While Cunningham and Butler have been inconsistent over the season series, Duren and Adebayo have been solid throughout.
Both the Heat and Pistons should heavily rely on their young big men, despite them not being their team’s usual “first option” when it comes to scoring.
Nick Crandell is a staff contributor at Inside the Heat.
He can be reached at nick.crandell33@gmail.com or follow him on Instagram @nickcrandell
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