Heat at Pistons
THE STORY: If the Miami Heat are worried about overlooking the host Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night, all their players need to do to keep from getting too complacent is glance back at their past two games. Following three convincing victories – over San Antonio, the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia – Miami turned in one of its worst efforts of the season in a 91-82 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. After watching his team register a season low in points and commit 22 turnovers, coach Erik Spoelstra opted to give the Heat a day off Monday. Miami continued to struggle despite holding off visiting Cleveland on Tuesday night. The Pistons looked like they could use an extended rest after absorbing a 99-79 beating at Oklahoma City on Monday night. Detroit fell behind by 30 points in the first half en route to its 11th defeat in 13 games.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Sunshine, FSW
ABOUT THE HEAT (12-5): Chris Bosh has had plenty of up-and-down moments as the third wheel of Miami’s famed Big 3, but he’s more than held up his end while star guard Dwyane Wade has been sidelined by injury. Bosh erupted for 35 points – matching his high with the Heat – in Tuesday’s 92-85 win over the Cavaliers. Wade missed his fifth consecutive game with a sprained ankle, but Bosh has answered the bell with three 30-point efforts in that stretch.
ABOUT THE PISTONS (4-14): Sometimes statistics can be deceiving, but in Detroit's case they reveal many of the reasons for the team's struggles. The Pistons are last in the league in scoring (84.9 per game), rebounding (37.5) and blocked shots (3.7), and next-to-last in opponents' field-goal percentage (47.4). Injuries are also starting to pile up, particularly in the backcourt. Rodney Stuckey aggravated a groin injury Monday and starter Ben Gordon has missed the last two with a sore shoulder.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Detroit has yet to score 100 points, the longest such stretch to open a season by any team in NBA history.
2. The Heat have won the last four meetings and nine of the last 10.