Jackson, Drummond burn Heat in Pistons' win
MIAMI -- Reggie Jackson scored 27 points, Andre Drummond added 25 points and 18 rebounds and the Detroit Pistons beat the Miami Heat 107-98 on Sunday.
The Pistons (16-20) trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half and took their first lead at 75-73 on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's jumper with 4:01 remaining in the third period to cap a 11-0 run. Caldwell-Pope finished with 23 points, including 15 in the second half.
Detroit extended their lead after a second 11-0 surge during the final minute of the third and first three minutes of the fourth. Andre Drummond's hook shot with 9:42 remaining in the fourth capped the run and gave the Pistons their first double-digit lead at 91-81.
Tobias Harris finished with 17 points for the Pistons.
Playing without injured starters Hassan Whiteside, Goran Dragic and Justise Winslow, Miami (10-25) shot 65 percent from the field in the first half but was held scoreless the first 5:07 of the fourth quarter.
James Johnson's 3-pointer with 2:45 remaining brought Miami within 100-94 before Jackson's two free throws and Harris' technical free throw extended the Pistons' advantage.
Johnson scored 20 points and Wayne Ellington finished with 18 points for the Heat, who lost their fifth straight
The Heat shot a season-best 68 percent from the field in the first period while taking a 37-33 lead. Miami converted its first eight shots and led 32-19 before the Pistons ended the quarter on a 14-5 run.
NOTES: Heat coach Erik Spoelstra agreed to a contract extension, the team confirmed. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. Spoelstra, whose current contract was set to expire at the end of the season, is the league's second longest tenured coach behind San Antonio's Gregg Popovich. ... Spoelstra said the option of C Hassan Whiteside using goggles and playing Sunday was too soon because Whiteside's right eye is still sensitive from the poke he received in Friday's game against Boston. Whiteside missed his first game of the season against Detroit. ... F Marcus Morris returned to the Pistons starting lineup Sunday. Morris sat out Friday's game against Atlanta because of a sore left knee. ... The Pistons will return home for a brief two-game home stand against Indiana and Charlotte on Jan. 3 and 5 before their second four-game trip to Western Conference teams beginning Jan. 7. Detroit will play at Portland, Sacramento, Golden State and Utah. In their previous four-game road set Nov. 7-12, the Pistons lost to the Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix and San Antonio and ended the trip with a win at Denver.