Here are five key takeaways from the Miami Heat’s 116-113 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night:
- Heart-breaking Loss and Extended Skid: The Heat’s nine-game losing streak continues, their longest since January 2008. The loss came down to a dramatic buzzer-beater from Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, who hit a game-winning three-pointer over Bam Adebayo. This loss marks the Heat’s ninth consecutive defeat and their 19th game this season where they have blown a double-digit lead, the most in the NBA.
- Cunningham’s Triple-Double and the Heat’s Defensive Woes: Cunningham led the Pistons to victory with a triple-double performance—25 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, and the game-winning shot. Miami’s defense, particularly in the paint, was a major issue, allowing 70 paint points. This followed their season-high 72 paint points allowed in the loss to the Grizzlies. Cunningham also scored 14 of those 70 paint points.
- Strong Performances from Adebayo and Herro: The Heat got standout performances from their star duo—Bam Adebayo (30 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists) and Tyler Herro (29 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists). Despite their efforts, the Heat still could not close out the game, showing the team’s struggles in key moments.
- Missing Key Players and Injuries: The Heat missed Andrew Wiggins again due to a lower leg contusion, marking his second straight game missed. Wiggins, part of the trade package in the Butler deal, has only played 11 games with the Heat and missed eight games due to injury or illness. With a 2-9 record in those games, his absence continues to impact the team’s performance. The Heat also had several other players out, including Josh Christopher, Nikola Jovic, and Dru Smith, while Pistons guard Jaden Ivey was the only significant absence for Detroit.
- Lineup Shuffling and Lack of Stability: The Heat used their 22nd different starting lineup of the season, with the combo of Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Bam Adebayo, and Kel’el Ware. This marks the fifth different starting lineup in the last five games and reflects the instability caused by injuries and poor performance. The Heat’s inability to find consistency in their rotations, especially with a series of injuries, continues to be a significant challenge as they search for solutions.
The Heat will look to bounce back from this defeat on Friday as they continue their homestand against the Houston Rockets.