Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Terry Rozier’s big second half propels Heat to win over Pistons

The Miami Heat withstood the Detroit Pistons – arguably the most pitiful team in the NBA- after seven lead changes and one tie.

Early, Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier were passive, and Bam Adebayo chronically misfired for the Heat. But Duncan Robinson sprayed drop coverage, pierced the zone, burned Ausar Thompson on the baseline with a hesitation dribble plus the layup and made two freebies.

Additionally, understudy Nikola Jović followed Robinson’s lead, setting up two trays and scoring six points. And Caleb Martin canned two baskets in the lane.

On the other side, the Pistons made a meager one of eight 3-pointers in the first quarter against weak protection. Although, Cade Cunningham logged seven points on three of five looks, including a ferocious slam over Jović. Jaden Ivey hit a bucket at the nail, successfully isolated Adebayo from the top to the cup on the left side and dribbled left to the baseline for a jumper over Robinson.

Next, Detroit’s Jalen Duren threw his weight around on offense, registering four shots in the square, none meaner than the lob over Adebayo and dunk after leaving his counterpart stuck in the post. On top of that, forward Simone Fontecchio made two triples, a floater and three free throws.

Yet, Caleb Martin detonated for 11 points, off-setting the win-starved Pistons’s second-quarter production. The only other Heatle in the frame to log multiple field goals was Rozier, swishing two midrange jumpers.

At halftime, the Heat was up 61-60 and behind on the glass by two. It had 24 paint points, eight on the break, seven on second chances, seven after turnovers and 24 from the bench. Martin had 15 points. Robinson had 12 on his scoring ledger.

The Pistons scored 28 interior points, three in the open court, seven on extra tries, five after turnovers and 16 from the reserves. Cunningham supplied a dozen points on four of seven shots. Fontecchio and Ivey each had 11. And Duren had 10 points.

Subsequently, the Heat had a shaky start coming out of intermission. The Pistons converted its first four of six baskets out of the break. But Adebayo triumphantly went at Duren three times, at close and midrange. Rozier splashed a few trays. And the rest of the Heatles made four of 10 shots in the period.

Defensively, the Heat contained visitors to 33.3% shooting in the fourth quarter. Ivey got free on the break for a layup through traffic and scored off a handoff. And Cunningham drove right for a four-foot finish and broke a trap on the left side for an elbow jumper. No other Piston tallied multiple field goals in the quarter as the Heat slowed down dribble penetration and contested outside jumpers on time.

For the Miami team, Butler closed the deal with a rim roll, driving past Evan Fournier and Fontecchio on the left side for a couple of layups, a right-wing pull-up triple and six freebies. The next scoring leader for the club in the fourth was Jaime Jaquez Jr., who put up a second-chance effort and hit a floater over Duren.

The Heat won 118-110 and were tied on the glass at 42. Furthermore, the hosts racked up 48 paint points, 16 on the break, 15 on second chances, 25 after turnovers and 31 from the bench. Butler logged 26 points on seven of 13 attempts, with eight assists and six rebounds. Adebayo and Robinson dropped 18 apiece. And Rozier had 17 points.

The Pistons had 48 interior points, nine on the break, 16 on extra tries, 14 after turnovers and 35 from the bench. Cunningham contributed 23 points on eight of 20 shots with eight dimes and four rebounds. Fontecchio was next on the scorecard with 22 points, making 43.8% of field goals.

At the postgame presser, coach Erik Spoelstra said, “I anticipated it would be a physical, competitive game and it was every bit of that.”

In the locker room, Adebayo spoke on Jović’s impact. He said, “He is taking advantage of his opportunities. Obviously, he’s a great, willing passer.” The big man also added that Jović makes the team more dynamic.

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