Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Heat’s comeback failed in overtime in Detroit

Jimmy Butler’s best performance of the season and Tyler Herro’s late-game heroics were not enough to save the Heatles in the Motor City. They failed to be a factor from long range. And Tim Hardaway Jr. was the hottest weapon out of the holster in overtime.

The first quarter was close, thanks to Jimmy Butler’s seven points on a cut and score in the lane, a corner shot and a floater. Additionally, Bam Adebayo registered five points, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. made two shots at the rim. 

Yet, the Pistons strafed the visitors with six 3-pointers, and Cade Cunningham scored or assisted on seven of their 13 first-quarter baskets. 

Next, the hosts  started the second quarter on a 16-5 run through five minutes, forcing a Heat stoppage. On top of that, the Pistons had 10 of 13 treys logged by the midway mark of the period, and their first-half lead ballooned to 14 points.

But the crew stole five Detroit possessions, and Butler’s continuous rim attacks and six freebies sliced the deficit to four points. 

At halftime, the Heat was down 59-63. They had 30 paint points, eight on the break, five via second chances, 18 off turnovers and 16 from the bench. To boot, the crew took nine extra field goal attempts than Detroit by intermission. 

The Pistons had 22 paint points, 17 on the break, four via second chances, two off turnovers and 19 from the bench.

Subsequently, the third quarter was a disaster for the Heat, scoring on six of 19 attempts as the Pistons out-pointed them by 12. Amen Thompson and Malik Beasley defiled the defense with three baskets at close range and made three 3-pointers. 

The Heat were on the ropes in the fourth quarter, too, as their deficit swelled back to 19 points. Then, while down a dozen with four minutes left, the crew came alive, like a boxer catching a second wind late in a bout after suffering two knockdowns. Butler plus Terry Rozier made layups, and Herro connected on three treys, including the game-tying bucket that forced overtime. 

They started overtime by scoring eight straight points with buckets from Adebayo, Butler and Duncan Robinson. But Detroit countered with three Hardaway triples and Cunningham’s layup through the middle. Butler made a put-back without a shoe on the previous possession to give the Heat a one-point lead. It would’ve been a legendary team moment had they won.

The Heat lost 124-125. They had 62 paint points, 17 on the break, nine via second chances, 28 off turnovers and 35 from the bench.

Butler had a triple-double with 35 points on 12 of 21 attempts, plus 19 rebounds, 10 assists, four steals and one block.

Herro had 23 points on nine of 25 shots, with four rebounds, one assist, one steal and three turnovers. 

And Adebayo had 15 points on six of 12 attempts, with eight rebounds, three assists, one steal and one turnover. 

The Pistons had 44 paint points, 26 on the break, six via second chances, 14 off turnovers and 33 from the bench. They also made 20 of 40 3-pointers.

Observations: 

1. In the fourth quarter, Adebayo and Terry Rozier played 12 minutes and Dru Smith was seconds shy of it. Butler and Herro were the other high-minute players, with eight in the frame.  

2. Cunningham had 18 assists. He exploited the Heat with hit-ahead passes, kick outs plus dump-offs on dribble penetration and swung the ball to open shooters. 

3. This is the Heat’s fourth loss in the last five road games.

4. Before Herro made the tying shot to force overtime, Butler had the ball with his back to the basket on the left side as the team was down three points. Had the Pistons fouled Butler, Herro doesn’t tie on that possession.

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