Field Level Media
May 17, 2021
Precious Achiuwa had 23 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Miami Heat to a 120-107 road win over the Detroit Pistons in the regular-season finale for both on Sunday.
With little to no incentive to win the game, each team rested several starters.
Miami already had the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs clinched going into the game, while Detroit was looking to clinch the league's second-worst record and enhance its odds of winning the first pick in the NBA draft lottery.
Nemanja Bjelica had 21 points, six rebounds and six assists, Max Strus scored 20 points, KZ Okpala had 17 points, Tyler Herro had 16 points and 11 assists, and Gabe Vincent had 15 points and 10 assists for Miami (40-32), which used only seven players.
Saddiq Bey scored 22 points and Josh Jackson scored 17 points off the bench for Detroit (20-52).
Miami jumped out to a big lead early, taking a 20-9 lead just 6:19 into the game and holding a 32-13 lead after the first quarter.
The Heat continued their dominance in the second quarter, building a 56-33 lead with 4:28 left until halftime and then a 64-38 lead with 2:06 remaining.
Miami ultimately took a 69-47 lead at halftime.
Detroit did try to make a charge in the third quarter, closing to within 79-64 with 4:57 remaining in the third quarter following a 9-2 run.
But the Heat quickly restored order, going on a 10-0 run to take an 89-64 lead with 2:40 left in the third.
Miami eventually took a 95-71 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Heat built their lead to 28 points at 100-72 with 10:47 remaining in the game, before Detroit fought back to make its deficit more respectable, cutting Miami's lead to 102-85 with 6:14 left following a 13-2 run.
Detroit finished the season by losing nine of 10 games.
--Field Level Media