Detroit Pistons use their bench to upset Miami Heat 109-99: NBA Recap
Detroit Pistons unsettled the short handed Miami Heat, snapping their 6-game winning streak with a 109-99 upset despite 35 points by LeBron James, here at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Friday night.
Pistons' bench put another spirited performance on the night. Their reserves combined for 64 points as compared to only 20 points by the Heat bench. Will Bynum posted a double-double with 25 points and 10 assists, Charlie Villanueva
had 18 points and 6 rebounds while rookie Kyle Singler chipped in with 12 points.
"I have a consistent routine. I'm constantly working and believing in myself. I work my tail off all summer and sacrifice a lot for this game and it's just paying off." Will Bynum said after the game.
Heat were without Dwyane Wade who was suspended for a game for flailing his leg towards Ramon Sessions of Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday.
Miami started the game on a high note; a Chris Bosh jump shot had them up 10-0. Bosh finished off with 28 points for the night. Heat had extended their advantage to 15 points by the end of the first period.
Detroit reserves, who had rallied from 22 points down to tie the game and posted 85 points in their double-overtime loss to Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, took control in the second period and started cutting into the lead. The Pistons
started the second quarter with a 14 nil spurt. They ended up scoring 41 points in the quarter, a season high, and also nailed 8 three pointers to lead 58-52 at halftime.
"Their bench came in and turned it up about 17 notches. We let them get into a comfort zone in the second quarter, and after that, they were making all kinds of contested shots, It's hard to make any kind of run when a team keeps
doing that to you." James said who grabbed 6 rebounds and the same number of steals to go along with his 35 points.
Miami Heat shot 50.6 percent from the field, this is their first loss in 32 games where they have shot 50 percent or better and lost. Detroit shot better; they went 58.1 percent from the field and an astonishing 12 of 19 from the
three point land.
Pistons opened up the third period with a 9 nil run that put them in complete control of the game. However the NBA champions were not to go down without a fight, they cut a 17-point deficit to 4 early in the fourth quarter. But
once the Pistons reserves took control, they added 24 points in the final quarter to seal the deal as Detroit handed Heat a 109-99 defeat.
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