Miam Heat Vs. Detroit Pistons - 1/4/09

[Deleterious]

Miami (26-21) @ Detroit (25-21)

Game info: 7:30 pm EST Wed Feb 4, 2009. Palace of Auburn Hills.

TV: SUN, FSD

Team Comparison

Team  	       Record  	      Standings  	        PF  	PA  	Road/Home  	Streak  	L10
Miami 	        26-21 	3rd Southeast / 5th East        97.0 	96.4 	Road 10-13 	Won 1 	        6-4
Detroit 	25-21 	2nd Central / 6th East 	        92.9 	93.2 	Home 13-11 	Lost 2 	        3-7

Injury Report:

Detroit: None

Miami: Daequan Cook - Out. Dorell Wright - Out.

Preview

By MATT BECKER, STATS Senior Writer Feb 3, 2:35 pm EST

The Miami Heat haven’t had much success against the Detroit Pistons lately, but they appear to have a good chance of breaking that trend Wednesday.

In their first meeting of 2008-09, a healthy Dwyane Wade looks to lead Miami to it first victory at The Palace in more than four years when it faces Detroit, which is in the midst of its worst home losing streak in eight years.

Wade missed 31 games last season due to various injuries and the Heat (26-21) finished with the NBA’s worst record. This season has been another story, as the five-time All-Star has played in every game and led Miami to the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference - one game back of fourth-place Atlanta and a half-game ahead of the Pistons (25-21).

On Monday, Wade helped the Heat bounce back from consecutive losses, finishing with 32 points and nine assists in a 119-95 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. Miami shot a season-high 55.6 percent from the field, went 9-of-16 from beyond the 3-point arc and improved to 18-3 when scoring 99 points or more.

“We know we can score,” said Wade, who leads the league with 28.5 points per game. “Guys can shoot the ball on this team. … We’ve got a pretty deep team, and we’re going to need it.”

Wade will now look to help the Heat shake their recent struggles against Detroit. Miami has lost five straight against the Pistons and 16 of the last 19. The Heat have also dropped five in a row in Detroit since an 89-78 victory Dec. 30, 2004, and is 1-10 in its last 11 at The Palace.

The poor play against the Pistons can be attributed partly to Wade not being much of a factor in the series lately, as he’s played in only one of Miami’s last six games versus Detroit due to injuries.

In his last game against the Pistons on Feb. 6, Wade had 30 points and 12 assists in a 100-95 loss at The Palace.

The Pistons went on to win their fourth straight Central Division title last season, but are having little success at keeping pace with first-place Cleveland in 2008-09.

Detroit fell 90-80 to the Cavaliers on Sunday, its ninth defeat in 12 games. The Pistons have dropped four in a row at The Palace, their longest home skid since losing eight straight from Dec. 30, 2000-Feb. 2, 2001.

Detroit is still one of the top defensive teams in the league, allowing 93.2 points per game, but it’s struggled to find its offensive rhythm since trading for Allen Iverson. The Pistons are the second-lowest scoring team in the league at 92.9 ppg, and have been held to 91 points or fewer in 14 of their last 20 games.

Detroit went 59-23 last season, but is 21-21 since trading Chauncey Billups to Denver for Iverson three months ago.

“Our whole thing is, it better be figured out by the time we get to the playoffs,” Iverson said. “Regardless of where we’re seeded, we need to be playing at a high level and that’s the only thing I’m concerned about.”

Iverson finished with 22 points Sunday, snapping a five-game stretch in which he failed to reached the 20-point mark. The 10-time All-Star totaled 36 points on 35.9 percent shooting in two games against the Heat last season after averaging 35.5 points in his previous eight games versus them.

Team Notes

Miami: F Shawn Marion returned to the court after missing the last five games with a strained left groin and scored 11 points with seven rebounds in 30 minutes. ... C Jamal Magloire grabbed five rebounds, giving him 4,004 for his career. ... C Joel Anthony blocked four shots, the fifth time this season he has blocked at least four in a game. ... The 119 points scored by the Heat is the most in a home game since they also scored 119 against the Sacramento Kings on January 22, 2006. ... G Dwyane Wade made 10 free throws and became the Heat's all-time leader in free throws made with 2,564, passing Alonzo Mourning.

Detroit: The Pistons absorbed their fourth straight home loss on Sunday, their longest losing streak at the Palace of Auburn Hills in eight years. Last season, Detroit dropped only seven games at home all season. ... The setback to the Cavaliers also extended the Pistons' struggles on Sunday, dropping them to 1-8 on the final day of the week. ... G Allen Iverson continued to stay away from the 3-point line, not attempting a shot from the arc for the third straight game. On the season, Iverson is on place for career lows in 3-pointers made and attempted in his 13-year career. ... F Amir Johnson was inserted into the starting five in place of Richard Hamilton, scoring 10 points in 21 1/2 minutes. It was his first double-digit scoring effort in 14 games.

[DTroppens]

Injury report

Detroit: Team pride

[Joec03]

I predict another loss for the pistons

[Lbh24]

Why are we starting a game thread for a game that was played last month? :)

[Chaz]

Go Stones!!!!

I wonder how long the losing streak will go...Wings went 5...

[Deleterious]

Originally Posted by Lbh24

Why are we starting a game thread for a game that was played last month? :)

Don't pick on the idiots please.

Could a mod change the date in the thread title please.

[Sports_Freak]

Wow. Nice catch, I missed that. But seriously, the Pistons can win tonight. I'm actually pretty confident of a Pistons and Wings win tonight. I guess you could say it was my birthday wish when I blew out all those candles.

[Johnny Mac]

i thought i could switch between stones and wings here in FL, but apparently Sun Sports is showing the Lightning-Penguins game and not the Pistons one

[Deleterious]

Originally Posted by Johnny Mac

i thought i could switch between stones and wings here in FL, but apparently Sun Sports is showing the Lightning-Penguins game and not the Pistons one

Up here when that happens, we have a plus station for Fox Sports. Maybe flip around the channels to see if you do as well.

[Chaz]

Originally Posted by Johnny Mac

i thought i could switch between stones and wings here in FL, but apparently Sun Sports is showing the Lightning-Penguins game and not the Pistons one

that irked me..the scheduled showed the game, but when we change to that channel, it said it was blacked out in our area

[Chaz]

the Justin stations are awful

[Chaz]

end of 1..21-20 Heat

[Sports_Freak]

After starting the game down 9-0, the Pistons outscored the Heat 20-12 to end the first. Looking good going into the 2nd.

[Johnny Mac]

Dyess already has 9 rebounds

[Sports_Freak]

Wow. I just heard the Piston sellout streak is over at 259 games. I'm behind in the game because I use my DVR to avoid commercials.

[Johnny Mac]

Dyess now in double figures in rebounds

[azzurri]

Originally Posted by Sports_Freak

Wow. I just heard the Piston sellout streak is over at 259 games. I'm behind in the game because I use my DVR to avoid commercials.

I'm surprised it hadn't already ended. I've been seeing cavernous upper decks at the Palace the past two months.

[Chaz]

Half time-- Stones hold on 45-42 lead

[Sports_Freak]

Originally Posted by Sports_Freak

Wow. I just heard the Piston sellout streak is over at 259 games. I'm behind in the game because I use my DVR to avoid commercials.

Originally Posted by azzurri

I'm surprised it hadn't already ended. I've been seeing cavernous upper decks at the Palace the past two months.

Yeah, I noticed that. But if the Tickets were sold, it's a sellout. I can't imagine that many people buying tickets and eating them. We've had some weather issues, but I never eat tickets, to any event.

[Chaz]

I was wondering how they could claim sellouts for the last month when I constantly see empty seats everywhere.. The Joe is also having trying to get fans to watch the Wings and I see lots of empty seat there

[Truth]

It doesn't bother me at all, but Afflalo played as many minutes as Iverson in the first half.

[Chaz]

Amir had 4 rebs and 4 fouls.. can this guy make it through 10 minutes on the floor?

[Chaz]

end of 3..70-62 Stones.. lot of back and fourth.. Stones were up by a few points and then lost it and came on strong at the end..hopefully they will put this away soon

[FloridaTigers]

Go Heat

[Chaz]

the meltdown is in progress

[number20]

This team sure has their problems in the 4th quarter.

[Motowncool]

SHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEED!

[DrWho17]

Ok, the Pistons may win this game with 20 seconds left, but why was Rasheed taking that long 3 with 20 seconds left, the Pistons should have ran some clock, and let Stuckey go at it with less then 10 seconds left. He made the shot fine, but it was a silly stupid shot.

[number20]

Jesus. Dumb turnovers, missing key free throws.. these guys are doing everything they can think of to blow this game.

[Johnny Mac]

did rip really just do that?

[Chaz]

great, Rip misses both free throws..wtf Rip

[number20]

Originally Posted by DrWho17

Ok, the Pistons may win this game with 20 seconds left, but why was Rasheed taking that long 3 with 20 seconds left, the Pistons should have ran some clock, and let Stuckey go at it with less then 10 seconds left. He made the shot fine, but it was a silly stupid shot.

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. Bad shot, bad decision. I cringed when he launched that.

[number20]

We try our best to lose, but the Heat gives us the game anyway. Thank you Miami!

[Chaz]

they hang on and Win... Stones win, Wings win, great night..

Sheed and Stuckey with 18 pts, Tay with 16, Dice 8 pts and 17 rebounds (Mr hustle)

[FloridaTigers]

I'm getting tired of the Pistons beating the Heat. Finally got over the Magic, but still can't beat Detroit? Really?

[Chaz]

I think the Magic is going to hand the Stones their azzz later this month in Orlando..

[DrWho17]

Originally Posted by Chaz

I think the Magic is going to hand the Stones their azzz later this month in Orlando..

Well, they have a better chance now that the Pistons secret weapon is out for the year, but Howard still curls up into a little ball when he plays the Pistons.

[Johnny Mac]

Sheed is the Dwight killer

[Motowncool]

Originally Posted by Chaz

I think the Magic is going to hand the Stones their azzz later this month in Orlando..

Are you going to the game at Amway?

[Betrayer]

Originally Posted by number20

We try our best to lose, but the Heat gives us the game anyway. Thank you Miami!

You said it. I freaking lost it when Sheed launched that three with 15 seconds left on the shot clock and a 2 point lead. Oh, the stupidity.