It was harder than it needed to be. But the Miami Heat defeated the Detroit Pistons 117-108 to improve to 7-3 on the season.
The Pistons got into Miami at 5:34 a.m. after losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves Monday night. And the Heat showed no mercy on Detroit, jumping out to a 29-point lead in the second quarter. Detroit mounted a furious rally — Luke Kennard scored all 22 of his points in the second half — but the Heat did enough to maintain some breathing room.
Part of the problem for Miami was some offensive droughts when Jimmy Butler went to the bench.