I do not own anything on this video. No Copyright Infringement Is Intended. I don't take credits anything from this video. Any Audiovisual content on this video is not owned by me and is owned by NBA. All rights reserved to NBA.
Visit their Website at www.nba.com
MIAMI (AP) The game's outcome wasn't decided until the absolute final moment. In reality, the Detroit Pistons did what was required to win about two hours earlier.
A second-quarter barrage of 3-pointers helped the Pistons erase an early 18-point deficit, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's jumper with 55.5 seconds left went down as the game-winner as Detroit topped the Miami Heat 93-92 on Tuesday night.
Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh missed jumpers in the final three seconds for Miami, though replays suggested Bosh's might not have counted anyway.
"They missed great shots," Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said. "I give our guys credit for fighting back to get in that game. I thought we played better defense in the second half. We did get the rebound on Wade's shot, that was great. But let's not go to the point of saying that we stopped them on the last two possessions. They missed great opportunities. Two Hall of Fame players missed shots."
Reggie Jackson led the Pistons with 18 points, while Stanley Johnson and Caldwell-Pope each had 14. The Pistons were 15 for 29 from 3-point range, outscoring Miami 45-12 in that department.
Detroit has connected on 31 3-pointers in two games against Miami this season, both Pistons victories.
"That one's a tough one," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "They had a poor first quarter, we had a horrible second quarter and then it became an absolute grind-out, competitive basketball game."
Bosh scored 20 points for Miami. Wade finished with 19, Hassan Whiteside had 16 points and 16 rebounds, and Beno Udrih - starting in place of the injured Goran Dragic - scored 14 for the Heat.
Caldwell-Pope put the Pistons up 91-89 with 2 minutes left on a 3-pointer. The lead changed hands twice more, but the Heat didn't score in the final 1:18.
"I'd love to have that shot back again," Wade said.
Miami led 34-18 after one quarter, pushed the lead to 18 early in the second - and succumbed to a flurry of Detroit 3-pointers.
Johnson made four 3s in the half, Steve Blake and Anthony Tolliver made two more apiece before the break, and the Pistons took a 54-52 edge into the locker room. Detroit scored 36 points in the second quarter, matching its output in the first and third quarters combined.
And when Miami went up by seven early in the fourth, Blake and Tolliver combined for three more 3s to keep Detroit close and start what would become the game-winning rally.
"Basketball's a pretty simple game," Tolliver said. "If you do the right things, play the right way, things go your way."