Pistons Torch Heat 128-111 in Miami but Lose Duren and Thompson to Injuries
Detroit moved to 2-0 with a wire-to-wire 128-111 win over Miami, but the victory came at a cost as Jalen Duren (right thigh) and Ausar Thompson (right ankle) both left the game and did not return.
The Detroit Pistons look like early-season trouble for the Eastern Conference — and Friday night in Miami showed why, even as the night ended with a worrying pair of injuries.
Detroit opened with an 11-0 run inside the first two minutes and never looked back, cruising to a 128-111 win over the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center to open a three-game road trip at 2-0. John Collins led a balanced attack with 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including 5-of-6 from deep, while Duncan Robinson added 17 and Cade Cunningham chipped in 16 points, eight assists and three blocks. The Pistons buried 18 threes at a 47.4% clip and shot 53% overall, holding Miami to 38.2% from the field.
Giannis Antetokounmpo piled up 36 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in his second game as a member of the Heat, but Miami fell to 0-2 as Bam Adebayo fouled out in just 23 minutes with four points.
The real story, though, was the two starters lost along the way. Duren drove against Antetokounmpo late in the first half, appeared to tweak something behind his right knee moments after blocking the Greek star at the rim, and walked straight to the locker room. Thompson followed in the third quarter after rolling his right ankle when he accidentally stepped on Andrew Wiggins' heel. Neither returned, and coach J.B. Bickerstaff offered no postgame update — a concern for two cornerstones who signed massive extensions this fall (five years, $200 million for Duren; five years, $155 million for Thompson).
Paul Reed stepped into Duren's starting spot and delivered 19 points and 11 rebounds, showing the depth Detroit leaned on all night.