Miami Heat-Detroit Pistons Preview: Can Heat Snap Four-Game Skid?

What to look for in Miami Heat’s Friday night game in Detroit

The Miami Heat (35-30) are free falling.

Entering their game against the Dallas Mavericks on Mar. 7, the Heat were the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and just a half game from the No. 4 spot.

Eight days and four straight losses later, Miami now sits in eighth place in the East.

In their most recent game, the Heat lost 100-88 to the Denver Nuggets. Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler led the Heat with 17 and 15 points, respectively.

Thankfully for Miami, they have back-to-back games against the Detroit Pistons (12-53), the second-worst team in the NBA.

Contrary to their record, the Pistons are red-hot. They have won three of their last four games, most recently beating the Toronto Raptors 113-104 in Detroit. Jalen Duren starred with 24 points and 23 rebounds.

Previous Matchups

Friday night is the third of four matchups between the teams, with the final meeting taking place Sunday.

The Heat won the previous two, as usual suspects Butler and Adebayo led the charge in both.

Butler posted a double-double (19 points, 13 rebounds) in Game 1 while Adebayo added 22 points and eight rebounds.

In Game 2, Butler finished with 26 points, eight assists and six rebounds, along with a dagger three-pointer late in the fourth quarter. Adebayo had 18 points and seven rebounds.

Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 30 points in Game 1 and 23 in Game 2. Duren posted double-doubles in both, shooting a combined 13 of 16 from the field.

Opposing Players to Watch

Detroit is in the midst of a rebuild, but is not deprived of talent.

Cunningham is one of the most promising young guards in the NBA. The 22-year-old is averaging 22.5 points, 7.5 assists and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 45.2 percent and 36.1 percent from three. He has played exceptionally as of late, averaging 26.5 points, 8.8 assists and 5.6 rebounds over his last four games.

Duren, just 20 years old, has the chance to be special. He is averaging 14.0 points and 11.9 rebounds (5th in NBA) while shooting 63.4 percent (5th). The 6-foot-10 center has three 20-point, 20-rebound games this season.

Key Matchup

Jaden Ivey vs. Terry Rozier

Looking past the Cunningham/Butler and Duren/Adebayo matchups, this battle between ball-dominant guards could decide the game.

Ivey has struggled against the Heat this season, averaging 10 points while shooting 31.8 percent and 0 of 7 from three. The 22-year-old has elevated his scoring punch recently, averaging 19.3 points in his last four games.

Rozier looks to have finally settled in with Miami. He is averaging 17.8 points on 50 percent shooting over his last four games. The 6-foot-1 guard finished with 17 points and seven assists in his lone matchup against Detroit as a member of the Heat.

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Nick Crandell is a staff contributor at Inside the Heat.

He can be reached at nick.crandell33@gmail.com or follow him on Instagram @nickcrandell

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