Cade Cunningham scored 29 points, including a crucial basket late in the fourth quarter, to help the Detroit Pistons hold off the Miami Heat 138-135 on Saturday night at Kaseya Center.
Detroit snapped a two-game skid and improved to 16-4, marking its best 20-game start since the 2005-06 season, while Miami fell to 13-7 despite a late surge.
Tobias Harris poured in 26 points on 10-of-12 shooting, and Duncan Robinson added 18 points in his return to Miami after being traded to Detroit this past summer.
The Pistons shot an efficient 59 percent from the field and scored 76 points in the paint, controlling the game through sustained offensive pressure.
Andrew Wiggins led Miami with 31 points, while Norman Powell contributed 28 and Tyler Herro added 24 points as the Heat fought back from a 22-point deficit with 8:09 remaining.
Bam Adebayo finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, scoring a putback with 34 seconds left to bring Miami within two before Cunningham answered on the ensuing possession.
Robinson made a key 3-pointer that started a 13-0 Detroit run to close the first quarter, breaking a 23-all tie and giving the Pistons early momentum.
Miami closed the third quarter with a 22-10 run to cut the deficit, but Detroit responded with a decisive stretch that pushed the lead to 121-99 with 8:09 remaining.
Detroit’s bench contributed crucial support, with Isaiah Stewart scoring nine points and Ausar Thompson adding 10, helping maintain balance when starters rested.
Miami’s comeback relied heavily on perimeter shooting, hitting 48 percent from three, but Detroit’s overall efficiency and dominance in the paint proved decisive.
Cunningham also contributed eight assists and four rebounds, orchestrating the Pistons’ offense and keeping Miami defenders off balance in key sequences.
The victory keeps Detroit atop the Eastern Conference standings and underscores its depth and scoring versatility through the first 20 games of the season.
Up next, the Pistons host Atlanta on Monday, while the Heat return home to face the Los Angeles Clippers.
