In a thrilling NBA Cup contest on Tuesday night, the Detroit Pistons edged the Miami Heat 123-121 in overtime, thanks to a tiebreaking free throw from Malik Beasley with just 1.1 seconds left.
The game ended in dramatic fashion after the Heat were hit with a technical foul for calling a timeout when they had none remaining, a crucial mistake that allowed Beasley to put Detroit ahead 122-121. Beasley then calmly sank another free throw with 0.1 seconds on the clock to seal the victory for the Pistons.
The Heat had a chance to win in the final seconds of regulation, when Tyler Herro’s jumper gave Miami a 121-119 lead with just 1.8 seconds left. However, after a quick timeout, Detroit’s Cade Cunningham found Jalen Duren on a spectacular alley-oop pass off the inbounds play, setting the stage for the late-game chaos. The Heat’s subsequent illegal timeout gave the Pistons a chance to take control, and Beasley capitalized from the free-throw line to hand Miami their second consecutive loss in the NBA Cup.
Herro was sensational in the loss, pouring in a game-high 40 points, including 20 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. His clutch shooting nearly propelled the Heat to victory, but Miami’s defensive lapses and critical errors down the stretch left them empty-handed. Herro’s 40-point performance was a career-high in an NBA Cup game, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the combined efforts of Beasley and Cunningham, who each scored 21 points for Detroit.
Detroit’s win was especially sweet for a team that had failed to win a single game in last year’s NBA Cup, finishing 0-4 in the competition. This victory not only gave them a much-needed win but also demonstrated their ability to close out a tight game. The Pistons’ performance was balanced, with Beasley’s clutch free throws, Cunningham’s playmaking, and Duren’s impact in the paint. It was a gritty win for Detroit, who showed resilience after Miami’s late-game surge.
For the Heat, the loss was compounded by injuries that disrupted their rhythm throughout the game. Nikola Jovic left the game early in the first quarter after suffering a broken septum in a collision with Beasley. Jovic was left bleeding from his nose and mouth after Beasley’s jaw collided with his face, leaving the Heat without one of their key rotation players for the rest of the night. Despite Jovic’s absence, Miami remained competitive, but the injury and subsequent defensive lapses proved costly.
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The game also saw a scary moment in the third quarter when Tim Hardaway Jr. was injured after a collision with Herro and Duren. Hardaway was already on the floor when Duren landed on him, and the impact of Duren’s knee to Hardaway’s head resulted in a bloody injury. Hardaway was attended to for several minutes before being taken off the floor in a wheelchair. Thankfully, Hardaway was able to briefly stand up after medical attention, but his injury added further disruption to an already tense game.
The Pistons jumped out to a commanding 39-21 lead early in the second quarter, looking as if they might run away with the game. But the Heat responded with a strong 23-4 run, fueled by Bam Adebayo, Herro, and Duncan Robinson, which gave Miami a 44-43 lead with 4:14 remaining in the half. That momentum shift marked the beginning of a back-and-forth battle, as both teams exchanged leads multiple times throughout the second half.
Herro’s scorching hot shooting in the fourth quarter was the highlight for Miami. He scored 18 points in the period, shooting 6-of-9 from the field, including 6-of-8 from beyond the arc. His offensive explosion gave the Heat a chance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, but Miami’s defense couldn’t make the necessary stops in the final minutes to hold onto their lead. Herro’s impressive shooting performance was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise frustrating game for the Heat.
Detroit’s ability to capitalize on Miami’s mistakes, especially in the closing moments of the game, was the difference. The Pistons’ defense was solid when it mattered most, and their free-throw shooting down the stretch ensured they would leave the court with a hard-earned win. Despite the dramatic finish, the game showed how critical attention to detail and clutch execution are in tight NBA Cup matchups.
With the win, the Pistons snapped a tough streak from last year’s competition and have now set themselves up for a stronger showing this time around. Detroit’s next challenge will come quickly as they head to Milwaukee on Wednesday, where they’ll face the Bucks in another NBA Cup game.
For Miami, the loss was a painful one, but they will look to bounce back from this defeat when they take on the Indiana Pacers in their next NBA Cup games on Friday and Sunday. Without a timeout to spare in the final moments, the Heat will need to refine their late-game execution if they want to stay competitive in the tournament.
Key Stat: Tyler Herro’s 40 points, including 20 in the fourth quarter and overtime, was a career-high and a standout individual performance despite the loss.
Key Moment: Malik Beasley’s clutch free throws with 1.1 seconds left after Miami’s illegal timeout put the Pistons ahead and sealed their 123-121 victory.
Up Next:
- The Pistons will travel to Milwaukee to face the Bucks on Wednesday night.
- The Heat will take on the Indiana Pacers on Friday and Sunday.