Giannis Powers Heat Past Pistons for Seventh Win in Last Nine, Now Over .500 - Sun Sentinel

The Miami Heat pushed over the .500 mark for the first time this season with a 137-117 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night at Kaseya Center, extending their winning streak to four games.

Following a 0-4 start to the Giannis Antetokounmpo era, Miami has now claimed seven victories in its last nine outings to reach a 7-6 record. The Sun Sentinel reported that the team’s recent surge stems from a renewed defensive commitment forged during a 3-2 western road trip.

“I just appreciate that the group on the road trip really started to take into heart what our identity had to be,” Erik Spoelstra told the Sun Sentinel.

Antetokounmpo anchored the offense with 34 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists, and three blocked shots. Klay Thompson added 26 points after returning from a one-game absence caused by ankle soreness.

Giannis Powers Heat Past Pistons for Seventh Win in Last Nine, Now Over .500 - Sun Sentinel

Detroit played without All-Star center Jalen Duren and lost former Heat sharpshooter Duncan Robinson in the first half due to thigh soreness. Cade Cunningham paced the Pistons with 33 points, while John Collins started at center for a short-handed Detroit frontcourt.

“Giannis gets 35 and 10 like it’s nothing,” Thompson told the Sun Sentinel regarding his teammate’s dominant performance.

Bam Adebayo contributed 20 points for Miami, and Davion Mitchell chipped in 15 points and nine assists. The Heat held a lead in the third quarter before pulling away late in the game.

Miami continues its five-game homestand on Monday night against the Houston Rockets. That matchup will feature a sibling meeting with Amen Thompson, twin brother of Detroit’s Ausar Thompson.