DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons continue to showcase that they are different from the egregious team from last year. Despite an embarrassing performance against the New York Knicks on Nov. 1, each game the Pistons have played to open the 2024-25 season has been winnable.

On Tuesday night, the Pistons won their fifth game of the season by defeating the Miami Heat, 123-121, in overtime at Little Caesars Arena.

On the winning play, Cade Cunningham threw an inbound alley-oop to Jalen Duren to tie the game at 121. However, the Heat called a timeout it did not have, which resulted in Malik Beasley closing the game with a technical foul shot. He finished with 21 points and five rebounds.

A victory over the Heat also marked the Pistons' first in-season tournament win in franchise history. Last season, the Pistons went 0-4 during the league's inaugural in-season tournament. Each loss was part of the historic 28-game losing streak.

With two minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Pistons held a 111-102 lead. However, the Heat outscored Detroit 9-0 behind the play of Tyler Herro. He scored each of Miami's nine points with three consecutive 3-point baskets to close out regulation. Herro scored a game-high 40 points on 14-of-27 shooting with 10 made triples. However, he scored two points in overtime.

In his second year coaching during the NBA's in-season tournament, coach J.B. Bickerstaff revealed that a playoff-style atmosphere in the regular season would give his young players a chance to play meaningful basketball, improving their understanding that every possession matters.

It was the primary point of emphasis during the shootaround, and the Pistons carried out Bickerstaff's message as seven players scored in double figures. Cunningham scored a team-high 21 points, while adding nine assists and seven rebounds. Tobias Harris scored 11 of his 18 points during the first half, where Detroit led 57-51.

Ball movement was essential for the Pistons. Detroit recorded 32 assists, tied for the most this season. Jaden Ivey added seven assists to go along with 19 points and nine rebounds.

After missing the previous two games due to a left ankle sprain, Duren returned to the starting lineup. Bickerstaff was happy to have Duren back on the court but noted that the team would monitor his minutes because Tuesday’s game was the first of a back-to-back set. However, Duren surpassed his season average of 23.3 minutes. He played 30 minutes adding 11 rebounds and five assists.

At the 8:46 mark of the third quarter, Tim Hardaway Jr. exited the game in a wheelchair. He hit the floor following a collision with Duren. Prior to the fall, he also took an elbow from Bam Adebayo to the face.

At the time of the injury, Hardaway was having a solid game amid the Pistons 64-59 lead. He scored 11 points on 3-of-6 shooting from the field in 19 minutes. Beasley came in for Hardaway and kept the Pistons afloat. He connected on a huge 3-pointer with 57 seconds left in overtime, which tied the game at 119.

Up next

The Pistons complete their third back-to-back set of the season on Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Bucks. Their road contest at Fiserv Forum will also mark the beginning of a three-game road trip. Detroit's next in-season tournament game will take place Friday against the Toronto Raptors.

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