Detroit controlled the game from start to finish. Yes, you read that correctly. The Pistons played about as well as they could have hoped to play, and beat the two-time defending NBA champions on their home floor -- and there was never really a doubt.
Miami made a nice run during the middle of the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to three points (91-88), and a patented fourth quarter collapse seemed all but imminent. But, key defensive plays that turned into easy transition buckets - especially from Brandon Jennings who beautifully stripped the ball from LeBron James as he was about to rise for one of his patented fast-break dunks - kept the Pistons in control.
A few made free throws later, it was over.
Arguably, it was the strongest overall performance from the Pistons this season. If you skipped this one expecting the Heat to run away with one, you missed out.
The Pistons perimeter shooting: they connected on seven of their sixteen three-point attempts (43.8%).
The Pistons defense: it wasn't perfect, and Wade's absence certainly helped, but the Pistons held the Heat to just under forty-four percent shooting from the field.
The Pistons' ability to clean the glass: they smacked the Heat on the glass, outrebounding them forty-six to thirty-four.
A balanced offensive attack: seven Pistons scored in double digits, and only three took ten or more shots to get there.
Brandon Jennings' stat line won't blow anyone away, but he was clutch in the fourth quarter.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/bqfj66v27ME" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<thead>
<tr>
<th width=20>#</th><th>Commenter</th><th># Comments</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/smackdab">smackdab</a></td><td>106</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>2</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Kellen%20Moore%20Our%20Savior%3F">Kellen Moore Our Savior?</a></td><td>70</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Don%20Mega-Tron">Don Mega-Tron</a></td><td>68</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>4</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/MATHEW_STAFFORDS_GIRLFRIEND">MATHEW_STAFFORDS_GIRLFRIEND</a></td><td>64</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/heWizard">heWizard</a></td><td>64</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>6</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/BigBensFro">BigBensFro</a></td><td>63</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Kriz">Kriz</a></td><td>59</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>8</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/christiaanl">christiaanl</a></td><td>55</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Rusty_Shackleford">Rusty_Shackleford</a></td><td>50</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>10</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/rames">rames</a></td><td>43</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/D(FromThe)Glove">D(FromThe)Glove</a></td><td>42</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>12</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/FlyMonk321">FlyMonk321</a></td><td>31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/ahtrap">ahtrap</a></td><td>24</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>14</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/JP423">JP423</a></td><td>24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/shags">shags</a></td><td>22</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>16</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Iron%20Sheik">Iron Sheik</a></td><td>21</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/1298ty">1298ty</a></td><td>17</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>18</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/sabetodo">sabetodo</a></td><td>17</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/MrHappyMushroom">MrHappyMushroom</a></td><td>17</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>20</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Tessitura">Tessitura</a></td><td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Reno09">Reno09</a></td><td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>22</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/tile">tile</a></td><td>14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>23</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Liber%20Pater">Liber Pater</a></td><td>14</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>24</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Frankdog">Frankdog</a></td><td>12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>25</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Kevin%20Sawyer">Kevin Sawyer</a></td><td>12</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>26</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/mcgrupp">mcgrupp</a></td><td>11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>27</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/jayod">jayod</a></td><td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>28</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/sauce1977">sauce1977</a></td><td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>29</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Cerecyte1">Cerecyte1</a></td><td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>30</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/I%20Got%20Munnyz">I Got Munnyz</a></td><td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>31</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Toledo%20Joe">Toledo Joe</a></td><td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>32</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Goose15">Goose15</a></td><td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>33</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Absolutia">Absolutia</a></td><td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>34</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Kornkat2020">Kornkat2020</a></td><td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>35</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/zeke_geek">zeke_geek</a></td><td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>36</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/bonerici">bonerici</a></td><td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>37</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/grantlp13">grantlp13</a></td><td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>38</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/ripoli55">ripoli55</a></td><td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>39</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Joe%20Cool99">Joe Cool99</a></td><td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>40</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/ds.tucker.5">ds.tucker.5</a></td><td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>41</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/stevenyc">stevenyc</a></td><td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>42</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/BandWagonerPaysTheDues">BandWagonerPaysTheDues</a></td><td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>43</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Justin%20Lambregtse">Justin Lambregtse</a></td><td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>44</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/The%20truth%20Rodney%20White">The truth Rodney White</a></td><td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>45</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/kathy.clater.3">kathy.clater.3</a></td><td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>46</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/The%20Boourns">The Boourns</a></td><td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>47</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/alaskanpistonsfan">alaskanpistonsfan</a></td><td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>48</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/gordbrown">gordbrown</a></td><td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>49</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Rotten%20Atom">Rotten Atom</a></td><td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>50</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/V.">V.</a></td><td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>51</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Mike%20Payne">Mike Payne</a></td><td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>52</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Hypnowheel">Hypnowheel</a></td><td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>53</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Simbadaproblem">Simbadaproblem</a></td><td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>54</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/XstreamINsanity">XstreamINsanity</a></td><td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>55</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/curlyfries">curlyfries</a></td><td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>56</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Kards">Kards</a></td><td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>57</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/fiendishdr.wu">fiendishdr.wu</a></td><td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>58</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/toocoup4skoo">toocoup4skoo</a></td><td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>59</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/steve1ag">steve1ag</a></td><td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>60</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Analytics">Analytics</a></td><td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>61</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/SSR_">SSR_</a></td><td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>62</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/bugman222">bugman222</a></td><td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>63</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/J%20Dre">J Dre</a></td><td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>64</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Sean%20W">Sean W</a></td><td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>65</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/jbeau2">jbeau2</a></td><td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>66</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/MSUDersh">MSUDersh</a></td><td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>67</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/IamPAP">IamPAP</a></td><td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>68</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/jomanj">jomanj</a></td><td>1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>