Pistons at Heat preview: Detroit looking to win second straight in Miami

The Detroit Pistons look to build upon their impressive 120-100 victory over the Miami Heat by winning back-to-back games for the first time in the young season.

It will require winning in Miami once again in the second of their mini series against the Heat.

Detroit is projected to run out the same roster as their third of the season. Miami will be again without Jimmy Butler, Avery Bradley and Meyers Leonard while Tyler Herro is questionable to return.

Game Vitals

When: 3 p.m. EST
Where: American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida
Watch: Fox Sports Detroit
Odds: Pistons +6

Game Analysis

Saturday’s great performance by Detroit came on the backs of solid outings by Blake Griffin, Derrick Rose and Josh Jackson. Jackson looked the best he has since his ankle injury while Griffin and Rose looked the healthiest they have all year with some extra rest. With only one day to recover this time around, the veterans’ mobility will be something to keep an eye on as it could inform how rest patterns work in the future.

Rose was great attacking the basket, taking advantage of an aging Goran Dragic and a generally porous perimeter defense without Butler and Bradley. Delon Wright was also able to get into the meat of the defense and facilitate 10 assists. We also saw some dynamic passing from Jerami Grant who continued his streak of 20-point games. Grant’s playmaking for others added a dynamic to Detroit’s offense and made his teammates’ jobs easier.

Even if Tyler Herro suits up, the Pistons should have opportunities to get to the second level more often than usual. Whether they can execute at the same level as Saturday will go a long way in determining the final outcome.

Defensively, Detroit will need to tighten up their defense on Duncan Robinson but the Pistons defended the rest of the Heat fairly well. Bam Adebayo scored 28 points and added six assists, but his performance was quieter than those numbers suggest and Detroit doesn’t have a great answer for him regardless.

The key defensively will be how Detroit defends the rest of Miami’s roster.

Projected Lineups

Detroit Pistons (3-9)

Delon Wright, Wayne Ellington, Jerami Grant, Blake Griffin, Mason Plumlee

Miami Heat (4-7)

Gabe Vincent, Duncan Robinson, KZ Okpala, Kelly Olynyk, Bam Adebayo

Question of the Game

Sekou Doumbouya played 17 minutes on Saturday after a DNP-CD the game before, and Isaiah Stewart appeared for 19 while Jahlil Okafor never touched the floor. Svi Mykhailiuk played just the final minute. Greg Kelser suggested that Dwane Casey may be finding a comfort level with his rotations.

Will Doumbouya and Stewart see similar minutes against the same roster or were Casey’s decisions two nights ago more experimental in nature?