Pistons hold on without Drummond, beat Heat 98-93

By NOAH TRISTER

DETROIT (AP) Blake Griffin had 32 points and 11 rebounds, and the Detroit Pistons overcame an early exit by injured Andre Drummond to beat the Miami Heat 98-93 on Friday night.

Dwyane Wade scored 20 points for the Heat, but missed badly on an off-balance 3-pointer in the final seconds that could have tied the game.

Detroit led by 16 in the first half and was up 53-39 at halftime, but the Pistons were outscored 30-12 in the third quarter. They rebounded in the fourth and held on.

Drummond left with a nasal injury after being hit in the face in the first quarter by the arm of Miami's James Johnson. Drummond finished with no points in 7:14, and backup Zaza Pachulia scored only two - on a tip-in that put Detroit up 94-91 with 26.7 seconds remaining.

The Heat were done in by their abysmal foul shooting. They went 5 of 19 at the line, with center Hassan Whiteside missing all eight of his attempts.

Luke Kennard scored 22 points for the Pistons, and Reggie Bullock added 19. Griffin finished an assist shy of a triple-double.

TRIBUTE

Wade received a nice ovation when he checked into the game in the first quarter, and a message went up on the scoreboard congratulating him on his career. This is Wade's final NBA season, and the Heat won't come to Detroit again unless the teams meet in the playoffs.

TIP-INS

Heat: Miami was without G Josh Richardson (illness).

Pistons: G Ish Smith, who missed 19 games after a right adductor tear in December, left with adductor tightness in his third game back.

UP NEXT

Heat: Visit the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.

Pistons: Host the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night.

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