DETROIT — After nearly two weeks on the road, the Detroit Pistons returned to their home court to begin 2026, but it was far from the ideal start.
Even with two starters missing in the second half, the Pistons’ clawed back from a 22-point deficit against the Miami Heat to pull within two. But late miscues saw Detroit take a 118-112 loss at Little Caesars Arena Thursday night.
Cade Cunningham kept the Pistons in the matchup with 31 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds, while a boost from Marcus Sasser’s 18-point performance off the bench gave them some hope in the fourth quarter.
However, Miami managed to quell Detroit’s comeback attempt as Norman Powell posted a game-high 36 points on 7-of-14 shooting from three.
Miami came out with plenty of energy, chasing down loose balls and at times trying to pick Pistons up defensively on their own end of the court.
Jalen Duren got a good feel for the offense early on despite Miami’s Bam Adebayo making for a tough presence in the paint. He was fed a pair of makes from Duncan Robinson and Cunningham. Robinson, himself, popped a quick three and finished with a driving reverse to put Detroit up 18-15.
Miami took control with a 14-0 run as the Pistons couldn’t buy a make and the Heat were punishing them from deep and in transition. In the first half, Miami outscored Detroit 16-8 on the fast break.
It was the Piston guards getting them back in the matchup after trailing by as much as nine. Sasser — coming off a season-best 19-point performance — brought some physical drives to the rim and Jaden Ivey had a crafty finish.
Cunningham was the key offensive force with 19 points and four assists in the first half.
After Ausar Thompson briefly got the lead back for the Pistons banking a jumper for a 44-43 advantage, the Heat snagged it right back as former Detroit forward Simone Fontecchio hit a late three in the half and Powell ended a 19-point half by draining his fifth three-pointer in the final second of the period.
A nine-point deficit at halftime wasn’t the only issue for the Pistons as Duren exited the game and went to the locker room a minute ahead of halftime after appearing to roll his ankle.
Despite returning at the outset of the second half, he subbed out after three minutes and was ruled out for the remainder of the game shortly after. With Detroit already down forward Tobias Harris, front court help was running thin.
Fortunes weren’t much better out on the court as Miami got out on a 17-2 run early on to take a commanding 22-point lead.
The Miami bigs helped set off the run by nabbing four offensive rebounds and taking advantage of second-chance opportunities. It was a rare down night for the Pistons on the boards as they gave up 13 on the offensive end and were outdone 47-41 by Miami.
This was just the seventh game this season the Pistons were outrebounded.
An 8-0 run capped by a Sasser three pulled Detroit within 14 and they managed to bring that deficit down to 13 going into the fourth.
With a spark needed, Sasser continued to show up once with three makes from beyond the arc by midway through the fourth and continually helping Detroit chip away at the lead.
The Pistons managed to get as close as five points down the stretch as Cunningham knocked the ball loose from Adebayo and fed Thompson for a delayed lay-in with 66 seconds remaining.
After a defensive stop, Cunningham was double-teamed in the corner and he found an open Javonte Green for a three-pointer that set off the crowd at LCA. Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. settled them right back down with a turnaround jumper to finish off his 19-point effort.
A turnover on Detroit’s next inbound play by Thompson put an end to the Pistons’ comeback attempt and handed them their third home loss of the season.
BOX SCORE
Up next: The Pistons head to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers on Sunday before returning to LCA for a six-game home stand.