Bam Adebayo hits buzzer-beating 3-pointer; Heat beat Pistons

Field Level Media|published: Sun 17th March, 17:34 2024

Mar 17, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) shoots on Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) in the first half at Little Caesars Arena. credits: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Bam Adebayo made a 30-foot shot just before the final buzzer, giving the visiting Miami Heat a 104-101 win over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday afternoon.

On the final play, Terry Rozier drove toward the top of the key, then kicked the ball to a trailing Adebayo. It was just the 12th 3-pointer of the Heat center's career.

The Heat completed a four-game sweep of the season series. They also won at Detroit on Friday night, 108-95.

Duncan Robinson led Miami with 30 points and five assists. Adebayo finished with 20 points and 17 rebounds. Rozier had 17 points and nine assists, while Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 15 points for Miami (37-30).

Leading scorer Jimmy Butler missed the contest due to a right foot injury.

Evan Fournier led the Pistons (12-55) with 18 points. Cade Cunningham had 17 points and nine assists, Simone Fontecchio added 13 points and eight rebounds and Jalen Duren paired 11 points with 10 rebounds.

Miami scored the first seven points but Detroit held a 23-21 lead by the end of the first quarter.

The Pistons extended the advantage early in the second but Robinson erupted for 15 points during the quarter as Miami grabbed a 60-50 halftime lead.

With the score 79-63 Miami midway through the third, the Pistons suddenly caught fire. They scored the last 13 points of the quarter to pull within three.

Fournier got the run going with a 3-pointer. Fontecchio added a three-point play during that stretch.

Rozier knocked down a 20-foot shot during the opening minute of the fourth, then set up Jaquez for a 3-pointer to give the Heat an 84-76 lead.

An Adebayo dunk made it 87-78 but Detroit answered with a 7-0 spurt, including five points from Fournier. Duren tied the game at 90 with 5:21 remaining on two free throws.

The Heat scored the next five points on Adebayo's dunk and Robinson's 3-pointer. After Detroit pulled within a point, Robinson completed a four-point play with two minutes to go.

Isaiah Stewart answered with a 3-pointer, and Cunningham's layup with 43 seconds left tied the score. Both teams came up empty on the next possessions before Adebayo's game-winner.

—Field Level Media