Miami Heat vs. Detroit Pistons Preview: Pistons Hold on to Last Playoff Berth as They Face Fifth-Seeded Heat
The pressure is heavy on Detroit Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy and his team, as they look to hold on to the eighth playoff spot as they take on the number five-ranked Miami Heat for the fourth time this season.
The said game will be taking place on Tuesday, April 12th, at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit.
The first encounter between both teams took place last November 25th in Detroit, with the home team winning with a final score of 104-81. It was big man Andre Drummond who came up big for the Pistons, as he ended the night with a double-double. Drummond scored 18 points, along with 20 rebounds and two steals, shooting 9 out of 18 from the field, through 32 minutes of playing time.
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The second game last December 22 in Miami was a nail-biter, but in the end, the Pistons once again emerged victorious. Down by 18 points in the second quarter, Detroit was able to come back in the game through superb three-pointing shooting. And it was their on-point shooting that was able to help them with the victory, eventually.
With 55.5 seconds left in the contest, shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope sank in a dagger of a jumper, which eventually became the game-winning shot. He ended the game with 14 points, along with four rebounds and three assists, shooting 5 out of 13 from the field, through 40 minutes of playing time.
The third game last April 5th in Miami was a different story, as this time around, the Heat was able to come out with the win, ending the contest with a final score of 107-89. In the said game, it was Goran Dragic who put in significant numbers, scoring 22 points, along with five rebounds and eight assists, shooting 9 out of 15 from the field, through 33 minutes of playing time.
The Pistons will be making their first playoff appearance in six years, as they currently hold a record of 43-37. And for Van Gundy, it is something to be proud of.
"It's huge for us. It's huge for our organization. It's a great milestone for them to get in and we hope this is just the start of bigger things," Van Gundy said in an NBA.com report. "But you've got to start somewhere, and this is it."
The Heat currently holds a record of 47-33.
