In a thrilling NBA Cup clash on Tuesday night, Malik Beasley secured a dramatic victory for the Detroit Pistons over the Miami Heat, finishing with a 123-121 scoreline after a tense overtime. The pivotal moment came when Beasley converted a tiebreaking free throw with only 1.1 seconds remaining, following an unusual technical foul called on Miami for calling a timeout that they were out of.
The game’s final moments saw Tyler Herro give the Heat a brief lead of 121-119 with 1.8 seconds on the clock, but after a timeout, Cade Cunningham successfully connected with Jalen Duren for an alley-oop. This led to the Heat’s crucial mistake, resulting in Beasley’s foul shot that gave Detroit the edge at 122-121, subsequently adding another free throw right before time expired.
Both Beasley and Cunningham led the Pistons with 21 points each, marking a significant turn for the team which failed to win a game in last year’s NBA Cup. Notably, Herro was outstanding for Miami, netting an impressive 40 points, including 20 during the fourth quarter and overtime.
The game also saw injuries impacting both teams. Miami’s Nikola Jovic left early due to a collision with Beasley that caused significant bleeding, while the Pistons’ Tim Hardaway Jr. suffered an injury after a collision with Herro and Duren, necessitating medical attention and eventually being taken off the court in a wheelchair.
The Pistons initially dominated, building an early 39-21 lead in the second quarter, but a strong response from Bam Adebayo, Herro, and Duncan Robinson fueled a remarkable 23-4 run that flipped the script, putting Miami ahead at 44-43 just a few minutes before halftime. Herro’s late-game performance was particularly notable, where he shot 6-of-8 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter, showcasing his scoring prowess.
Detroit will be looking to build on this momentum as they return to the court on Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks, while Miami will have a short break before facing Indiana later in the week.
This match highlights the competitive edge of the NBA Cup and the importance of executing under pressure. Both teams continue to show resilience, which is crucial in the early part of the season. Fans can look forward to exciting matchups as the tournament progresses.