In the first game of each team’s season on Wednesday night, the host Miami Heat nearly lost a 19-point lead before Bam Adebayo blocked a Cade Cunningham runner in the lane with 1:04 remaining. The Heat then had to endure three more Detroit Pistons misses to win 103-102.
Adebayo had a team-high 22 points, and Jimmy Butler finished with a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Heat, who led 94–75 at the end of the third quarter after going on a 13-0 run.
However, Cunningham, who was playing for the first time in over a year due to a stress fracture in his left leg, spearheaded a Pistons comeback that came dangerously close to defeating the Eastern Conference champions.
Cunningham scored two baskets and made three assists during a 14-0 burst that started the comeback, bringing the Pistons within 94-89 with 6:24 remaining.
With 1:44 remaining, Cunningham eventually scored the game’s final points on a 3-pointer, but Adebayo turned down his short-range effort to give Detroit a late lead.
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