MIAMI (AP) – Dwyane Wade was playing a day after having fluid drained from his left knee. Udonis Haslem is dealing with a slew of injuries, including problems with both ankles.
An already decimated Miami Heat roster had two more players scratched at half-time.
Somehow, they found a way.
Wade scored 19 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter, Haslem set season highs with 18 points and 13 rebounds, and the undermanned Heat enhanced their postseason hopes by beating the Detroit Pistons 109-102 in the NBA on Sunday night.
“Just being strong-willed,” Wade said. “We didn’t have that many guys coming into the game, we lost two coming out of half-time … but you have to do what you have to do.”
James Ennis matched his season best with 16 points, Mario Chalmers scored 11 and Goran Dragic had 10 for the Heat, who won their fifth straight at home and strengthened their hold on the No. 7 spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
Andre Drummond had 32 points and 14 rebounds for the Pistons, who had won four in a row. Reggie Jackson had 31 points and nine assists.
“The only two guys that played well for us offensively were Reggie and Andre,”Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said.” Wade and Haslem played great for them. We had two guys play real well but they got more help.”
Miami used seven players in the second half, after forwards Luol Deng (left knee) and Michael Beasley (right elbow) got hurt in the opening two quarters. Centres Hassan Whiteside (hand) and Chris Andersen (calf) were ruled out before the game, as was Shabazz Napier (hip).
And the Heat have already lost Chris Bosh (blood clots) and Josh McRoberts (knee) for the season.
“Our two co-captains really led us and set the tone,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Miami were up by as many as 17 in the third, but back-to-back three-pointers from Jodie Meeks late in the quarter helped spark a Detroit run that got the Pistons within 71-65 going into the fourth.
But the Heat held on, with Wade going 11 for 11 from the line in the fourth quarter.
