Malik Beasley made a go-ahead technical free throw with 1.1 seconds left in overtime and the host Detroit Pistons escaped with a wild 123-121 victory over the Miami Heat in the NBA Cup opener for both teams on Tuesday night.
Tyler Herro, who scored the last nine points of regulation, all on 3-pointers, to force overtime, gave the Heat a two-point lead on a bank shot with 1.8 seconds left in overtime. An alley-oop dunk by Jalen Duren off an inbounds pass Cade Cunningham tied the score.
The Heat called a timeout they didn’t have, resulting in the technical for a 122-121 lead. Beasley then split two free throws after Miami was called for a take foul.
Beasley and Cunningham finished with 21 points apiece. Cunningham also chipped in nine assists and seven rebounds, but was responsible for seven of the Pistons’ 19 turnovers. Jaden Ivey had 19 points, Tobias Harris added 18, and Isaiah Stewart finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Herro poured in 40 points. His 10 3-pointers tied a Heat record and are an NBA Cup single-game record. Bam Adebayo supplied 20 points and 12 rebounds.
The Heat played their second consecutive game without Jimmy Butler, who has a sprained right ankle.
Detroit scored the first 10 points of the game and were ahead 32-21 by the end of the quarter.
The advantage grew to 18 when the Pistons scored the first seven points of the second quarter. The cushion didn’t last for long.
The Heat responded with a 23-4 run to a one-point lead. Detroit finished the half on a 10-4 run to take a 57-51 halftime lead.
Cunningham’s first basket of the game, a 3-pointer, gave Detroit a 64-59 lead early in the second half. The Pistons finished the third with an 8-2 run and led 91-82.
Herro hit consecutive 3-pointers to cut the Pistons’ advantage to eight midway through the quarter.
When Stewart dunked with two minutes left, Detroit’s lead was still nine.
After an offensive foul by Ivey, Herro erupted with his late flurry of 3-pointers on consecutive possessions, tying the score at 111-all. After a Pistons turnover, Herro missed a midrange shot on Miami’s last possession of regulation.