Preview: Heat return home to face off with Blake Griffin, Pistons

Published

TV: FOX Sports Sun


TIME: Pregame coverage begins at 7 p.m.


STREAM IT LIVE ON THE FOX SPORTS APP

DetroitPistons (26-30, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Miami Heat (26-31, ninth in the Eastern Conference)



BOTTOM LINE


Blake Griffin leads Detroit into a matchup against Miami. He currently ranks ninth in the NBA scoring 26.3 points per game.

The Heat are 14-20 in conference games. Miami ranks third in the Eastern Conference in rebounding averaging 46.7 rebounds. Hassan Whiteside leads the Heat with 12.4 boards.



The Pistons have gone 9-17 away from home. Detroit averages 14.8 turnovers per game and is 13-8 when winning the turnover battle. In their last meeting on Jan. 18, the Pistons won 98-93. Griffin scored a team-high 32 points for Detroit in the victory.







TOP PERFORMERS


Josh Richardson leads the Heat scoring 17.6 points per game and averaging 3.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists. Dwyane Wade has averaged 13.9 points and collected 3.8 rebounds while shooting 39.8 percent over the last 10 games for Miami.

Griffin leads the Pistons scoring 26.3 points and collecting 8.1 rebounds. Andre Drummond has averaged 14.1 rebounds and added 20.5 points per game over the last 10 games for Detroit.



LAST 10 GAMES


Pistons: 6-4, averaging 108.3 points, 45.3 rebounds, 23.9 assists, 5.8 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 45.4 percent from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.3 points on 46.6 percent shooting.

Heat: 3-7, averaging 101.8 points, 46.5 rebounds, 24.7 assists, 7.9 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.8 percent from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.5 points on 45.2 percent shooting.

Heat Injuries: Goran Dragic: out (right knee surgery), James Johnson: out (left shoulder).