Miami lost 111-128 to the Pistons and trailed by as many as 23. Tonight at Charlotte, the standard is simple: defend for 48 minutes.
Lead Cold
Detroit led from the opening minutes and never gave it back. The Heat did not lead once, and the Pistons built a 23-point cushion. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 36 with 12 rebounds and still finished minus-23. Davion Mitchell was minus-24 and Bam Adebayo minus-22. That is a defense problem, not a scoring problem.
Perimeter Cold
Andrew Wiggins shot 3-12. Klay Thompson went 2-11, all of it from three. The starters scored 72 and the reserves 31, so the offense had help in places. Nobody guarded. Miami now sits 0-2 after a 106-131 loss to Minnesota, and the pattern is plain.
Charlotte Tonight
The Hornets are 1-1 under Charles Lee and lost their last game. They are thin: Kon Knueppel, Coby White and Grant Williams are day-to-day, and Kylan Boswell is out. Charlotte had two days of rest to Miami's one. Last season the Hornets went 44-38, one game better than the Heat. Short rosters are no cover for a team that keeps getting blown out.
Voices Outside
ESPN framed the night around Antetokounmpo's 36 and his confidence that the Heat will click. The Miami Herald reported the players were left "shocked" by the home loss. Confidence is cheap. Defensive stops are the only proof the standard still means something.
Bottom Line
Dallas visits Monday, and Atlanta follows Wednesday. Miami cannot afford a third straight loss to open a season. The open question is whether anyone besides Antetokounmpo is ready to match his effort tonight.
What is the Heat's record after two games?
Miami is 0-2 after losses to Minnesota, 106-131, and Detroit, 111-128. The Heat never led against the Pistons.
Who do the Heat play next?
They visit the Charlotte Hornets tonight, October 24, then host the Mavericks on October 26. Charlotte is 1-1 and has several players listed day-to-day.
