Heat defeat disgruntled Pistons

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Instead of focusing on the Miami Heat, the Detroit Pistons devoted their attention to the referees. The champions weren’t happy, and they let their disgust defeat them.

On a night when Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal were better in the first half than they were in the final two quarters, the Heat didn’t need either of them to be the key factor in their 113-104 victory over Detroit on Sunday night.

Instead, Miami let the Pistons self-destruct.

Miami scored 11 points from the foul line during a 13-4 run that put the Heat ahead for good midway through the fourth quarter, and the Pistons lost control of their emotions to such a degree that Rasheed Wallace and Chauncey Billups were hit with technical fouls.

Wade scored 21 of his 36 points in the first half. O’Neal finished with 24 points.

Richard Hamilton led Detroit with 33.