MIAMI -- Falling behind by a significant amount was nothing new for the Miami Heat.
Failing to come back was.
Miami held one lead -- after Chris Bosh scored the game's first basket -- before soon trailing the rest of the way en route to a 107-97 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Good-bye 10-game winning streak. Hello four-game road trip.
Dwyane Wade sat out the game to rest his knees. It was the fourth game the guard has missed this season.
Miami, behind by as many as 18 points in the second quarter, has trailed by at least 14 points in three of its past four home games.
LeBron James and Michael Beasley each scored 23 points to lead Miami (14-4).
The Heat's second unit of Beasley, Ray Allen, Chris Andersen, Rashard Lewis and Norris Cole again brought energy and led a comeback early in the fourth quarter when Miami pulled within three points -- but that was the closest it got.
Detroit's Kyle Singler scored 10 of his 18 points in the third quarter, after which the Pistons led 72-68.
The Heat trailed by as many as 18 and were behind 54-43 at the half. James had 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Beasley had 10 points off the bench.
Detroit led 28-18 after the first quarter. Miami committed eight turnovers and hit just 2 of 10 from 3-point territory despite many open looks.
The Pistons finished with seven double-figure scorers.
With Detroit ahead 91-88 late, James (5:43 left) and Chris Bosh (4:33 left) each missed open 3-pointers that would have tied it. Brandon Jennings then nailed a trey with 4:09 remaining to give the Pistons a 6-point cushion. The Heat never got closer than 7 after that.
Detroit's Andre Drummond had 18 rebounds, including eight offensive, to help the Pistons own the boards 46-34.
In a reserve role, Beasley scored 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting in 30:54.
The Heat begin a four-game road trip at Chicago on Thursday at 9:30 p.m. Miami then visit Minnesota, Detroit and Indiana.
Charlie McCarthy can be reached at mac1763@bellsouth.net or on Twitter @mccarthy_chas.
