Detroit finished 12 games ahead of Miami during the regular season, but it took just one game for the Pistons to lose their homecourt advantage. These two teams are meeting in the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight season, with Detroit dumping the Heat last year in a memorable seven-game series. Miami has never advanced to the NBA Finals since joining the league in 1988-89.



Las Vegas Sports Consultants installed Detroit as a 6 1/2-point home ‘chalk’ for Thursday’s Game 2, with the total set at 185. ESPN will provide coverage of this contest beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Pistons are now listed as a $1.15 favorite (bet $115 to win $100) to win this series and advance to the NBA Finals, while Miami is set at a minus $1.05 (bet $105 to win $100).

The Heat (61-33 straight up, 43-49 against the spread) prevailed in Game 1 by dominating Detroit in rebounding, 43-33, and points in the paint, 52-38. Miami also shot a blistering 56 percent (36-of-64) from the field, taking advantage of its six days rest.

Guard Dwyane Wade and center Shaquille O’Neal were hampered with foul trouble, but Wade led all scorers with 25 points on 9-of-11 shooting along with five assists in just 27 minutes. O’Neal stepped up with 14 and eight rebounds, while forward Antoine Walker added 17 and seven.

Miami got off to a fast start by scoring the first 11 points of the game while never trailing in the first half. The Pistons took their biggest lead of the game, five points, in the third quarter before the Heat went on an 11-1 run. Detroit finished the third quarter by missing its last nine shots.

The Pistons (72-33 SU, 43-50 ATS) dropped to 2-3 SU and 1-4 ATS their last five games with Tuesday’s setback, as the team showed effects from their grueling seven-game series with Cleveland. Detroit did force Miami into 15 turnovers, but couldn’t overcome tired legs.

The Pistons shot just 38 percent (31-of-82) from the field, and 24 percent (5-of-21) from behind the arc. Four Detroit players reached double digits in scoring, led by guards Richard Hamilton’s 22 and Chauncey Billups’ 19 and seven assists.

Center Ben Wallace was a force on the boards with 14 rebounds, while forward Tayshaun Prince contributed 16 points and six rebounds. Forward Rasheed Wallace endured a tough start to this series with just seven points on 3-of-10 shooting.

Miami is just 2-5 SU and 3-4 ATS the previous seven encounters with Detroit, while the ‘under’ has gone a solid 6-2 the last eight meetings. The Heat maintain a 25-22 SU and 24-23 ATS road record, winning those affairs by an average score of 97-96.

Detroit owns a 43-6 SU and 24-24 ATS home ledger, prevailing by an average score of 99-89. The Pistons found themselves in a 3-2 series hole to Miami last year at this stage before winning the final two matchups both SU and ATS.

There are no major injuries on either side that will affect the start of Thursday’s Game 2.