BBNBA: Tyler Herro drops 34 in loss; Anthony Davis exits with illness

It might be time to start worrying about the Miami Heat…

After consistently finding ways to win over the last several years by making it to the playoffs in three straight seasons (including an NBA Finals appearance in the 2020 bubble), Pat Riley’s franchise is struggling to string together victories at this (admittedly still early) stage in the 2022-23 season. Tuesday night was arguably the worst loss of them all for Miami, which fell by 20 points, 116-96, to the lowly Detroit Pistons, which sit on a 7-19 overall record.

Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo were terrific for Miami, combining for 55 points on efficient shooting, but the Pistons received 28 second-half points from Bojan Bogdanovic to run away with the win after halftime. It was Detroit’s largest margin of victory this season.

Herro led all scorers with 34 points, which tied his season-high, to go along with three rebounds, six assists, and just one turnover in 37 minutes played. He shot 12-17 from the floor (his most efficient shooting game this season at 70.6 percent) and 2-4 from deep. Herro was aided by 21 points and 15 rebounds from Adebayo, who shot 9-16 from the field in his 34 minutes of action.

However, the rest of Miami combined to score just 41 points.

Kevin Knox was the lone former Kentucky player for the Pistons to suit up, adding seven points and one rebound in 17 minutes. Nerlens Noel and Hamidou Diallo received DNP-Coaches Decisions for Detroit.

The Heat’s 11-14 record this season is simply not cutting it for a team with championship aspirations during the preseason. Granted, poorly timed injuries to key players such as Herro and Jimmy Butler haven’t helped, but Miami has now lost three of its last four games despite a most healthy roster (Butler did sit two of those outings). But also of note: the Heat have started three of the last five seasons with an 11-14 record — it’s a very long schedule.

Losing by 20 points to the Pistons, though? That’s a cause for concern.

Anthony Davis exits early with flu-like symptoms

Anthony Davis, who has been on an MVP-like tear over the last few weeks, only played eight minutes for the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night before exiting the game. But it wasn’t an injury this time around, but rather flu-like symptoms (not COVID-19 related) that forced him to the locker room for the rest of the night. Los Angeles, now 10-13, fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers 116-102.

Davis only took one shot attempt, recording three rebounds and two assists before the sickness overcame him. He had scored a total of 99 points over his last two games and powered the Lakers to an 8-2 record over its last 10 games. The timing of this illness is not ideal.

“His temperature was 101 and some change,” Lakers head coach Darvin Ham said. “AD wanted to try to play, but he felt too weak. He’s drained and dehydrated. That’s a huge loss, obviously, with the way he’s been playing lately.”

There is no timetable for a return. Los Angeles plays once again on Wednesday night against the Raptors in Toronto.

The Lakers were also without a key bench piece in Wenyen Gabriel, who will be reevaluated in one week after a left shoulder strain that he suffered on Sunday against the Washington Wizards. The absence will cost Gabriel at least four games for Los Angeles. The 25-year-old former ‘Cat has appeared in 20 games for the Lakers this season (two starts) and is averaging 5.1 points and 3.7 rebounds on 59.7 percent shooting in 13.6 minutes per contest.

12/6/22 statistics

Player	Score	PTS	FG (3PT)	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	P/M	MIN
Tyler Herro (MIA)	96-116 L vs. DET	34	12-17 (2-4)	3	6	1	0	1	-6	37
Bam Adebayo (MIA)	96-116 L vs. DET	21	9-16	15	2	0	1	5	-12	34
Jamal Murray (DEN)	115-116 L vs. DAL	11	2-11 (0-5)	2	5	1	0	2	15	30
Kevin Knox (DET)	116-96 W @ MIA	7	3-5 (1-3)	1	0	0	0	2	7	17
Anthony Davis (LAL)	102-116 L @ CLE	1	0-0	3	2	0	0	0	-6	8
Wenyen Gabriel (LAL)	102-116 L @ CLE	DNP-Shoulder	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Hamidou Diallo (DET)	116-96 W @ MIA	DNP-CD	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Nerlens Noel (DET)	116-96 W @ MIA	DNP-CD	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Tonight in the NBA

7:00: Clippers (Boston Jr., Wall: out) @ Magic
7:30: Hornets (Richards, PJ Washington) @ Nets
7:30 (ESPN): Hawks @ Knicks (Quickley, Randle)
7:30: Lakers (Davis: out, Gabriel: out) @ Raptors
8:00: Wizards @ Bulls
8:00: Thunder (Gilgeous-Alexander) @ Grizzlies
8:00: Kings (Fox, Lyles, Monk) @ Bucks
8:00: Pacers (Jackson) @ Timberwolves (Towns: out)
8:00: Pistons (Diallo, Knox, Noel) @ Pelicans
9:00: Warriors @ Jazz (Vanderbilt)
10:00 (ESPN): Celtics @ Suns (Booker)