Nazr Mohammed had 16 points and eight rebounds to lead the Detroit Pistons to an 84-64 victory over Miami on Tuesday night as the Heat's Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade watched most of the exhibition game from the bench.
The two came out of the game with the defending NBA champions leading 13-12 in the first quarter, and the Pistons quickly took a lead they never relinquished in the preseason opener for both teams.
Reserve guard Carlos Delfino added 15 points for Detroit.
Jason Kapono led the Heat with 12 points, while Dorrell Wright added 11.
The Pistons, who lost to the Heat in six games in last season's Eastern Conference finals, took the court for the first time since losing Ben Wallace, who signed in the offseason as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls.
O'Neal and Wade returned to the lineup at the start of the second half, with the Pistons leading 42-32. But Detroit opened the third quarter with a 13-6 run, taking a 55-38 lead on a three-point play by Mohammed after he was fouled by O'Neal.
Heat coach Pat Riley pulled O'Neal and Wade midway through the third quarter, and they spent the rest of the game sitting together on the bench.
O'Neal, who has complained about the feel of the new microfiber composite basketballs that replaced the old leather models, had four turnovers in 17 minutes. He finished with seven rebounds and four points.
The Philadelphia 76ers rallied from a 22-point deficit midway into the third quarter to beat the Phoenix Suns 103-100 as part of their NBA preseason European tour.
Rick Brunson, who did not play in the first three quarters, made a decisive assist, grabbed a rebound and made one of two free throws to secure the victory for the 76ers, who improved to 1-1 in preseason play.
Iverson finished with 29 points and Weber had 17, while Korver finished with 20. Andre Igoudala had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two