The Detroit Pistons honoured their “Bad Boys” 1989 NBA championship team on Friday, but the current edition was the worst. LeBron James had his first triple-double of the season with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists, and the shorthanded Miami Heat spanked the Pistons 110-78.

“It’s been very elusive this season and great to do it in a win,” James said of his 37th career triple double.

“We were able to control the tempo and they had to adjust to us,” he added. “We got shots the whole night and we had the advantage on the boards the whole night. That was key for us.”

During a halftime ceremony, the Pistons introduced members of the 25th anniversary championship club led by Captain Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn and Vinnie Johnson but it failed to provide any inspiration. Instead, the night belonged to the two-time defending NBA champs, who rebounded from Wednesday’s tough 84-83 loss to Eastern Conference-leading Indiana with its most lopsided win of the season.

“I was really encouraged by the energy, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “It was about us and bringing our game.”

Udonis Haslem netted a season-high 17, Chris Bosh added 15 for Miami, which rolled despite the absence of starters Dwyane Wade (hamstring), Mario Chalmers (bruised quad), Greg Oden (back spasms) and key reserve Ray Allen (flu). “We’re a complete team and we understand that in order to win everyone needs to contribute and that’s what happened tonight,” said Heat backup guard Norris Cole after a 12-point effort. “We came out tonight with a no-excuse game and got the win.”

Greg Monroe and Will Bynum had 12 points for the Pistons, who shot a frosty 38 per cent en route to their worst loss of the season. “It’s really frustrating to get beat like that, you don’t want that on no one,” said Pistons’ Kyle Singler, who scored 11. “There was no answer.”

The Pistons will look to rebound Saturday by sending the Philadelphia 76ers to an NBA-record 27 consecutive loss.

 

San Antonio 133, Nuggets 102

Marco Belinelli dropped six triples en route to 27 points, Tim Duncan added 20, and the league-best Spurs rocked the host Nuggets for their season-high 16th straight win.

 

Raptors 105, Boston Celtics 103

DeMar DeRozan scored 30 points, Amir Johnson hit game-winning layup with seven seconds remaining, and the Raptors clinched their first playoff berth since 2008 after edging the Celtics.

Wizards 91, Indiana Pacers 78

John Wall scored 20 points, Marcin Gortat had 17 with 12 rebounds, and the host Wizards sent the slumping Pacers to their eighth loss in the last 13 games.

 

Timberwolves 143, LA Lakers 107

Nikola Pekovic scored 26 points, Kevin Love had 22 points, with 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his second career triple-double, and the host T-Wolves shot a sizzling 67 per cent from the floor to crush the already playoff-eliminated Lakers.

 

Thunder 94, Sacramento Kings 81

League top gun Kevin Durant fired in 29 points through quarters - his 37th consecutive game with 25 or more points - and the Thunder ran their home winning streak to 12 over the Kings.

 

Trail Blazers 91, Chicago Bulls 74

Mo Williams scored 18 points, Damian Lillard added 16, the Trail Blazers won their second road game in as many nights after running past the Bulls.

 

Warriors 100, Grizzlies 93

Stephen Curry scored 33 points, including the tie-breaking triple with 1:21 remaining, to spark a game-closing 14-0 run and the Warriors shot past the visiting Grizzlies.

Zach Randolph scored 21 points for Memphis, which dropped into eighth-place in the Western Conference playoff race.

 

Nets 108, Cavaliers 97

Paul Pierce scored 22 points, helping the Nets extend their home-winning streak to 12 after rolling the Cavs.

 

Pelicans 102, Utah Jazz 95

Tyreke Evans had 22 points with a career-high 15 assists, and the Pelicans overcame the first- quarter loss to All-Star Anthony Davis (ankle injury) to quiet the visiting Jazz for their season-high fifth straight win.

 

Suns 112, New York Knicks 88

Slovenia’s Goran Dragic poured in 18 of his 32 points in the opening quarter, and the Suns burned the visiting Knicks for their season-high sixth straight win to move into the seventh spot in the Western Conference playoff chase.

Carmelo Anthony scored 21 for the Knicks, who dropped two games back of idle Atlanta for the eight and final playoff berth in the East.

 

Orlando Magic 110, Charlotte Bobcats 105 (OT)

Nikola Vucevic had 24 points and 23 rebounds, Jameer Nelson hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:26 left in overtime, sending the Magic over the visiting Bobcats, who wasted Josh McRoberts’ career-high 24-point effort.

 

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