James' Triple-Double Helps Heat Pound Pistons
By LARRY LAGE/AP Sports Writer
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) - LeBron James had 17 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds to help the Miami Heat build a big lead, and then rested in the fourth quarter of a 110-78 victory against the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.
It was James' first triple-double of the season and No. 37 for his career. It also was the fourth time he accomplished the feat without playing in the fourth quarter.
James' last triple-double through three quarters was Jan. 27, 2009, for Cleveland against Sacramento, according to STATS.
The banged-up Heat had little trouble with the Pistons even though they were without Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers, Ray Allen and Greg Oden. They had plenty of players make up for the losses.
Udonis Haslem scored 12 of his 17 points in the first quarter, when James already had seven assists. Chris Bosh scored 15, Chris Andersen had 13 points, Norris Cole scored 12 and James Jones added 10 for Miami.
Greg Monroe and Will Bynum each had 12 points and Kyle Singler scored 11 for the Pistons, who honored their 1989 championship team at halftime.
Detroit's Andre Drummond had 12 points and eight rebounds. Josh Smith was held to nine points on 4-of-14 shooting.
Detroit was competitive for about a quarter.
The Heat led 28-23 after the opening period before outscoring the Pistons by 10 in the second quarter and by 17 in the third.
Both teams scored 18 in the final quarter, but that was when James was on the bench and so relaxed that he smiled for pictures taken by fans during a timeout.
Wade said he couldn't play because his right hamstring was bothering him, adding that he's day to day. Wade has played in 51 of 71 games this season, sitting out many by design because the two-time defending NBA champions want to rest his sore knees to make sure he's ready for the playoffs.
Chalmers injured his right quadriceps in Wednesday night's loss to Eastern Conference-leading Indiana. Chalmers said he's day to day. Allen missed his second straight game because of the flu, and coach Erik Spoelstra said he kept Oden out to rest his back.
NOTES: James said before the game he was wowed by slugger Miguel Cabrera getting a $292 million 10-year contract from the Detroit Tigers, saying he wished the NBA didn't have a salary cap. James has six-year contract worth roughly $110 million. ... Pistons president of basketball operations and Hall of Fame player Joe Dumars declined to be interviewed before the game and did not address the crowd when the Bad Boys were honored at halftime. Dumars' job seems to be in jeopardy with the franchise likely to miss the playoffs for a fifth straight year
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