Preview: Heat at Pistons, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026 DETROIT (Interstat) — A surging Detroit Pistons squad will look to rebound from a rare stumble when they host the inconsistent Miami Heat at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday. The Pistons (24-8), among the NBA’s elite this season, have dropped two straight after a five-game winning streak. They fell 112-99 at the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday despite 27 points and nine assists from All-Star guard Cade Cunningham. Cunningham has been spectacular, averaging a near triple-double of 24.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 10.7 assists over his last 10 games, including a 29-point, 17-assist performance in a narrow loss at Utah. “We’ve shown our capability, but we have to re-establish our defensive identity,” Pistons coach said Tuesday. “It starts with consistency.” They face a Miami team (18-15) arriving with momentum from a dominant 147-123 victory over Denver on Monday. Forward Andrew Wiggins led a balanced attack with 19 points, six assists and three blocks, continuing an uptick in form. Over his last three games, all Heat wins, Wiggins has averaged 21.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists. “He’s impacting the game on both ends right now,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Wiggins. “When he’s aggressive and engaged, it elevates our entire group.” The Heat’s recent results have been a rollercoaster, however, with three convincing wins preceded by a 1-5 skid. Their defense, which allowed an average of 138.5 points in the two losses preceding the Denver win, will be tested by Detroit’s top-five offense. This is the second meeting this season. Detroit won a thriller in Miami, 138-135, on Nov. 29. Cunningham had 31 points and 12 assists in that victory. The Pistons will rely on their interior presence, with center Jalen Duren coming off an 18-point, 14-rebound effort against the Clippers. Miami will need continued production from center Kel’el Ware (19 points, nine rebounds vs. Denver) and playmaking from forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. (20 points, 11 assists) to counter. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. The game opens a challenging January slate for both teams. Miami begins a five-game road trip after this contest, while Detroit plays seven of its next nine at home.