MIAMI -- It was a picturesque scene for most of the day in Miami on Wednesday, with balmy temperatures blanketed by lots of sunshine and a few mid-day sprinkles.
It was the type of scene that many of the Detroit Pistons players might not have any choice but to get used to real soon if their impending first-round playoff series against top-seeded Cleveland goes as expected. The Pistons (39-43), heading into the playoffs with a three-game losing streak, officially can focus all their energy on the Cavs now that the regular season is over following a 102-96 overtime loss Wednesday to the Miami Heat.
"They got a pretty good record now, a pretty good home record," said Detroit's Rasheed Wallace, referring to a Cleveland team that finished with the best record in the NBA.
"I guess they're feeling (good about) themselves right now. I guess it's going to be a David versus Goliath."
With Miami and Detroit already having secured their playoff seeding before Wednesday's game -- No. 5 and No. 8, respectively -- both teams used the matchup as a chance to rest their core guys and give the end-of-the-bench players one last chance at action.
Miami's Chris Quinn had a career-high 26 points. Kwame Brown led Detroit with 17 points and 13 rebounds for his second double-double this season.
League MVP candidate Dwyane Wade and fellow starter Udonis Haslem did not play for the Heat. The Pistons rested Antonio McDyess and Richard Hamilton, while Wallace (three points) and Tayshaun Prince (two points) each played less than 10 minutes.
Detroit coach Michael Curry said the game was another chance for his backups to get into the kind of flow the Pistons will need if they are to pull off one of the biggest upsets in NBA playoff history.
"When you look at trying to win a series, you take a guy like Arron Afflalo or Walter Herrmann; one of them each night that you win a game in a series, is probably going to have a real good game," Curry said. "Hopefully, this will continue to help them get into a good rhythm."
The Pistons also gave extended minutes to Rodney Stuckey and Will Bynum, two more players that Detroit will need to come through in a big way if they are to have any shot at knocking off a Cleveland team that won a franchise-record 66 games this season.
"I think we'll play a lot better than people expect us to play," Brown said.
While Detroit's core guys such as Hamilton, Prince and Wallace will have to play well against Cleveland, many of the players on the floor for the Pistons Wednesday also will need to step up and contribute.
"(Wednesday's game) is important just for your growth and your confidence in getting ready for the playoffs," said Afflalo, who had 13 points in a career-high 49 minutes. "I'm interested in that more so than (Wednesday's game against the Heat), just like everybody else."
Miami led 46-41 at the half, as Quinn nailed a buzzer-beating shot from near half court as time expired.
The Heat led by nine points in the third before settling on a 67-61 lead. Detroit rallied in the fourth quarter and went ahead by six points following a layup by Will Bynum with 3:50 to play that gave Detroit an 80-74 lead. Miami regained the lead, but a tip-in by Brown with 2.6 seconds to play forced overtime.
