AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 31 (UPI) -- Michael Beasley made up for an off night suffered by Dwyane Wade Wednesday and Miami sailed past Detroit 98-81 for its sixth straight victory.
Beasley scored 28 points, helping Miami move within a half game of Milwaukee for the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Heat stayed 1 1/2 games ahead of seventh-place Charlotte.
Wade made just 4-of-13 shots from the field and scored 10 points. A nine-point run in the third period allowed Miami to open an 18-point lead and the Pistons came no closer than 11 the rest of the way.
Detroit, which has lost nine in a row, got 18 points from Rodney Stuckey and 17 from Tayshaun Prince. Miami has defeated Detroit five straight times after losing six in a row to the Pistons.
