MIAMI _ This was the moment that showed the possibilities of starless but relentless.
Against an opponent with nearly as much at stake in the playoff race, the Miami Heat opened the second half of Wednesday night's 108-74 victory over the Detroit Pistons with a 21-0 run.
The offense was fluid, the defense suffocating.
The hope tangible ... on a night the Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets were kind enough to join the Pistons in the loss column.
With the victory, the Heat moved two games ahead of the Magic in the race for the eighth and final playoff seed in the Eastern Conference and within two games of the Pistons for No. 7.
Even in splitting the season series 2-2, the Heat likely will lose a potential tiebreaker to Detroit because of conference record.
But what this effort _ which included a 33-8 third-quarter whitewashing _ showed was what Erik Spoelstra's team could be at its best.
Now the question becomes whether it will translate into the step up in pedigree the Heat will face in their remaining 15 games, a brutal closing run that includes two games apiece against the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics, as well as road games against the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and Raptors.
For one night, though, excellence-through-ensemble carried the day.
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