MIAMI _ The 3-pointers fueled the Miami Heat early, but it ultimately was the dual threats of Goran Dragic and Kelly Olynyk that pushed them to victory Wednesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.
With Dragic and Olynyk each fashioning double-doubles, the Heat finally made a homecourt statement, pushing past the Detroit Pistons, 111-104, at the start of this three-game homestand.
With center Hassan Whiteside still working back from a knee injury and forward James Johnson from an ankle issue, the Heat got 25 points and 13 rebounds from Olynyk and 24 points and 12 assists from Dragic, the most assists by a Heat player this season.
It was competitive throughout, with the Heat able to overcome the 19 points of Pistons forward Tobias Harris and the 17 of guard Reggie Bullock.
The Heat closed 17 of 34 on 3-pointers.
Rotations were reshuffled for both teams.
The Heat got forward Johnson back after a second three-game absence with ankle bursitis, returning in a reserve role, on a minutes restriction.
The Heat remained without forward Justise Winslow and guard Dion Waiters, as well as Rodney McGruder and Okaro White.
The Pistons had to alter their starting lineup, with Avery Bradley back after missing the previous seven games with a groin issue, but center Andre Drummond out with a right rib contusion. That moved seldom-used big man Boban Marjanovic into their starting lineup to combat the Heat's size, his first start with the Pistons.
The Pistons also were without Stanley Johnson, Jon Leuer and Reggie Jackson.
In a game with 14 lead changes and 11 tied to that stage, the Heat got a driving layup from Olynyk with 2:40 to play to move to a 105-98 lead with 2:40 to play, leading to the Pistons timeout.
But that's when Heat killer Anthony Tolliver stepped up with a 3-pointer to draw Detroit within 105-101.
Missed shots by both teams followed, leaving the Heat in possession with 1:56 to play, when Dragic scooped in a layup for a 107-101.
But back came Avery Bradley with a 3-pointer to draw Detroit within 107-104 with 1:17 left, off an offensive rebound.
Olynyk then countered with a spinning, driving layup for a 109-104 Heat lead with 39.1 seconds to play.
The Heat held on from there.
A 12-0 run midway through the third period put the Heat up 76-67, the game's largest lead to that point. The run was completed by Dragic's ninth assist, one more than the previous high by a Heat player this season.
The Pistons countered with a 12-2 run, with the teams going into the fourth quarter tied 81-81.
Dragic and Olynyk each were up to 19 points by that stage, Olynyk already with a double-double, Dragic one assist shy.
The Heat went into halftime up 56-52 on the strength of their 11 of 20 3-point shooting. The Pistons kept it close by outscoring the Heat 9-1 from the foul line over the opening two periods. The Heat attempted just two first-half free throws.
Whiteside was limited to seven first-half minutes, closing the half with three fouls.
Back wearing his knee brace after taking it off during Saturday's road victory over the Orlando Magic, Whiteside found his minutes limited early, after being called for his second foul with 6:39 left in the opening period.
The Pistons led 29-24 at the end of first quarter, behind 12 points from Harris, with Olynyk with 11 points in the period for the Heat.
