Nazr Mohammed had 16 points and eight rebounds to lead the Detroit Pistons to an 84-64 victory over Miami on Tuesday night as the Heat's Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade watched most of the exhibition game from the bench.
The two came out of the game with the defending NBA champions leading 13-12 in the first quarter, and the Pistons quickly took a lead they never relinquished in the pre-season opener for both teams.
Reserve guard Carlos Delfino added 15 points for Detroit.
Jason Kapono led the Heat with 12 points, while Dorrell Wright added 11.
The Pistons, who lost to the Heat in six games in last season's Eastern Conference finals, took the court for the first time since losing Ben Wallace, who signed in the offseason as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls.
O'Neal and Wade returned to the lineup at the start of the second half, with the Pistons leading 42-32. But Detroit opened the third quarter with a 13-6 run, taking a 55-38 lead on a three-point play by Mohammed after he was fouled by O'Neal.
Heat coach Pat Riley pulled O'Neal and Wade midway through the third quarter, and they spent the rest of the game sitting together on the bench.
O'Neal, who has complained about the feel of the new microfiber composite basketballs that replaced the old leather models, had four turnovers in 17 minutes. He finished with seven rebounds and four points.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
