The Miami Heat fell to a dismal 10-25 on the season with their 107-98 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.
The 25 losses are in the most in the Eastern Conference and have Miami near the basement in the NBA. The Heat have lost five games overall and are only 5-13 at American Airlines Arena.
Complicating matters in this one for Miami was yet another shorthanded roster. The Heat were forced to take the court without the services of Hassan Whiteside, Goran Dragic or Justise Winslow. Whiteside was out with an eye injury while Winslow battled shoulder issues. Dragic meanwhile continues to miss games due to an ailing back.
Without three of the team's regular starters, Miami sent out a lineup consisting of Willie Reed, Luke Babbitt, Wayne Ellington, Rodney McGruder and Josh Richardson. While that starting unit gave Miami all it had, the lack of depth for the team was apparent. Ellington led the starters with 18 points, while Richardson had 14 points and eight assists.
James Johnson led the team in points, despite coming off the bench. Johnson had 20 points, seven rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block in 34 minutes of play.
Miami actually had an eight-point lead at the half, but the players in uniform appeared to run out of gas. Detroit would outscore Miami by 17 in the second half on the way to the win.
The Heat will begin a six-game road trip on Tuesday against the Suns in Phoenix.
