Goran Dragic Was the Real Hero in the Heat’s Win Over the Pistons

Don’t let Hassan Whiteside’s game winning tip-in fool you, Goran Dragic was the hero of the Miami Heat’s win over the Detroit Pistons.

Welcome to the Hot Hand, where after every Miami Heat game win or loss we recognize the player who best put his stamp on the game.

Goran Dragic returned to supreme form as the Miami Heat defeated the Detroit Pistons, 97-96, courtesy of buzzer-beating tip-in from Hassan Whiteside. Dragic posted 28 points, four assists and four rebounds in 34 minutes of action. Having struggled over the past four games, averaging 14.8 points on just 33.8 percent shooting overall, Dragic stepped up when the Heat needed him most.

The untimely loss of Dion Waiters to injury, on top of a nagging foot has injury to Dragic, has seen the Heat and their starting point guard struggle over the past week. But Dragic put his recent struggles aside and returned to his usual, aggressive self.

Dragic’s 13 free-throw attempts represented the seventh time this season that he has attempted 10 or more free-throw attempts in a game. This represented a sharp increase from the past four games, where Dragic averaged just 2.75 free-throw attempts per game.

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With Waiters on the sideline, the need for Dragic to drive the lane and attack has never been more important. And as can be seen from these highlights, Dragic was extremely aggressive in his approach, resulting in either scoring himself or setting up teammates for easy baskets. For the game, seven of Dragic’s nine made baskets were unassisted.

And although Dragic registered just four assists for the game, he also recorded four secondary assists (or hockey assists), well up on his season average of 1.2 per game. Furthermore, the ball was in Dragic’s hands far more than normal, registering 91 touches, noticeably up from his season average of 83.3 per game. Despite the increased responsibility, Dragic committed just one turnover for the game.

Don’t forget about the toughness he showed in the last play of the game. After James Johnson’s potential game-winning shot with just seconds left clanged off the rim, Dragic grabbed an offensive rebound among Detroit’s trees, ripping the ball from Tobias Harris and managing to put up another attempt. That attempt turned into the miss that Whiteside tipped in for the game-winning points.

This win was crucial for the Heat with just eight games remaining. The win virtually ends Detroit’s chances at usurping them for the no. 8 seed and gives the Heat a full game lead over the Bulls. It also brings them within a game of the seventh seed.

Next: Watch James Johnson's blackbelt dunk

There is no time for rest, as the Heat travel to New York to take on the Knicks Wednesday in the second game of a back to back.