Pistons' top-ranked defense meets Heat's league-fastest pace

The Detroit Pistons (60-22) face the Miami Heat (43-39) in Miami on Friday, October 23 at 8:00 PM ET, with the league's second-best defense set against the fastest pace in the NBA.

Last season Detroit held opponents to the lowest effective field goal percentage in the league, 51.7, and forced turnovers more often than any other team. Miami ran at a pace of 105.4, first in the NBA, but gave the ball away on only 11.2% of its possessions, fourth best.

Tempo matters here. Detroit played at 101.4, 16th, and was third in offensive rebounding at 30.9%. Miami's defensive rebounding rate of 74.9% ranked eighth, so second chances are the other place this game can tilt.

Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 23.9 points and 9.9 assists a game, and Jalen Duren pulled down 10.5 rebounds. For Miami, Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged 27.6 points on 62.4% shooting in 36 games, and Bam Adebayo grabbed 10 rebounds a game.

Detroit lists four players. Elijah Harkless, Isaac Jones and Ugonna Onyenso are out, and Taurean Prince is probable. Harkless played 19.3 minutes a game last season. Miami's report shows Dru Smith, Vladislav Goldin and Myron Gardner as available.

Detroit opened the season with a 121-113 home win over Boston and has won three straight. Miami lost 131-106 at home to Minnesota in its opener.

The Pistons also stand out at the line: they got to it at the fifth-highest rate in the league, while the Heat allowed the fourth-lowest free throw rate.

Sportsbooks' prices give Detroit a 51% chance to win, and Keel's projection, built from the players available, puts it at 67%. These numbers are from last season, with this season's rosters.