The Miami Heat travel to Motown to play the Detroit Pistons at Little Ceasar's Arena on Friday.

The Heat (21-21) have quietly been really good the last month, as they've won 14 of their last 22 games. What's interesting about that is that this stretch directly correlates with Goran Dragic's injury, as Justise Winslow has taken over starting point guard duties in his absence. Not only is Winslow putting up the best numbers of his career, but he's also added another lengthy player to an already stingy defense. That's what's fascinating about this team, as they plug-and-play whoever's on the roster and don't necessarily ride any superstars. Players like Hassan Whiteside, Josh Richardson and Winslow help to solidify the starting lineup while Tyler Johnson, Dwayne Wade and Bam Adebayo form one of the best benches in the league. It's rare to see a team rely so much on teamwork in today's NBA but Eric Spolestra continues to work his magic and make it operate for this Miami franchise.

The Pistons (19-24) come into this matchup winning two of their last three games, as they're hopeful that this is the start of a positive run. Prior to that, Detroit lost 16 of their previous 20 games. That's the sort of nightmare run that can knock you out of contention and Detroit fans just want to see some consistent play from their team. What makes that even more discouraging is the fact that they have two all-star contenders in the frontcourt, with Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond dominating the paint. That means they need more from their wings and guards, as they're struggling mightily at those positions. Players like Reggie Jackson and Reggie Bullock have been formidable but they simply need more scoring from those positions. That's evident when you consider that this team ranks 24th in scoring and 26th in assists, as this club may be in the market for a backcourt stud at this year's trade deadline.

The first game between these teams was an epic meeting, as Miami prevailed in overtime, 120-115, on November 5. That's no surprise when looking at this series history, as these clubs have split their four-game season series each of the last three years.