Hassan Whiteside makes buzzer-beating tip-in to lift Heat past skidding Pistons

HASSAN Whiteside tipped in Goran Dragic’s missed jumper to lift the Miami Heat to a 97-96 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

The Heat occupy eighth spot it the Eastern Conference with a 35-39 win-loss record, half a game ahead of the Pistons (34-41).

Whiteside finished with 17 points on 7 of 13 shooting and pulled down nine rebounds as the Heat ended a two-game slide.

Dragic had 28 points on 9 of 16 shooting, while James Johnson came off the bench to score 16.

The Pistons suffered their fifth straight loss.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 25 for Detroit.

Ish Smith had 19 points in 7 for 13 shooting, while Tobias Harris came off the bench to also score 19, making 7 of 14 field goal attempts.