Despite 27 minutes off the court through foul trouble, Dwayne Wade was the star for the Heat scoring 25 points, hitting an impressive nine-from-11 field goals.

He was well-backed up with Antoine Walker who scored 17 points, and veterans Shaquille O'Neal and Gary Payton, who both finished with 14 points.

The Heat had an extra week off after comprehensively beating New Jersey 4-1 in their previous playoff encounter, and it seemed to have done the trick as the visitors jumped out to an 11 point lead before the Pistons even managed to get on the board.

The Heat were never passed after that initial lead until late into the third period when Wade's four fouls forced the guard to spend some time on the bench.

It allowed the Pistons to get back in the match and they took the lead 60-55 with 4 minutes 18 seconds left in the third.

But the Heat rallied without Wade to go on an 11-1 run to close out the quarter and it was another Miami veteran, Alonzo Mourning, who continued the damage early in the fourth quarter, contributing two key baskets and a crucial block to give the Heat a 75-65 point lead 6 minutes to go.

It was a 10-point buffer which the Pistons couldn't make any reasonable impact on, eventually losing the match by five points.

The Pistons struggled offensively all night shooting just 38 percent from the field, with Richard Hamilton's 22 points the main contribution. Chauncey Billups was second-top scorer with 19 points and Tayshaun Prince 16.

Game two will be played in Detroit on Thursday May 25.