Duncan Robinson’s Return to Miami Ends in Victory as Pistons Rally Past Heat 138–135

Key facts

• Robinson scored 18 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and a +17 plus-minus in a 138–135 win over the Heat.
• He shot 50% from the field and led the Pistons to their statement win of the season.
• Miami honored Robinson with a tribute video before the game at Kaseya Center.
• Robinson is the Heat’s all-time leader in three-pointers made with 1,202 at 39.7% over seven seasons.
• Only nine players in NBA history have made 1,000+ threes at 39% or better over seven years.
• Robinson started 209 of his first 239 games but only 74 in his final three seasons with Miami.
• His brother Eli died by suicide on April 30, 2025, after a four-year battle with schizophrenia and addiction.

A Homecoming Without Bitterness

Duncan Robinson returned to Miami on Saturday night for the first time since leaving the Heat in a sign-and-trade, and he delivered a performance that reminded his former team of what they had cultivated and then let go. He scored 18 points, grabbed five rebounds, dished five assists, and posted a game-high plus-minus of +17 as the Detroit Pistons defeated the Heat 138–135 in what the franchise called its statement win of the season. Robinson shot 50 percent from the field, and his impact went beyond the box score. The victory lifted the Pistons, who have been surging, and underscored the value of a player Miami developed from an undrafted Division III prospect into a $100 million NBA success story. Before tipoff, Robinson told the Miami Herald that the move to Detroit was “probably the best thing and the right thing, maybe arguably for both organizations — myself and the Heat.” His words carried no trace of revenge; rather, they reflected a sense of closure.

A Tribute Reserved for Franchise Legends

The Heat honored Robinson with a tribute video before the game at Kaseya Center, a gesture rarely extended to players who never made an All-Star team or won a championship. But Robinson’s place in Miami history is secure: he is the franchise’s all-time leader in three-pointers made. During his seven regular seasons with the Heat, he buried 1,202 threes at a blistering 39.7 percent clip. According to the Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang, only nine players in NBA history have made 1,000 or more threes while shooting at least 39 percent over a seven-year span: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Paul George, CJ McCollum, Buddy Hield, and Robinson join that elite list. Robinson’s ascent from Williams College — a Division III school — to a transfer at Michigan, then to an undrafted longshot, and finally to a Heat starter became one of the league’s great modern development tales. His tenure included two NBA Finals appearances and three conference finals runs.

A Role That Shrank Despite Loyalty

Despite Robinson’s gratitude — and the Heat’s appreciation — his role gradually diminished. After starting 209 of his first 239 games, he started just 74 total in his final three seasons and occasionally fell out of the rotation entirely. The sign-and-trade that sent him to Detroit this offseason offered a fresh start. Robinson acknowledged the difficulty of leaving but framed it as necessary. “I’ll always think of my time in Miami as some of my most formative years,” he said. “I learned what it meant to be a professional, how to deal with adversity, what it meant to sacrifice and be part of winning. I’m forever grateful.”

A Personal Tragedy Behind the Professional Triumph

Robinson’s return to Miami came just months after a devastating personal loss. His brother, Eli, died by suicide on April 30, 2025, two days after Robinson wrapped up the season with the Heat. Eli, 31, jumped from the Piscataqua River Bridge in New Hampshire, connecting Portsmouth, N.H., to Kittery, Maine. Eli had battled schizophrenia and addiction for four years, enduring 16 psychiatric hospitalizations. In a 10-minute segment on NBA Today that aired before Robinson’s playoff game against the Orlando Magic, Robinson spoke publicly about his brother’s struggle. “Eli was my inspiration,” Robinson said at his brother’s memorial service on May 13, 2025. “He was who I wanted to be and he was how I wanted to be.” Robinson described his brother’s deteriorating health: “It had gotten to the point where it was beyond having a manic episode,” he said, adding that Eli experienced “full-blown hallucinations, hearing voices actively, constantly.”

A Family’s Struggle and a Brother’s Legacy

Robinson’s sister, Marta Robinson Day, a licensed mental health counselor, explained that Eli’s delusions and auditory hallucinations were consistent with schizophrenia. She noted research linking marijuana use in a developing brain — considered up to age 25 — to a higher risk of later psychosis. Their mother, Elisabeth Robinson, said that when the family needed Eli to try a new medication or recommit to treatment, “Duncan would be the final one to be able to talk him into it.” Robinson now wears a pendant that belonged to Eli, inscribed with his sobriety date, every day. “In many ways, I try to carry that on, you know, his legacy,” Robinson said. “I miss him more than I can even begin to describe.” Robinson emphasized the importance of sharing his story. “I think it gives so many other people permission to do the same,” he said. “And I think the more that we can start to have these conversations, the more people that we can help.”

What Comes Next: Playoffs and a Continuing Narrative

The NBA Today segment on Eli’s life and death was scheduled to be rebroadcast on ESPN on Sunday, possibly the same day Robinson and the Pistons face the Orlando Magic in Game 7 at Little Caesars Arena. The Pistons had just forced that decisive game by rallying from a 24-point deficit to beat the Magic 93–79 in Game 6. Robinson’s performance in Miami — a win that pushed Detroit’s momentum — and his openness about personal tragedy have intertwined his professional and personal narratives in a way that resonates beyond basketball. He has become a symbol of resilience, both on the court and off. For the Heat, Robinson’s departure leaves a hole in their three-point arsenal and a reminder of the player development machine that produced him. For the Pistons, he has become a key contributor in a playoff push, carrying his brother’s memory with every game.

The bottom line

• Duncan Robinson scored 18 points with a +17 plus-minus in his first game back in Miami after a sign-and-trade, leading the Pistons to a 138–135 win.
• The Heat honored Robinson with a tribute video; he remains the franchise’s all-time leader in three-pointers made (1,202 at 39.7%).
• Robinson’s role in Miami diminished over his final three seasons, starting only 74 of 209 possible games after being a regular starter.
• His brother Eli died by suicide on April 30, 2025, after a four-year battle with schizophrenia and addiction; Robinson has spoken publicly about the loss.
• Robinson wears a pendant with Eli’s sobriety date and hopes his story encourages others to seek help and talk about mental health.
• The Pistons face the Magic in Game 7 after a historic 24-point comeback in Game 6, with Robinson playing a key role in the postseason.