23 shots made 36 points! The Clippers' former player is outstanding! He dismantled the strongest team in the Eastern Conference.

The Pistons lack endurance now and have lost the vigorous drive they showed at the season’s start, dropping three of their last four games, with their sole victory thanks to a kind gesture from the Lakers.

In the latest match, the Pistons were defeated 112-118 at home by the Heat, but their current record of 25-9 still holds them at the top of the Eastern Conference.

In this game, Powell, who played for the Clippers last season, continued his dominant form, shooting 12 of 23, including 7 of 14 from three-point range, scoring 36 points along with 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal, once again becoming the hero for the Miami Heat, who currently stand 7th in the East with a 19-15 record.

So far this season, Powell has started all 29 games he has played, averaging 31.3 minutes per game, contributing 24.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 steals, shooting 40.5% from the field and sinking 2.9 three-pointers per game, leading the team in scoring average.This year, he is not only likely to make his first-ever All-Star appearance but also has a strong chance of securing a new lucrative contract.

In short, Powell might actually be quite “grateful” for the Clippers’ decision to let him go last offseason, even though he outwardly remains resentful, as reflected in his previous comments:

“They said they wanted to re-sign me, then turned around and traded me. That’s just ridiculous.”

The Heat’s overall profile includes averaging 120.9 points per game (4th in the league), a defensive efficiency ranking 4th at 111.9, the fastest pace at 104.7 possessions per game (1st), and ranking 4th in points off turnovers, making them the fastest-playing team in today’s NBA, having twice scored over 140 points in consecutive games.

Therefore, it’s no surprise that Powell is having a career-best season with the Heat; he naturally thrives in a high-scoring team that emphasizes offense, making the partnership mutually beneficial.

In fact, the Clippers trading Powell can be somewhat understood: firstly, as mentioned, he is in a contract year, and the team plans to clear salary space by the summer of 2027; secondly, before trading Powell, the Clippers had already secured Bill’s arrival and strengthened their power forward position with Collins acquired in the trade.

Overall, breakups are never easy to handle gracefully, but since the decision is final, there’s no point dwelling on it. Both sides should focus on the present moving forward.