Don't bother trying to convince Miami Heat rookie Michael Beasley that preseason games don't count.

Beasley paid for several family members and friends to fly from Washington, D.C. to Miami to watch him make his exhibition debut.

Beasley then flashed the potential that convinced the Heat to select him with the second overall pick in the draft. But like Beasley, the rebuilding Heat remains a work in progress after Sunday night's 95-91 overtime loss to the Detroit Pistons at AmericanAirlines Arena in the preseason opener for both teams.

Rodney Stuckey scored 12 of his game-high 23 points in the second half to lead Detroit.

Beasley led the Heat with 16 points and had six rebounds, one steal and one assist in 21 minutes. He started the second half and scored 13 points in the third against Detroit's starting front line of Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed Wallace and Amir Johnson.

''I got my feet wet a little bit,'' Beasley said. ``But it don't mean nothing without a win. I just tried to play my game and have fun, though.''

Beasley, who missed practices last week with a strained groin, was rested in the fourth quarter. He said he was so nervous on the eve of the Heat's first training camp practice that he had a tough time sleeping.

If Beasley had any pregame jitters Sunday night, they didn't show.

''I don't think Michael is fazed by any of this,'' Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Sunday before the game. ``He'll probably walk out there and wonder where everybody is, wonder why the arena is not totally jam-packed to see him play.''

The few thousand who showed up gave Beasley an ovation when he first entered in the first quarter to replace Shawn Marion. But Beasley missed his first two shots, two free throws and had a turnover in his first nine minutes.

Beasley settled down at halftime and came back with his most impressive work in the third quarter. He opened the second half starting alongside rookie Mario Chalmers, Wade, Marion and Blount in what might eventually become the Heat's first unit during the season.

Beasley played all 12 minutes, scored 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting and had five rebounds. Beasley scored over Wallace on a hook with his right hand and later beat Johnson for another score with his left hand.

''That's the quarter when Michael really came out, the jitters were gone and he was just playing,'' Wade said. ``We have to do that more often, get guys more comfortable with each other. That's a tough lineup to guard, with Shawn, Michael and myself.''

It was a new beginning for the Heat, which opened the preseason with a roster that returned just six players from last season's training camp.

Wade tried a new position, Beasley tested his game against a top NBA frontcourt and Spoelstra got his first view as head coach.

Wade, who spent most of his 22 minutes in a point forward role, had 11 points, seven assists, three steals and three turnovers as a facilitator.

The new role for Wade is part of Spoelstra's plan for the Heat to play at a faster pace with more versatility.

The Heat, which went 0-7 in preseason play last season, leaves Monday for Europe and two exhibitions against the New Jersey Nets in Paris and London.

''We saw some positive things at times,'' Spoelstra said. ``But we can build from it once we get to Europe.''

INJURY UPDATE

Quinn sprained his left ankle in the fourth quarter and didn't return. He is day-to-day. Udonis Haslem (foot), Dorell Wright (knee), James Jones (wrist) and Shaun Livingston (knee) sat out.

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