The Washington Wizards (20-21) defeated the Miami Heat (23-20) 106-87 on Wednesday.
The bruised, weary, and depleted Heat are running out of able bodies, and it showed in their play on Wednesday. Fresh off a six-game road swing through the Western Conference and a subsequent 91-79 loss to the Bucks at American Airlines Arena in South Florida on Tuesday, Miami hit the road again shortly after the conclusion of that contest. Already down their top two point guards the Heat then found out shortly before the game that Dwyane Wade would give his ailing shoulders a rest against the Wizards, leaving Gerald Green, who'd been battling some knee tendinitis himself, in a starting role. Then, midway through the second quarter, injury befell one of the few healthy starters left, as Hassan Whiteside went out with a strained oblique and was unable to return. All of the personnel changes led to some predictably sluggish and sloppy play, with Miami turning the ball over 21 times, leading to 27 points for the home team.
The visitors were spearheaded by the most talented healthy body remaining, Chris Bosh. The forward managed 18 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal. Luol Deng, the other remaining front-line player not watching from the bench was next in line with 16 ponits, eight rebounds, an assist and a block. Tyler Johnson, filling in once again for both Goran Dragic (calf) and Beno Udrih (neck), bounced back from an abysmal outing versus the Bucks by totaling 14 points, five assists and two rebounds. Veteran Amar'e Stoudemire paced the Heat bench with a season-high 11 points.
The Heat fell to 23-20–their sixth loss in the last seven games–and remain in second place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division. They now head to Toronto for a matchup with the Raptors on Friday.
Washington was lead by a pair of 18-point efforts from a familiar duo, John Wall and Bradley Beal. Wall did his damage as a starter over 32 minutes, and added 10 assists and four rebounds. Beal, in turn, turned in his effort in a reserve role over 25 minutes. He supplemented his scoring with three rebounds, two assists and a steal. Nene Hilario was next in line with an outstanding all-around effort, posting 16 points, six rebounds, an assist and five steals. Marcin Gortat took advantage of an extended stretch without Whiteside in front of him, putting together his fifth straight double-double with 15 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and a pair of blocks. Garrett Temple was productive as well, amassing 11 points, three assists, two rebounds and a steal.
The Wizards improved to 20-21 and are now in a third-place tie with the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division. They remain home and await the Utah Jazz for a Saturday evening showdown.
