Olynyk’s putback off Wade’s miss lifts Heat over Wizards

WASHINGTON >> Kelly Olynyk’s putback of Dwyane Wade’s missed jumper produced the go-ahead basket with 0.2 seconds left Thursday night, lifting the Miami Heat to a ragged 113-112 comeback victory over the Washington Wizards, who were without new center Dwight Howard for their season opener.

Olynyk was booed every time he touched the ball, on account of a past playoff fracas with the Wizards back when he was with the Boston Celtics. But he certainly got to enjoy the way this game ended, after Miami trailed by as many as nine points.

Josh Richardson led Miami with 28 points, Rodney McGruder added 20, and the Heat hit consecutive 3s late in the fourth quarter.

With Howard sidelined by a sore backside, the Wizards were led by old standby John Wall, who delivered 26 points and nine assists.

He and fellow All-Star guard Bradley Beal, who scored 20 points, accounted for Washington’s last eight points.

But with a 112-111 lead, Wall missed a 26-foot pull-up jumper, giving Miami a chance. Wade’s shot with about 3 seconds left was off the mark, but Olynyk grabbed the rebound and his layup won it.

The Heat were playing on the second night of a back-to-back — they lost at Orlando on Wednesday — and Wade appeared in both games, scoring nine each night. He shot a combined 7 for 24.

Wizards coach Scott Brooks put an emphasis on pleading with his players to shoot more 3s this season.

Didn’t work. At least not in Game 1. Washington was only 7 for 26 from beyond the arc.

Wall led the way with 18 points as Washington went into halftime ahead 59-58.

Nuggets extend Malone’s contract

DENVER >> The Denver Nuggets agreed a contract extension with coach Michael Malone, who was in the final season of a four-year deal.

Under Malone, the Nuggets have gone from 33 wins in 2015-16, to 40 in ‘16-17 and 46 last season when they finished a spot out of the playoffs.

The season came down to a winnertake-all scenario in Minnesota, with the Nuggets coming up short in overtime to miss out on the playoffs for a fifth straight season.