Wizards’ world
Unlucky seven for Heat as they lose on the road.
WASHINGTON — This was not for a lack of grit or creativity.
There was a comeback from an early 18-point deficit, a fourth-quarter lineup that had Justise Winslow at center and Josh Richardson at power forward, and another Dwyane Wade revival, including the 3-point play that sent the game into overtime.
But the reality for the Miami Heat is there still has not been a road win since Jan. 29 in Dallas, the road losing streak now at seven.
For all that went right, including the 3-point play by Wade that tied it with 22.8 seconds to play in regulation, the Heat fell 117-113 Tuesday night to the Washington Wizards in overtime at Capital One Arena.
The Heat had a chance at the end, down two with 10.2 seconds to play, off their final timeout, with Wade off with a floater point blank at the rim.
Giving just about all a team can give on the second night of a back-to-back set, the Heat got 22 points from Wade, 21 points from Tyler Johnson, 16 from Richardson and 15 from Goran
Dragic.
The Wizards were led by Bradley Beal’s 30 points.
The Heat remained with the starting lineup that had won the previous two games, with Hassan Whiteside at center, Luke Babbitt at power forward, James Johnson at small forward, Richardson at shooting guard and Dragic at point guard.
The Heat still were without 3-point specialist Wayne Ellington, who went through a vigorous pregame workout and could be back for Thursday’s home game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Wizards remained without All-Star guard John Wall.
The Heat opened overtime by giving Wade a breather on the bench, with Beal opening the scoring in the extra period with a driving layup for a 107-105 Washington lead.
Wade returned with that score, saving a blocked shot by Whiteside for a tying layup from Winslow.
A pair of Marcin Gortat free throws then put the Wizards back ahead 109-107, with Dragic tying it with a floater in the lane.
Markieff Morris then got to the line for Washington, making only the second of his two free throws, for a 110-109 Wizards lead.
That was followed by a charging foul on Winslow, giving Washington possession with 1:20 to play.
Then, falling into the Heat bench, Morris converted a corner 3-pointer for a 113-109 Wizards lead with 66 seconds to play.
Richardson got the Heat within three with a free throw with 30.1 seconds to play.
The Heat then appeared to come up with a steal, with Dragic instead called for a foul with 22 seconds left.
That put Tomas Satoransky at the line, making only the second free throw, for a 114-110 Wizards lead.
Wade then was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 12.9 seconds to play, making all three attempts to bring the Heat within 114-113.
The Heat then nearly forced a Wizards turnover, before Dragic fouled Satoransky with 10.2 seconds to play. This time he again only made the second, for a 115-113 Washington lead, leading to the Heat’s final timeout.
But that’s when Wade missed point blank, ending the Heat’s hopes.
It was the third game of the four-game season series and the Heat’s final visit of the season to Washington, with the teams also to meet Saturday at AmericanAirlines Arena.
The Wizards won the first meeting 102-93 Nov. 15 at AmericanAirlines Arena, with Wall scoring 27 points and Beal 26. The Heat then won 91-88 two nights later in Washington, with Whiteside closing with 22 points and 16 rebounds, the Heat having to scramble late after pushing to a 25-point lead.
The Heat entered having won six of the previous seven meetings, including their previous three visits to Washington.
The game concluded the Heat’s 12th and penultimate back-to-back set of the season, with a 5-6 record entering the night in the second games of such pairings.
It was the lone road game over an eight-game span for the Heat, with home games now to follow against the 76ers on Thursday and the Wizards on Saturday.
It was the final game of a four-game homestand for the Wizards, who had been idle since Sunday’s 98-95 loss to the Pacers, when Beal scored 22 points on 8-of-27 shooting.
The Wizards entered on a three-game losing streak, after winning five of their previous six.