Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Scoreboard watching
Heat looking at playoff races, but not stressing
TORONTO — Scoreboard watching? Yes, Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic said it’s only natural.
Scoreboard stressing? No, coach Erik Spoelstra said his team has done a good job of internalizing this playoff race.
While Thursday night hardly was the best of nights for the Heat in the race for a final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, Dragic said idle time has to be coupled with perspective.
But that doesn’t mean he didn’t pay heed to the Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks all winning Thursday as the Heat awaited Friday night’s game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre.
“I would like if I said, no,” Dragic said of scoreboard watching. “Of course I check the scores and see how other teams played. But I’m not like, ‘OK, Indiana won last night, we’re done.’ No.
“If we take care of our business, I think we’re in a good spot.”
Spoelstra said what the Heat have done best since falling to 11-30 at midseason has been taking it not only one game at a time, but only their own games at a time.
“We’ve been in that onegame season for it feels like three months, really,” he said. “I mean, to be able to dig back from where we were, you couldn’t have too many hiccups. And if you’re having those hiccups in January, this wouldn’t even be a discussion right now.
“So our guys have really been able to focus on the task at hand, one game at a time and give all of our energy and focus on one game. And that is a great quality for a team to develop. I really commend the group for being able to understand the importance of that concept and executing it, as well.”
Spoelstra said Friday there is no doubt a playoff race heightens the senses.
“Our guys have been on edge for a long time,” he said. “But it doesn’t mean that we’ve done things perfectly every game.” Scouting report: The Wizards are coming off Thursday’s 106-102 victory in New York, when Bradley Beal scored 25 points and John Wall 24. The Wizards have now won two in a row after losing their previous three . . . This is the third game of the four-game season series and the first meeting since Dec. 12, with the teams also to meet on the final night of the regular season, Wednesday at 8 p.m. at AmericanAirlines Arena . . . The Heat enter 2-0 against the Wizards . . . The Heat won the previous meeting at Verizon Center 114-111 on Nov. 19, with Heat center Hassan Whiteside closing with 18 points and 18 rebounds . . . The Heat then won 112-101 Dec. 12 at AmericanAirlines Arena, behind 34 points from guard Goran Dragic . . . This completes the Heat’s road schedule, as well as their 15th and final back-to-back set of the season, with a 6-8 record on the second nights of such pairings . . . For the Heat, Luke Babbitt (hip flexor) is doubtful, with Dion Waiters (ankle), Justise Winslow (shoulder), Josh McRoberts (foot) and Chris Bosh (blood clots) out . . . For the Wizards, forward Markieff Morris (ankle) is questionable, with guard Sheldon Mac (formerly McClellan) on D-League assignment.