Losing to the Washington Wizards in overtime on Tuesday, the Miami Heat were looking for revenge on Saturday. They got their revenge, blowing the Wizards out of the Miami water, 129-102.
On Friday, the Washington Wizards started their weekend road trip in New Orleans, blowing out the Pelicans, 117-93. The Wizards closed out their trip in Miami on Saturday.
Losing to the Wizards in overtime on Tuesday, Miami was looking for revenge.
Maybe Washington was tired from playing the Pelicans the night before. But the starters got rest in New Orleans during the fourth quarter in the blowout win.
The Wizards starters would get rest again in the fourth quarter in Miami. As the Heat went into the final stanza up 103-76.
Miami would get their revenge, blowing out Washington, 129-102.
Miami was without Hassan Whiteside (sore hip), but that didn’t matter. Miami had their game plan from the moment they lost on Tuesday, and that was to make Washington pay, and pay they did.
Wizards’ interior defense
The Heat lead going into halftime was 60-48. Since rim protection by Washington was virtually nonexistent, as Miami had easy dunks and walks to the basket.
Washington was outscored 42-18 in the paint by Miami for the first half. While the Heat shot 61.9 percent from the field.
It was a one-sided game from start to finish, with Miami racing up and down the court, and Washington trailing behind.
In the end, the Heat had 76 paint points to Washington’s 42.
Washington didn’t have enough rim protection for Miami’s onslaught. The Heat’s starters shot 77 percent from the field.
Eight Heat players were in double figures, while only two of the Washington’s starters finished in double figures.
James Johnson was a problem
The Wizards did not have an answer for James Johnson. He had 20 points in 20 minutes, and scored at will.
Johnson shot 8-for-9 from the field, five assists and knocked down a three-pointer.
There can’t be off nights at the rim. Marcin Gortat only had three points and three rebounds. While Markieff Morris had four points and four rebounds.
Although defense starts out at the perimeter, there’s no reason why Gortat and Keef should combine for 7 points and 7 rebounds after having a bit of rest the night before.
While Otto Porter had 10 points and five rebounds.
Wizards learn and move on
Bradley Beal got rest in the fourth quarter against the Pelicans, yet, he still wasn’t fresh for Miami.
Although perfect from the free throw line, 3-for-3, Beal only had 14 points in 27 minutes of play. The Heat saw his tiredness and smelled blood in that Miami water.
It could be due to his buildup of minutes. However, it wasn’t just Beal, but the entire team looked tired. Whatever the case may be, Washington can’t dwell on this loss.
It was a very close game on Tuesday, and Miami exploited any weaknesses they witnessed in that matchup. The Heat probably started watching film the second they boarded the plane to leave Washington.
However, this was just a game where the Heat wanted it more.
The Heat were hot after Tuesday’s loss and it carried over to Saturday. The lesson here is that Washington underestimated their opponent’s thirst for revenge.
Before tipoff, it appeared that the Heat planned to hit Washington hard and early and never let up.
The Wizards return home to play the Timberwolves on Tuesday.