East-best Heat stuff slumping Wizards

Bam Adebayo scored 21 points, Jimmy Butler added 19 points, and the Miami Heat never trailed as they defeated the host Washington Wizards, 121-100, on Monday, February 7 (Tuesday, February 8, Manila time).

The Heat, who have the best record in the Eastern Conference at 35-20, improved to 22-12 against the East. They won despite missing star guard Tyler Herro, who is averaging 20.1 points, due to a sore right knee.

Miami also got 16 points off the bench from Gabe Vincent, who shot 6-of-9 from the floor, including 4-of-6 from three-point land.

Washington lost its sixth straight home game and its eighth of nine overall. Bradley Beal, Washington’s three-time All-Star, missed his fourth straight game due to a sprained left wrist.

Without Beal – who leads the team in points and assists – the Wizards were led by Corey Kispert. He had 20 points in 26 minutes off the bench.

Early on, it was all Miami as the Heat led 39-24 after one quarter. Vincent scored 11 points in four minutes in that opening quarter, making all 3 of his three-pointers and 4-of-4 shots overall.

In fact, Vincent made one more triple, but he released that shot a split second after the first-quarter buzzer.

Even so, Miami made 58.3% of its first-quarter shots, including 6-of-11 on three-pointers. Washington shot just 42.9% and 1-of-7 from distance.

Miami stretched its lead to 20 points at 46-26 with 9:55 left in the second quarter. But Washington outscored Miami 27-14 for the rest of the period, closing its halftime deficit to 60-53.

The Heat took control of the game in the third quarter, extending their lead to 91-70, and Miami cruised from there.

The Heat won by shooting 56.6% from the floor and 56.3% from long range. Miami is now 3-2 on its six-game road trip.

Washington had a 58-40 edge in paint points, but the Wizards shot just 45% from the floor, making just 7-of-31 three-pointers (22.6%). – Rappler.com