Heat manage a repeat in Washington

Andray Blatche (left) defends Dwayne Wade at the basket
(AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

The Washington Wizards fell to the Miami Heat for a second straight time tonight in a 94-87 loss that came down to poor Wizards possessions and a no-call that could have influenced the game down the stretch.

The Wizards scored only 2 points in the first four minutes of the game to the Heat's 10, but fought back through two quarters to make it a two-point, 43-41 deficit by half.  Nick Young led the Wizards off the bench with 10 points, and Antawn Jamison led all scores at half with 13.  Caron Butler also chipped in 9 after only scoring 6 the entire game last Friday.

Despite Washington's push to end the second half, Miami began the third quarter on a 12-0 run.  Washington battled back once again, led by a determined Caron Butler who seemed particularly mouthy today with Dwayne Wade.  But when it came down to crunch time, Wizards reserve guard and third leading scorer, Nick Young, was anything but dependable.

Young, usually a fresh burst of offense and defensive hustle for the Wizards, gave up four turnovers tonight, many which came at critical points in the game.  With just under three minutes on the game clock and the score 90-85, Miami, Nick Young inexplicably carried the ball while stepping over half court.  Washington caught a break, and Jamison cut the lead to 90-87, but the Heat's Shawn Marion answered back, 92-87.

With a huge 6 points separating the Wizards from a second win, rookie reserve center, JaVale McGee, took initiative, and attempted to answer Marion with a thundering dunk on the other side, but he was met by two Heat defenders, most likely fouled, but no foul was called. 

Washington played tough defense on Miami and were rewarded one final chance to cut the lead, but a trapped Nick Young was forced into throwing the ball across the court and Dwayne Wade was there to intercept.  Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson was forced to commit a clear-path foul on Wade, which gave the Heat two free throws and the ball.

The Wizards slip to 1-7 on the year, in danger of becoming the worst team in the league, while the Heat improve to 6-5.  Washington will challenge the Atlanta Hawks tomorrow, and then get a short rest to think things over before hosting the Houston Rockets on Friday.  The Wizards were without Antonio Daniels tonight, and will not have AD for tomorrow's game either.  The team hopes to see him on the court Friday, but no guarantees at this point.

The Washington Wizards held Miami Heat's star guard, Dwayne Wade, to only 19 points tonight, but he led by example with 10 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals.  The Wizards two leading scorers, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler, each achieved a double-double, Jamison with 25 points and 12 rebounds, and Butler with 21 points and 12 rebounds.