NBA Game Recap - Miami at Washington
Sun Mar 8, 2020 7:00 PM EDT

CHI
107
BKN
110
F
NO
120
MIN
107
F
LAL
112
LAC
103
F
MIL
131
PHO
140
F
OKC
105
BOS
104
F
MIA
100
WAS
89
F
ORL
126
HOU
106
F
IND
112
DAL
109
F
DET
84
NY
96
F
SA
129
CLE
132
F(OT)
TOR
118
SAC
113
F

Miami 100, Washington 89

Mar 8, 2020, 7:00 PM EDT

Final

1

2

3

4

T

Miami

29

28

15

28

100

Washington

23

31

18

17

89

After Butler leaves, Heat end road woes, beat Wizards 100-89
Sun Mar 8, 2020 10:47 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) Jimmy Butler figures his bothersome left toe is not that big a deal, even if it forced him to the locker room for most of the second half Sunday night.

In the bigger scheme of things, Butler found it important that the Miami Heat erased a deficit and dominated down the stretch to end their four-game road losing streak as they try to make sure they get home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

With Butler limited to nine points, zero assists and zero rebounds before exiting for good in the third quarter, the Heat took full advantage of Bam Adebayo's 27 points and 14 rebounds and used a 25-3 run to beat the Washington Wizards 100-89 on Sunday night.

"I couldn't move the way I wanted to move," Butler said. "I think we all have enough faith in each other, in this group of guys, to get it done, (even if) we're a man or two down. This was a big step in the right direction for us."

Butler left the game with 4 1/2 minutes remaining in the third quarter and did not return.

How big a deal is that? Butler leads the Heat in scoring and assists -- he went into Sunday averaging 20.5 points and 6.2 assists -- and is second on the team in rebounding at 6.8.

Duncan Robinson made a pair of 3-pointers late in that stretch by Miami that turned an 83-75 deficit into a 100-86 lead.

Robinson shot 7 for 11 on 3s and finished with 23 points. He's made at least one 3 in 49 consecutive games to equal a franchise record.

"This one definitely feels good," Robinson said about finally getting a win away from Miami. "We've had some quiet plane rides back home. Hopefully, this one is going to be more lively."

Didn't always sound like a road trip, though: "Let's go, Heat!" chants frequently rang out in Washington's arena.

Miami's victory helped its playoff positioning; it is fourth in the Eastern Conference. Washington began the day ninth in the East but 4 1/2 games out of the eighth and last playoff spot.

Bradley Beal scored 23 points for the Wizards, ending his streak of 21 games in a row with at least 25. He shot 0 or 9 in the fourth quarter.

Shabazz Napier topped Washington with 27, and Davis Bertans scored 25, thanks mainly to a career-high eight 3s.

The game was tied at 72 entering the fourth, but the Heat steadily pulled away, as Washington managed only six points over the last 9 1/2 minutes.

"We just got stagnant. We've got to keep moving. I feel like, a lot of times, we were just kind of just watching me. We can't get caught up in doing that," said Beal, who is second in the NBA in scoring at 30.4 ppg. "They took away all my drives, everything pretty much toward the paint. They wanted to kind of force me to shoot jumpers all night."

TIP-INS

Heat: F Jae Crowder is in the concussion protocol. ... Miami didn't hold a shootaround earlier in the day. Wizards: C Thomas Bryant fouled out after two points and three rebounds in 16 minutes; Moe Wagner scored four as a reserve. ... Ish Smith (left hamstring) and Jerome Robinson (left Achilles) both sat out.

RUI'S ROUGH STRETCH

Wizards first-round draft pick Rui Hachimura was 0 for 8 and scoreless; he is 0 for 14 over the past two games. He accepted a reporter's premise that perhaps he has hit the so-called "rookie wall." "I've got to take care of my body. ... Mentally, I have to get ready every game. Even practice," Hachimura said. "I'm thinking too much right now. Everybody says, 'Do this. Do this. Do this."'

JERSEY SWAP

Adebayo donned a Beal jersey after the game, wearing it backward. Beal's written message was visible: "A real one! Keep grinding. Humble. Hungry." Said Adebayo: "It's great coming from a guy that's been in the league as long as him, one of the top scorers in the league. It's great to know you earned his respect and you just keep earning respect from guys like that."

UP NEXT:

Heat: Host Charlotte on Wednesday night to open a three-game homestand.

Wizards: Host the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.

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Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich

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Leaders

Miami PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
B. Adebayo 27 22 6 14 0 1
D. Robinson 23 26 2 7 1 2
Washington PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
S. Napier 27 -12 7 4 4 0
D. Bertans 25 -7 0 2 0 0

Team Comparison

MIA WAS
Points For 100 89
Field Goals 32/66-48% 26/78-33%
Three Pointers 13/28-46% 19/47-40%
Free Throws 23/28-82% 18/21-86%
Offensive Rebounds 5 4
Defensive Rebounds 41 25
Rebounds 56 38
Blocks 8 2
Steals 7 11
Turnovers 20 13
Points Scored Off Turnovers 14 25
Points in the Paint 36 14
Fast Break Points 10 8
Personal Fouls 25 26
Technical Fouls 2 1
Flagrant Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2019-20 Reg Season - MIA Leads Series 3-1

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Fri Dec 6 WAS 103 @ MIA 112 B. Beal 23 J. Butler 28
Mon Dec 30 MIA 105 @ WAS 123 J. Butler 27 J. McRae 29
Wed Jan 22 WAS 129 @ MIA 134 B. Beal 38 T. Herro 25
Sun Mar 8 MIA 100 @ WAS 89 B. Adebayo 27 S. Napier 27

Game Information

Stadium: Capital One Arena, Washington, District of Columbia
Attendance: 18,135
Game Time: 2:19