Field Level Media
Jan 9, 2021
Tyler Herro scored a season- and game-high 31 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Miami Heat to a 128-124 win over the Washington Wizards on Saturday in the nation's capital.
Jimmy Butler posted 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, Goran Dragic added 21 points and five assists and Kelly Olynyk posted 18 points, six rebounds and five assists.
The Heat beat the Wizards for the seventh time in the past nine meetings dating back to the start of the 2018 season.
Washington was led by Garrison Mathews and Deni Avdija, who scored 22 and 20 points, respectively. Rui Hachimura scored 17 points, while Robin Lopez and Moritz Wagner added 13 points apiece.
Leading 75-71 at intermission, the Heat took control of the game in the third quarter. Led by Butler's eight points, the Heat outscored the Wizards 28-15 in the quarter to take a 103-86 lead entering the final period. The Heat stretched their lead to as many as 24 in the final period before Washington made a push to get back in the game but never pulled to within four points.
The Heat, who have alternated losses and wins since the season's outset, were coming off a 107-105 loss at Boston on Wednesday.
Washington, which extended its losing streak to three games, was playing without its three top scorers for most of the game.
NBA leading scorer Bradley Beal was placed in the COVID-19 protocol before the game due to contact tracing with Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who he faced during Friday's loss in Boston. Russell Westbrook was sidelined with a quad injury and center Thomas Bryant suffered a left knee injury early in the first quarter and was taken for X-rays and an MRI.
The trio entered the game collectively averaging 70.2 points, 21.5 rebounds and 17.6 assists per game.
--Field Level Media