Miami @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 17, 2017 ) Miami 91, Washington 88

The Miami Heat look to continue their recent success against Washington when they host the Wizards on Tuesday. Miami has won six of its last seven meetings with the Wizards, including a 91-88 victory on Nov. 17 in its most recent visit to the nation's capital.

The Wizards are aiming to avoid a winless four-game homestand after enduring setbacks against Golden State, Toronto and Indiana. "It's disappointing, but the year is not over," All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal told reporters. "We still got games left. We can still make that run. We've gotta take advantage of our schedule. Tuesday is definitely a must-win for us, that's another hungry team coming in here, so we gotta be ready to go." Miami has won four of its last five games after rolling to a 125-103 home triumph over Phoenix on Monday. The Heat are tied for seventh place in the Eastern Conference playoff race - just two games behind the Wizards for fifth and five ahead of ninth-place Detroit with 18 contests remaining.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Miami), NBCS Washington

ABOUT THE HEAT (34-30): Hassan Whiteside has shot 70 percent while averaging 18 points and 18.5 rebounds in two games against Washington this season, and he tuned up for the latest meeting with a dominating performance versus the Suns. Whiteside was 10-of-13 shooting while recording 24 points, 14 rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals in Monday's victory. "He did it all," guard Dwyane Wade told reporters. "I told him I felt this was his best game that I've seen him play, from afar when I wasn't here and since I've been (back) here. It's not going to happen every night, but that Hassan right there is going to allow us to win a lot of games."

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (36-28): Beal was a meager 8-for-27 from the field in Sunday's 98-95 loss to the Pacers and is just 19-for-61 during the team's three-game slide. Beal registered 22 points and a career-best 11 assists against Indiana, but he is carrying nearly all the load with All-Star point guard John Wall (knee) sidelined, and coach Scott Brooks understands there will be some tough moments under the duress of the situation. "We just got to keep looking for good shots, and he's going to continue to put himself in those positions," Brooks told reporters of Beal. "This team's going to continue to trust him and his coach is going to continue to trust him making those decisions and those positions that he's in. He's going to have to keep working through it all.”

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The teams split two meetings earlier this campaign and will complete the season series Saturday in Miami.

2. Miami SG Wayne Ellington (quadriceps) could miss his fourth straight game.

3. Washington F Kelly Oubre Jr. (left foot) is listed as questionable after sitting out on Sunday.

PREDICTION: Wizards 105, Heat 97