Coming Off Loss, Heat Scorch Wizards 106-89
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) - Dwyane Wade scored 26 points, putting in more than his share of poetry-in-motion moments during a second-quarter run, and the Miami Heat topped the Washington Wizards 106-89 Friday night.
Wade either scored or got the assist on 20 consecutive Heat points, starting with a drive to the basket that began with a behind-the-back dribble at the free throw line followed by a 360-degree move in the paint and ending with a shot off the glass.
Then came another spin move at the baseline for a basket on the next possession, and a driving layup the next time the Heat had the ball.
Wade and LeBron James combined to score Miami's last 18 points of the first half, including a pair of one-handed throw-down alley-oop Wade-to-James dunks during a 10-0 spurt.
Chris Bosh had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and James finished with 18 points and nine assists for the Heat, who bounced back from a loss at Orlando on Wednesday to move to 1-1 on their six-game road trip.
Miami has won six straight and 12 of 13 against the Wizards, and seven in a row in Washington.
JaVale McGee scored a season-high 24 points and had 13 rebounds to lead the Wizards, who remain near the bottom of the NBA. They are 3-7 since Randy Wittman replaced fired coach Flip Saunders.
Nick Young scored 22 points for Washington, and John Wall had 15 points and tied his season high with 10 assists. Trevor Booker grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds.
The Wizards stayed within shouting distance until the fourth quarter with some acrobatic plays of their own. The Heat led 52-42 after a first half that included a combined five alley-oop baskets and a few other misfires.
The comical highlight came late in the half when Booker corralled a loose ball under the basket with no one around, but it slipped out of his hands as he went up for the dunk.
He stared at his palms as he started upcourt, even as the Heat were racing ahead for one of those Wade-to-James dunks.
Washington pulled within one after an 11-0 run in the third quarter, but the Heat responded with a 10-4 stretch that included a layup from Wade and a three-point play from James. Mike Miller's 3-pointer early in the fourth put Miami ahead again by double digits.
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