Heat opens road trip with win over Wizards
WASHINGTON -- Goran Dragic scored 22 points, Hassan Whiteside had 18 points and 18 rebounds as the Heat's offense carried Miami past the Washington Wizards for a 114-111 win Saturday night.
Miami (4-8) opened its four-game road trip by blowing past its previous season high of 108 points set twice earlier this campaign. The Heat entered 28th in scoring at 94.5 points per game, but had 91 after three quarters and shot 50.6 percent from the field en route to a second straight win after losing six in a row.
Bradley Beal and John Wall each scored a season-high 34 points for the Wizards (3-9). Washington shot a respectable 47.7 percent from the field, but were outrebounded 48-38 and labored guarding the perimeter.
Josh Richardson had 15 points with four 3-pointers for Miami. The Heat drained 13 of 27 from beyond the arc and led by as many as 17 points
Wizards starting power forward Markieff Morris did not return after spraining his right ankle in the second quarter.
Dragic scored 15 points and Miami shot 53.3 percent for a 60-59 halftime lead. Washington's defense remained lackluster in the third quarter as Dragic's penetration and Whiteside's interior prowess fueled a 16-6 run for a 91-78 lead.
The Heat extended the margin to 17 with 5:18 remaining. Washington closed with a 20-6 run as Wall hit two 3-pointers in the final minute, but the deficit was too steep.
Washington defeated New York 119-112 on Thursday despite the Knicks scoring 47 points in the fourth quarter. Their defensive woes continued.
Miami's starting lineup made 32 of 61 shots from the field. Dion Waiters scored 16 points and Derrick Williams had 12.
Heat reserve Willie Reed exited in the second quarter with a hyperextended right knee injury and did not return. F Justice Winslow missed his third straight game with a sore left wrist.
Marcin Gortat had 10 points and 16 rebounds for the Wizards.
NOTES: Heat G Dion Waiters (groin) was considered a game-time decision, but started. ... Wizards C Ian Mahinmi will practice with the team Sunday for the first time since undergoing knee surgery Oct. 15, coach Scott Brooks said. Washington signed Mahinmi to a four-year, $64 million free-agent contract in July. ... Miami faces the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. ... Washington wraps up its three-game homestand Monday with the first of two meetings with Phoenix. F Markieff Morris spent his first 4 1/2 seasons with Phoenix before a fallout over his contract led to his trade to Washington in February.