Heat at Wizards
The Miami Heat look to improve their record on the road and extend an overall winning streak to six games when they visit the injury-plagued Washington Wizards on Monday night. The Heat are 15-1 at home after edging Philadelphia 117-116 in overtime on Saturday, but own nine wins in 16 games away from AmericanAirlines Arena as they go after a fourth straight victory over the Wizards.
Miami is averaging 114.8 points during its current winning streak and rallied from five down in the final minute of regulation to tie before Jimmy Butler’s free throw with 2.3 seconds left in the extra session clinched the victory. “We just play hard,” Butler told reporters after recording 25 points, nine rebounds and nine assists Saturday. “We never give up and we've got a lot of confidence in one another, knowing that no matter how the game’s going if we keep doing what we’re supposed to be doing (we can) get a win.” Washington lost for the fifth time in its last six outings Saturday with a 107-100 setback against New York as All-Star guard Bradley Beal missed the contest with soreness in his lower right leg, ending a streak of 194 consecutive games played. Beal averages team highs of 27.8 points - fifth in the league entering Sunday - along with 6.7 assists and could return to the lineup with the extra rest as the injury does not appear serious.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Miami), NBCS Washington
ABOUT THE HEAT (24-8): Butler tops the team in scoring (20.5), assists (6.7) and steals (2.1) after recording at least 20 points in 12 of his 14 games during the month of December. Guard Kendrick Nunn chips in 16.1 points per game and veteran guard Goran Dragic has been a major threat off the bench, averaging 18 points in five contests this month to push his season mark to 16.0 while starting just once. Center Bam Adebayo averages a double-double (15.6 points, 10.5 rebounds) while small forward Duncan Robinson scored 16 versus Philadelphia and is averaging 14.4 points in his past five games.
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (9-22): Gary Payton II has made an impression since being signed, averaging 11.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.3 steals in three games after scoring 15 against the Knicks in Beal’s starting spot. “I’ve been hungry for it ever since I got here,” Payton, who has played 35 games with three different NBA teams, told reporters. “In and out of the G League and I’m trying to find somewhere to stick. I think these guys here appreciate what I do.” Coach Scott Brooks told reporters recently that Davis Bertans (quad), Rui Hachimura (groin) and Moritz Wagner (ankle) would all be out at least another week.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Washington G Isaiah Thomas scored 20 in each of his last two games and is averaging 18.3 in December.
2. Miami SF Derrick Jones Jr. is averaging 12 points over the last eight games after scoring 13 off the bench Saturday.
3. The Wizards entered Sunday fourth in the league in scoring (116.4), but last in scoring defense (121.5).