• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Heat aim for homecourt throughout playoffs against Wiz

Apr 10, 2013 - 2:12 PM (Sports Network) - It's no secret the Miami Heat are arguably the best team in the NBA and it should come as no surprise they're one win away from capturing homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Heat will have to get through a tough Washington Wizards team that has been playing superb at home as of late, Wednesday from the Verizon Center.

Miami is also one victory shy of setting a franchise record in a single season and matched the 1996-97 squad with 61 wins Tuesday in a 94-83 decision over the Milwaukee Bucks. MVP candidate LeBron James had 28 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, while Norris Cole and Ray Allen scored 11 points apiece off the bench for the Heat, who are the East's top seed and have won three straight and five of six games since having a 27-game winning streak halted.

"We'll take it," said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. "A lot of guys contributed. The second half was good. So, the train keeps on moving. We'll jump on a plane and do this again tomorrow night hopefully."

Dwyane Wade (ankle) and Chris Bosh (knee) did not play Tuesday and their status for the Wizards game is unknown.

The Southeast champion Heat, who have won three in a row on the road and are 27-12 as the guest, owns a 13-1 record on the second night of a back-to-back. They have also produced 38 double-digit victories this season.

In milestone news, James is eight points shy of 2,000 this season.

Washington has ripped off nine straight wins at home and faces a daunting task Wednesday with the division-rival Heat in town.

The Wizards lost their sixth straight game on the road with Tuesday's 120-99 shellacking at the hands of the red-hot New York Knicks. John Wall paced the Wizards with 33 points, while Cartier Martin contributed 16 points off the bench for Washington, which has lost five of eight games.

New York was led by Carmelo Anthony's 36 points and shot 56.3 percent from the floor. The Knicks buried 20-of-36 3-pointers.

"They shot the ball extremely well," Wizards coach Randy Wittman said of the Knicks. "They hit 20 threes, they spread the floor and they have guys that can take you off the dribble. When they're shooting like that, they're a tough team to beat."

Wall has recorded four 30-point games in his last nine for the Wizards, who are 22-17 at home and haven't lost in D.C. since March 1 versus New York. The Wizards will also welcome Philadelphia to town on this quick homestand.

Washington has lost two of three meetings with Miami this season and 14 of the previous 18 contests between the Southeast inhabitants. The Heat are 14-5 in the past 19 trips to the nation's capital.