Final
Wizards nearly blow huge lead, hold off Heat
Mar 7, 2015 - 4:37 AMVideo
The miraculous comeback fell short.
Nene scored 20 points and came up with a huge defensive rebound in the closing seconds as the Wizards held on for a 99-97 victory at Verizon Center.
Tyler Johnson was credited with a controversial tip-in after video replay overturned an offensive goaltending call with 1:08 remaining. That brought Miami within 98-97.
Nene then couldn't handle a pass on the right side of the lane, and the ball caromed out of bounds to Miami with 21.3 seconds to go.
Henry Walker, though, missed a shot from the left corner and Nene grabbed the rebound.
Bradley Beal made 1-of-2 free throws with 1.6 seconds left. Miami called a timeout after the second attempt missed.
The Heat inbounded with 1.3 seconds remaining, but Michael Beasley failed to get a shot off before time expired.
"That comes from inexperience. I was so anxious to do great for my team, I just had a brain cramp. That's my fault," Beasley said.
Marcin Gortat had 14 points and 17 rebounds for Washington, which was ahead 83-48 with seven minutes left in the third quarter. Beal had 17 points and John Wall dished out 12 assists for the Wizards, who have won two of three following a six-game skid.
"We've been proving we can lose all kind of leads," Gortat said.
Dragic had 18 points, but he suffered a lower back contusion after taking a hard fall late in the third quarter. He didn't play the fourth.
Shabazz Napier had 16 points and Beasley netted all 13 of his points in the final quarter for the Heat, who played without guard Dwyane Wade (sore right hip) and forward Luol Deng (right thigh contusion).
Washington, which never trailed, shot 64 percent in the opening quarter and scored 14 in a row at one point for a 36-13 lead. The hosts were up 40-18 after 12 minutes and 67-39 at the half.
The 83-48 lead came after Gortat drove in for a slam off a pass from Wall with 7:10 left in the third.
Dragic suffered his injury with 52.6 seconds left in the quarter after making a layup. Dragic, who was fouled by Drew Gooden, fell hard to the floor, but he stayed in the game and missed the ensuing free throw. Dragic headed to the locker room with 35 seconds remaining.
It was 88-73 moving to the fourth.
Game Notes
The Wizards have won the last four home meetings with Miami ... Wall, who had just six points on 2-of-7 shooting, added seven rebounds ... Wizards forward Kris Humphries (hamstring) missed Friday's game.
- MIAMI: 97
WASHINGTON: 99
Final
Mar 6 9:31 PM - MIAMI: 73
WASHINGTON: 88
End of 3rd
Mar 6 8:48 PM - MIAMI: 39
WASHINGTON: 67
Halftime
Mar 6 8:08 PM - MIAMI: 18
WASHINGTON: 40
End of 1st
Mar 6 7:34 PM - MIAMI: 0
WASHINGTON: 0
1st Quarter - 12:00
Mar 6 7:11 PM
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