This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards/in-third-game-in-three-nights-the-wizards-tank-finally-runs-dry/2016/02/20/03177638-d746-11e5-be55-2cc3c1e4b76b_story.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
In third game in three nights, the Wizards’ tank finally runs dry In third game in three nights, the Wizards’ tank finally runs dry
(about 1 hour later)
MIAMI — There was no denying the Washington Wizards confronted a demanding challenge Saturday night beyond simply facing a quality, if shorthanded, Miami Heat club. The Wizards were playing their third game in three nights — the result of the NBA rescheduling a postponed game from last month to Thursday. The league eliminated scheduling three games in three nights a few years ago for a reason: The stretches are especially draining during the already-grueling 82-game schedule. MIAMI — There is no denying that the Washington Wizards confronted a daunting challenge Saturday night beyond simply facing a quality, if shorthanded, Miami Heat club on the road. The Wizards were playing their third game in three nights — the result of the NBA rescheduling a postponed game from last month to Thursday. The league eliminated such three-game stretches a few years ago for a reason: They are extremely draining during the already grueling 82-game schedule.
But the Wizards looked at the positives. There was, they said, no better time to encounter the demanding 72 hours than with six days of rest. They are as healthy as they’ve been all season, allowing workloads to be limited. And the stretch could serve as an opportunity to kick-start a playoff push. But the Wizards looked at the positives. There was, they said, no better time to encounter the demanding 72 hours than with six days of rest from the all-star break. They are as healthy as they’ve been all season, allowing workloads to be limited, and the stretch could serve as an opportunity to kick-start a playoff push.
Two out of three’s not bad. Plainly exhausted, the Wizards fell, 114-94, at American Airlines Arena, closing the stretch 2-1. The loss dropped Washington to 25-29. They’ll have to settle for two of three. Plainly exhausted, the Wizards fell, 114-94, at American Airlines Arena as defense and rebounding woes plagued them from the start.
After holding the Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons under 90 points to win the first two legs of the stretch at home with swarming defensive efforts, the Wizards did not have the same energy on the road. They were a step slow and could not compensate on the offensive end. “They outplayed us,” Wizards Coach Randy Wittman said. “You got to give credit where credit’s due. They played harder than we did. They played with more bounce in their step right from the start.”
Washington, which became the first team since the 2012-13 Indiana Pacers to play three games in three nights, shot 40.4 percent from the field but just 3 of 22 from three-point range and 11 of 21 from the free throw line. They entered the night averaging 19.2 fast-break points — second most in the league — but registered just four. Miami, on the contrary, shot 49 percent from the floor. After holding the Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons under 90 points to win the first two legs of the stretch at home with swarming defensive efforts, the Wizards (25-29) did not have the same energy Saturday. They were a step slow and could not compensate on the offensive end.
Bradley Beal paced the Wizards with 19 points on 8-of-20 shooting in 29 minutes off the bench because the Wizards want to limit his workload and ensure his right fibula is not overworked. Marcin Gortat added 14 points and 13 rebounds, while John Wall was limited to 12 points on 5-of-17 shooting, four assists and four rebounds. The assist total tied a season low. Washington, which became the first team since the 2012-13 Indiana Pacers to play three games in three nights, shot 40.4 percent from the field and just 3 of 22 from three-point range and 11 of 21 from the free throw line. They entered the night averaging 19.2 fast-break points — second most in the league — but recorded just four. Miami, on the contrary, shot 49 percent from the floor.
Heat center Hassan Whiteside came off the bench after serving a one-game suspension to dominate the Wizards. He tallied 25 points and a season-high 23 rebounds in 29 minutes. His eight offensive rebounds were four fewer than the Wizards accumulated. The Heat outrebounded Washington 67-45 overall. [Steinberg: Five reasons I’m kind of okay with the trade for Markieff Morris ]
With Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh sidelined because of injury, Goran Dragic was given the keys to the offense for the second straight night and conducted a fast-paced operation. The point guard posted 24 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as Miami, fourth in the Eastern Conference standings at 31-24, tallied 15 fast-break points. Luol Deng had a game-high 27 points. The Wizards employed a nine-man rotation until garbage time despite the strenuous stretch, and Bradley Beal paced them with 19 points on 8-of-20 shooting in 29 minutes off the bench as the team continues to limit his workload to ensure his right fibula is not overworked. Marcin Gortat added 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Markieff Morris had five points, four rebounds and five fouls in 21 minutes in his second game in a Wizards uniform. John Wall was limited to 12 points on 5-of-17 shooting, four assists and four rebounds. The assist total tied a season low.
Wade and Bosh were unavailable for the second straight game. Wade was held out with soreness behind his left knee. An MRI exam earlier Saturday came back negative, and he is day-to-day. Heat center Hassan Whiteside came off the bench after serving a one-game suspension to dominate the Wizards. He tallied 25 points and a season-high 23 rebounds in 29 minutes. His eight offensive rebounds were four fewer than the Wizards. The Heat outrebounded Washington 67-45 overall and compiled 70 points in the paint.
Bosh’s case is more severe. He was a late scratch for last week’s All-Star Game with an injury the Heat classified as a calf strain. Bosh, however, is reportedly taking blood thinners to treat blood clots, and his status for the remainder of the season is unclear. The Heat didn’t list an injury for the 11-time all-star, an update has not been provided and he has not been made available to the media since missing the All-Star Game. “We couldn’t hit a three, and they weren’t even trying to shoot threes,” Wizards forward Jared Dudley said of the Heat, which went 2 of 13 from beyond the arc. “And why would you when you have so much success in the paint? We didn’t make any adjustments. That’s the old us, not us from the last couple games.”
The situation is especially concerning for Bosh because it mirrors what happened to him last season: He was initially sidelined with a calf strain before it was revealed that blood clots had spread to his lungs. He missed the season’s final three months. With Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh sidelined because of injury, Goran Dragic was given the keys to the offense for the second straight night and conducted a fast-paced operation. The point guard posted 24 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as Miami, fourth in the Eastern Conference standings at 31-24, tallied 15 fast-break points. Luol Deng, starting for Bosh at power forward, had a game-high 27 points.
Without the duo — and the methodical Wade in particular — the Heat adopted a faster style of play to score 115 points in their triumph over Atlanta on Friday and continued playing at the frenetic pace Saturday. [Early Lead: DJ Khaled says Chris Paul owes him pair of Jordans]
The Heat, ranked second-to-last in the NBA in pace entering the evening, relentlessly pushed the ball on the fatigued Wizards out of the gate. They used a 13-0 run to build a 15-5 lead and expanded the gap to 30-19 by the end of the quarter. They tallied seven fast-break points in the period after averaging 10.6 through 54 games. “We just didn’t come out with a sense of urgency,” Wall said. “We didn’t compete at the other end. They got back-door cuts, fast breaks, whatever they wanted. They did whatever they wanted all night. That’s where the game was lost. On the defensive end.”
Whiteside checked in with 4:34 remaining in the first quarter Saturday and didn’t waste time overwhelming the Wizards inside. The mercurial but talented center, who is expected to strike gold in free agency this summer, had a double-double by halftime with 12 points and 14 rebounds as Miami outrebounded Washington 33-25 in the first half. Wade and Bosh were unavailable for the second straight game. Wade was held out with soreness behind his left knee. An MRI exam earlier Saturday came back negative, and he is listed as day-to-day.
Bosh’s case is more severe. He was a late scratch for last week’s All-Star Game with an injury the Heat classified as a calf strain. Bosh, however, is reportedly taking blood thinners to treat blood clots, and his status for the remainder of the season is unclear. The Heat didn’t list an injury for the 11-time all-star Saturday, and an update has not been provided since Wednesday.
The situation is especially concerning for Bosh because it mirrors what happened to him last season: He was initially sidelined with a calf strain before it was revealed that blood clots had spread to his lungs. He missed the final three months of the season.
Whiteside checked in with 4 minutes 34 seconds remaining in the first quarter Saturday and didn’t waste time overwhelming the Wizards. The mercurial but talented center, who is expected to strike gold in free agency this summer, had a double-double by halftime with 12 points and 14 rebounds as Miami outrebounded Washington 33-25 in the first half and didn’t trail over the game’s final 45:24.
“We were flat on our heels, all the things we talked about the first two games of these three,” Wittman said. “We didn’t come out with that same zip, and they took advantage of it.”