Heat rout Wizards behind Wade's 32 points

January 23, 2010, 3:27pm
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) goes up for a shot over Washington Wizards guard Caron Butler during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game at the Verizon Center in Washington, Friday, January 22, 2010. (AP)
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) goes up for a shot over Washington Wizards guard Caron Butler during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game at the Verizon Center in Washington, Friday, January 22, 2010. (AP)

WASHINGTON, January 22, 2010 (AP) – Dwyane Wade scored 32 points to lead the Miami Heat to a 112-88 win over the Washington Wizards on Friday night.

Two nights after the Heat were roasted by coach Erik Spoelstra after Wednesday's 39-point loss in Charlotte, they began the second half of their season with a flourish.

Wade, who earlier this season had two of this three 40-point performances against the Wizards, was 12 for 19 from the field and had 10 assists.

Antawn Jamison, who had just seven points in Wednesday's loss to Dallas, missed 10 of his 14 shots and was held to eight points. Andray Blatche led Washington with 19 points.

Miami has been very inconsistent this season — particularly this week. On Tuesday, they won by 30 against Indiana and followed it with the performance that left Spoelstra astounded.

"We have a very ... very ... very ugly side to us," he said Wednesday, and after questioning his team's professionalism, he put his team through a Thursday practice that he labeled "a bloodbath session."

Intent on avoiding a second straight embarrassment, the Heat ended the first quarter on an 18-2 run to take a 32-15 lead and scored the first four points of the second quarter. After they had a 44-22 lead with 6:55 to play in the second quarter, Washington outscored them 14-2 to chop the lead to 46-34 with 3:11 to play in the quarter.

Miami led 57-42 at halftime and had huge advantages in rebounds (26-15) and assists (15-5). Washington got within 10, at 61-51 with 8:42 to play in the third quarter, but the Heat outscored the Wizards 22-6 to take an 83-57 lead with 2:51 to play.

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Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) goes up for a shot over Washington Wizards guard Caron Butler during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game at the Verizon Center in Washington, Friday, January 22, 2010. (AP)18.51 KB