Recap: Miami Heat (103) At Washington Wizards (98) — Heat Scrubs Mop The Floor With Wizards

Apr 10, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Miami Heat shooting guard Ray Allen (34) shoots the ball in front of Washington Wizards shooting guard Garrett Temple (17) in the fourth quarter at Verizon Center. The Heat won 103-98. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Guess which players the Miami Heat sat out for tonight’s game against the Wizards?

If you guessed LeBron, you’d be right.

If you guessed LeBron and Wade, I’d be impressed.

If you guessed LeBron, Wade, Bosh, and Haslem, the Pentagon has probably already hired you to tell them whether or not North Korea is going to start World War III in the next two weeks.

Who’d of thought that a Heat team without those four players would out-rebound the Wizards 47-34 — a Wizards team that is currently 6th in the NBA in rebounds.

Tonight’s game packaged, sold, and delivered the message that this Heat’s bench is one of best and deepest benches in the entire league.

• Ray Allen had 23 points though he was a terrible 1-7 from three point range.  He’s been in a bit of a funk lately — he’s gone 3-15 from three point range in the past two games.
• Shane Battier had 15 points on 5-8 shooting from three point range, Mike Miller had 14 points on 4-6 shooting from three point range, Rashard Lewis had 17 points, and Mario Chalmers had 14 points.
• Combined, the Heat were 41.5% from three point range — however, the Wizards shot an insane 47.8%
• However….the Heat had 22 turnovers: Mike Miller had 6, Mario Chalmers had 4, and Norris Cole had 4.

This was a back and forth game from the start, and while the Heat led 25-22 at the end of the first quarter, it was the Wizards that took a 50-46 lead into halftime.  After a tight third quarter, the Heat started the fourth quarter down three points — and subsequently outscored the Wizards 36-24 in the fourth to put the game away.

The Wizards got scoring from A.J. Price (23 points) and John Wall (17 points) but struggled at the free throw line, shooting only 71% versus the 87% that the Heat shot (20-23).

With this win the Heat have won a franchise record 62 games and clinched the overall number one playoff seed, meaning that they will have home court advantage throughout the playoffs.

Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7KLQ_1VMDw

Ray Allen, dunking?  What?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF4lOve1E5s

Let’s be honest, John Wall sold that a little bit though…

If you liked that dunk, here are Jesus Shuttlesworth’s highlights from tonight.

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