The Miami Heat set their sights on further progress as they face the struggling Washington Wizards on Friday night.
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Seeking to build on their recent triumph that ended a nearly 16-year record losing streak, the Miami Heat set their sights on further progress as they face the struggling Washington Wizards on Friday night. Having broken a seven-game slump with a 115-106 victory against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, the Heat aspire to maintain their momentum.
Jimmy Butler showcased his scoring prowess with an impressive 31-point performance, while Josh Richardson lit up the court off the bench with a season-high 24 points, featuring six successful 3-pointers for the Heat.
Bam Adebayo contributed a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds on Wednesday, and Tyler Herro played a significant role with 14 points and eight rebounds, complemented by eight assists.
For the Wizards, Livers (hip injury), Poole (illness), and Shamet (illness) will not be playing the game. As for the Heat, Robinson (concussion) and Smith (knee injury) will also miss out on the game.
In the earlier matchup with Washington this season, Herro came tantalizingly close to securing a triple-double, amassing 24 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. Alongside him, Butler contributed 20 points and seven boards, keying the Heat’s 121-114 triumph at home on Nov. 3.
With Duncan Robinson sidelined due to NBA concussion protocol, Richardson assumed an expanded role on Wednesday. Robinson had a collision with the court in Miami’s 125-109 loss to the New York Knicks on Saturday and played in a limited capacity during the Heat’s 118-105 defeat against the Phoenix Suns on Monday.
Struggling with his shooting on Wednesday, Terry Rozier faced challenges in his fifth game since joining from the Charlotte Hornets. Making just 1 of 8 shots, he concluded the game with three points, though he did contribute with 10 assists.
In the recent 125-109 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, Washington’s Kyle Kuzma showcased his scoring prowess, amassing 23 of his 27 points in the first half. Notably, Kuzma had previously led the team with 22 points in their initial encounter with the Heat.
Despite Kuzma’s strong individual performance, the Wizards faced a setback on Wednesday, particularly in a disastrous third quarter where they were outscored by a significant 40-19 margin. This pivotal quarter played a crucial role in Washington’s overall performance, as they now stand at 2-2 under interim coach Brian Keefe.
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