NBA: Bam Adebayo, Heat rout Wizards to snap out of miniature skid

Bam Adebayo and Kasparas Jakucionis each scored 22 points as the visiting Miami Heat cruised past the Washington Wizards, 132-101, on Sunday afternoon.

Norman Powell contributed 21 points, while Kel'el Ware added 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Heat, who had lost three of their previous four games. Simone Fontecchio added 12 points, and Andrew Wiggins recorded 11 points along with 10 rebounds.

For Washington, Tristan Vukcevic led the team with 14 points. Justin Champagnie, Kyshawn George, and Bub Carrington each scored 13 points, while Alex Sarr posted a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. The Wizards remain just 1 1/2 games ahead of the Indiana Pacers for the last spot in the Eastern Conference.

Miami led by 22 at halftime and extended the margin to 31 in the third quarter. Wiggins and Powell capped an 8-0 run to give the Heat a 92-61 lead with 6:54 remaining in the third. Jamir Watkins’ floater and six consecutive points from Vukcevic briefly cut the deficit to 22, forcing a Miami timeout with 3:35 left in the quarter. From there, Miami went on a 10-0 run, taking a commanding 105-73 lead. Ware finished the third quarter with a layup, sending the Heat into the final period up 107-75. Washington won the fourth quarter 26-25, but the game remained decisively in Miami’s favor.

The Wizards opened the game with a 20-11 lead on Bilal Coulibaly’s layup at the 7:21 mark of the first quarter. Miami responded with a 14-2 run to close out the quarter, highlighted by two late three-pointers from Jakucionis, giving the Heat a 37-33 advantage entering the second quarter.

Miami extended its lead to double digits with a 12-0 run sparked by Fontecchio’s three-pointer and capped by Adebayo’s trey, giving the visitors a 58-39 advantage. George’s free throws briefly cut the Wizards’ deficit to 15, but Adebayo ended the half with a layup during a 7-0 run, sending Miami into halftime with a 74-52 lead.

—Field Level Media/Reuters