October 22, 2005
Wizards Ice Heat
Washington ends the preseason 2-2.
VS
- - Miami 89 - - - - - - - - Washington 93
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Box Score ]
Miami, FL – After a devastating loss to the Seattle Supersonics the Wizards stepped against one of the strongest team of the upcoming season. The Miami Heat was involved in one of the biggest trades ever in the NBA, replacing 13 players. The was unbeaten in the preseason games until now.
Miami made a very strong start, taking off 9-3. Young superstar Dwyane Wade had a big part in that run, scoring 6 points. The Wizards struggled and only Gilbert Arenas seemed to go all the way to the rim. Jason Williams and Shaquille O'Neal of the Heat put up a strong performance and put Miami ahead 26-16. Although the game seemed almost hopeless, the Washington Wizards, mainly thanks to Caron Butler's 2 steals and 8 points finished the quarter with an amazing 10-2 run and lost it just by two, 28-26.
The Heat didn't let that little comeback shock them and took up another 8-point lead in a few minutes. James Posey was their biggest weapon throughout the quarter. Once again the Wizards weren't ready to give up. Jamison who had been quiet in the first scored 10 points and Arenas making the offense work, he had 6 points and 2 assist in the second quarter, furthermore he grabbed 4 defensive rebounds. The Wizards won the period 22-21 and were trailing just by one at the half, 49-48. Arenas led his team with 15 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Shaq had 8 points and 4 blocks.
Nothing changed after the half, Miami pulled away for the third time, but Washington came back from the 10-point deficit after a few minutes. Posey led the Heat with 6 points while Antonio Daniels and Caron Butler had 6 each as well. Butler also added 2 assists. Miami won the third quarter 23-22 and led 72-70.
The last period was very tense, neither team could go ahead with a large margin. Although J-Dub scored 7 points the Wizards' defense was hards as a rock. They held the Heat to 17 points and thanks to Jamison's and Butler's efforts score 22 themselves. The Wizards won their last game before the beginning of the season 93-89. Jamison had 21 points and Butler had 20 while Arenas was selected the Player Of The Game with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Jason Williams led the Heat with 18 points and 6 assists.
“It was a great game!” said Arenas. “Although I couldn't do much in the second half we managed to survive the third breakaway by the Heat and came out on top. That was our best game so far. We kept attacking the rim and all they could do was foul us. That worked.”
The Wizards will face the Los Angeles Lakers in the season opener on October 28th.
GAME NOTES:
- The Wizards came back from three double-digit deficits.
- The Wizards had 36 freetrows, they missed only two.
- Despite the victory Washington had 27 turnovers.
- Miami shot above 60% from the field in the first period.
- DC still struggled from outside and shot once again under 30%.
Ingame Photos
Wade led the Heat to a great amount of fast breaks, he finished the gamewith 12 points.
Jamison taking the Washington Wizards ahead 73-72 in the beginning of the fourth.
Shaquille O'Neal seemed to be unstoppable in the paint, although he had just 16 points.
Play Of The Day
Antawn Jamison takes the Wizards ahead 73-72 with a crazy off-balance 3-pointer.
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