The Washington Wizards came out swinging on Sunday, jumping to an early nine-point lead against the Miami Heat. But that early momentum didn’t last long. Once Miami found their rhythm, they didn’t look back-racing past the Wizards and never letting up en route to a dominant 132-101 win at Capital One Arena.
With the loss, Washington drops to 14-38 on the season, while Miami climbs above the .500 mark at 28-26. And if there was ever a game that showcased the gap between a team fighting for playoff positioning and one still trying to find its footing, this was it.
Hot start, cold finish
Washington actually opened the game with energy, pushing the pace and capitalizing on some early defensive lapses by Miami. But the Heat, as they’ve done so many times before, responded with poise.
They closed the first quarter on a strong run and took a 37-33 lead into the second. From that point on, it was all Miami.
The Heat turned up the pressure on both ends of the floor. Offensively, they caught fire from deep-burying 21 of their 47 three-point attempts. That’s a 44.7% clip from beyond the arc, and it was more than enough to bury a Wizards team that couldn’t keep up on either end.
Jakucionis perfect from deep, Bam brings the balance
Kasparas Jakucionis was lights-out. The rookie guard went a perfect 6-for-6 from three, finishing with a co-team-high 22 points. It was one of those nights where everything he put up felt like it was going in, and the Wizards had no answer for his quick release and off-ball movement.
Bam Adebayo matched Jakucionis with 22 points of his own, anchoring the Heat on both ends. He was efficient, physical, and in control-doing the dirty work in the paint while also facilitating when needed. His presence was a steadying force all night for Miami.
Dominance on the glass
One of the biggest differences in this game came on the boards. Miami out-rebounded Washington 60-42, including key second-chance opportunities that helped them extend possessions and wear down the Wizards’ defense. That kind of rebounding margin is hard to overcome, especially when the other team is shooting the lights out.
Bright spots for Washington
While the final score was rough, there were a few individual performances worth noting for the Wizards. Tristan Vukcevic led the team with 14 points, showing some nice touch around the rim and confidence in his shot selection.
Alex Sarr continues to flash his all-around potential. The rookie big man finished with a double-double-12 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists.
His versatility was on display, whether it was grabbing boards, initiating offense from the high post, or protecting the rim. There’s a lot to like about how his game is developing, even in tough losses like this one.
What’s next
The Wizards will look to regroup quickly as they head to Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers on Wednesday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
ET. It’s another tough matchup, but also another opportunity for this young Washington squad to keep building, learning, and competing.
Until then, enjoy the Super Bowl tonight-because come midweek, it’s back to the grind for the Wizards.