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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Trailing the Miami Heat by 23 points in the
first quarter, the Washington Wizards starters were booed off the
court. Everybody in the building thought the game was over.
|  | | Washington rookie Richard Hamilton tries to drive the lane against Alonzo Mourning. |
"We did too," Heat center Alonzo Mourning said.
"Unfortunately, we got a little complacent, stopped guarding
people, stopped working the game, and just gave the lead away."
The Wizards reserves led an amazing rally against the Heat
reserves to tie the game in the third quarter, but the Heat
prevailed when it was starters vs. starters again down the stretch.
Friday night's 104-95 victory was Miami's fourth straight, but
hardly their most comfortable.
"We just wanted to make it interesting," said Mourning, who
had 25 points, nine rebounds and seven blocks -- including three
straight baskets in a key 15-4 fourth-quarter run. "No, it is a
concern. When we have a team down we've got to sustain the lead and
build on it. We can't let teams back into the game."
Every starter scored in double figures for the Heat, who are 5-1
for the second time in franchise history.
"We played so well in the first quarter, then we took a hit,"
Miami coach Pat Riley said. "We did not sustain with the bench
guys the defensive intensity."
The Wizards have lost five straight after winning their season
opener, and only a strong bench performance kept this game from
becoming one of the all-time embarrassments.
The Heat jumped to a 30-8 lead, with the fans booing the
moribund starters each time coach Gar Heard called one of his
fruitless timeouts. Washington missed 10 of its first 12 shots and
had four turnovers in the first 7½ minutes.
By the 3:49 mark, all five starters were on the bench, and a
spirited crew of Wizards reserves -- Tracy Murray, Jahidi White,
Gerard King, Aaron Williams, Richard Hamilton and Chris Whitney -- set the stage for an amazing rally. Washington scored 17
consecutive points in the second quarter to close to 39-36.
Unfortunately for Heard, he eventually had to take the backups
out.
"They can't play the last 35 minutes of the game," Heard said.
"I had to give them a blow. And when I took those guys out, we
went back."
That's not saying much for the starters like Mitch Richmond, who has been bothered by a sore knee and finished with just five points
on 2-for-7 shooting.
"I'm trying to play myself back into shape," Richmond said.
"But I've got to push through it. The other 28 teams are not going
to wait for us, so we've got to find a way."
The Wizards had seven players in double figures, four of whom
didn't start. Murray led the scoring with 15 points.
With the score 86-83 and 6:55 to play, Mourning took control
inside. His dunk off an offensive rebound finished the run that put
Miami ahead 101-87 with 2:18 to play, essentially putting the game
out of reach.
Game notes
Recording artist Jazz of the group Dru Hill sang the
national anthem. ... The Heat, who led buzzer to buzzer in Thursday
night's victory over Dallas, have trailed for only 4:25 of their
last four games -- all victories. ... Miami was outrebounded for the
first time this season, 49-40. ... The Heat shot 49.4 percent, just
missing the 50 percent mark they had surpassed their previous three
games.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Miami Clubhouse
Washington Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 80
New York 74
Philadelphia 92
Chicago 86
Miami 104
Washington 95
Charlotte 96
New Jersey 92
Milwaukee 107
Phoenix 92
Sacramento 105
Utah 92
Portland 93
Denver 78
Houston 97
LA Lakers 81
Golden State 103
Vancouver 93
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