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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MIAMI (AP) -- Eddie Jones' new lucky number is 31.
|  | | Anthony Mason had 19 points and 11 rebounds Friday in the Heat's win over the Wizards. |
Jones scored 31 points for the third time in four games as the
Miami Heat beat the hapless Washington Wizards 98-91 Friday night
to run their winning streak to four straight.
"Maybe I should play that number (in the lottery)," said
Jones, who got off to a 2-for-6 start with three missed free
throws. "I started off the game messed up. I blame myself because
I was attacking and not finishing."
Jones, who shot 12-for-19 in the game, scored eight points in
the final 3:08 of the fourth quarter, which featured eight lead
changes.
Tim Hardaway added 25 points, including 12 in the fourth
quarter. Miami's starting guards were 5-for-8 from the field and
9-for-10 from the line in the fourth quarter. In the final 35
seconds, Jones -- who matched his season-high point total -- made
four straight free throws.
Washington, which lost its sixth straight, played without point
guard Rod Strickland, who served a one-game suspension for
violating several team rules. Filling in for Strickland, Chris
Whitney scored 16 points and added six assists, but injured his
right ankle in the closing seconds and limped off the court.
"Chris is a professional," Wizards coach Leonard Hamilton
said. "He steps up when he's called upon. He did an outstanding
job running our club. ... I hope his injury is nothing serious."
Whitney is listed as day-to-day.
"We had some miscues at the end and there lies another loss,"
Hamilton said.
The Heat, three games over .500 for the first time this season,
committed a franchise low five times, including just one in the
first half.
Anothny Mason had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Heat.
"They are a team that has nothing to lose," Mason said. `This
team (Washington) is going to get somebody. We showed a lot of
composure down the stretch."
Juwan Howard led Washington with 19 points, and reserve Richard
Hamilton added 17.
"We're not getting any luck on our side," Howard said. "For
four quarters, we gave it a good shot."
Miami, which trailed by 11 points in the first quarter, pulled
even at halftime at 45 on Hardaway's jumper with 2.6 seconds left
in the second quarter.
After opening the game 4-for-16, the Heat warmed up in the
second quarter hitting their first seven shots. Jones' 16-foot jump
shot tied the game at 28. In the second quarter, Jones had eight
points and the Heat shot 65 percent.
Game notes
Wizards coach Leonard Hamilton, who believes Strickland's
suspension has been blown out of proportion, will welcome the point
guard back Sunday against Detroit. ... Whitney entered Friday's
game averaging 4.6 points and 2.3 assists. ... University of Miami
coach Perry Clark, who replaced Hamilton, sat courtside next to the
Wizards' bench. ... Miami committed just one turnover in the first
half, matching a franchise low.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Washington Clubhouse
Miami Clubhouse
RECAPS
Cleveland 97
Atlanta 85
Miami 98
Washington 91
New York 95
Chicago 68
Portland 104
Vancouver 81
Golden State 100
Utah 89
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Juwan Howard Official Site
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