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Friday, Dec. 29 7:30pm ET
Jones matches season-high in win

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

MIAMI (AP) -- Eddie Jones' new lucky number is 31.

Anthony Mason
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.
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
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Juwan Howard Official Site


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