National Basketball Association

Heat Check: Greg Oden returns, but Miami falls to Wizards

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 8:44 p.m. ET

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Who saw this coming?

The seemingly refreshed Miami Heat played their first game following four days off, with Dwyane Wade starting and with Shane Battier returning to the lineup after missing five games due to a quad injury.

What happened during the first half at Washington on Wednesday night was alarming and hard to believe: The Heat surrendered 69 first-half points and trailed by as many as 34 points late in the second quarter.

The Heat fought back to get within nine points but no closer during a 114-97 loss to the Wizards. Unfortunately for the two-time defending champs, they didn't leave Washington after their White House visit Tuesday.

Miami allowed more than 100 points for a third straight game -- all losses -- and lost to a Southeast Division opponent for the first time in 23 games.

The Heat own a three-game losing streak for the first time since January 2012. Miami fell to 11-8 on the road this season, 7-7 at Eastern Conference foes.

Chris Bosh had 26 points and seven rebounds and LeBron James 25 points and eight rebounds for the Heat (27-11).

Ray Allen was 0 of 5 from the field and clearly is in a shooting slump. He's 8 of 45 (18 percent) overall and 3 of 25 (12 percent) from 3-point territory in the last seven games.

Dwyane Wade scored eight points on 4-of-11 shooting in just less than 33 minutes.

Incredibly, Miami trailed 43-18 after one quarter and 69-48 at the half. That largely was because the Heat's defense allowed Washington (18-19) to shoot 57 percent and forced just two turnovers in the first half.

The lone bright spot for Miami was the return of center Greg Oden, who played in a regular-season NBA game for the first time since Dec. 5, 2009. The former No. 1 overall draft pick finished with six points and two rebounds in 8:24.

Earlier Wednesday, Miami traded center/forward Joel Anthony and two draft picks to Boston in a three-team trade. The Heat acquired guard Toney Douglas from Golden State.

Forward Chris "Birdman" Andersen (knee) and point guard Mario Chalmers (Achilles') were inactive for the game.

THE TURNING POINT

Trailing 8-7 with 8:30 left in the first quarter, Washington closed the period outscoring Miami 36-10.

THE DIFFERENCE MAKER

Guard John Wall had 25 points to lead seven Wizards in double-figure scoring. He also had five rebounds and nine assists.

STAT OF THE GAME

The Wizards shot 54.7 percent overall.

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WHAT'S NEXT

The Heat play the fourth of six straight road games when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday at 7 p.m.

You can follow Charlie McCarthy on Twitter @mccarthy_chas or email him at mac1763@bellsouth.net.

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