The Miami Heat never got going in their 107-86 road loss to the Washington Wizards on Monday night during which they never led.
Dwyane Wade (20 points) and Chris Bosh (21 points) were the lone brights spots for the Heat, who never came close to threatening the home team one day after leading from start to finish against the New York Knicks.
Washington hit their first seven 3-pointers and went 10 of 19 for the game while Miami missed their first eight attempts and finished 2 of 22. To make matters worse, the Heat also missed seven straight free throws during a stretch in the first half.
Leading the way for the Wizards was a dominant John Wall, who picked apart the defense with his passing skills. Big man Marcin Gortat had a double-double with 15 points -- mostly on easy baskets inside -- and 10 rebounds, and forward Rasual Butler was a difference-maker off the bench with 23 points.
Their complete team performance was more than enough to absorb the production of Wade, who looked crisp in his second game back from injury on a end of a back-to-back, and Bosh, who had 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting in the first half. Reserve guard Mario Chalmers, with 11 points, was the only other Heat player to reach double figures.
The lack of energy and ball movement coupled with their slow-reacting team defense doomed the Heat from the start as they fell behind by as many as 25 points in the second quarter.
THE TURNING POINT
Miami got to within 76-64 near the end of the third quarter but wouldn't get any closer for the rest of the game after Washington raced out on another run and had a 20-point lead three minutes into the final quarter.
THE DIFFERENCE MAKER
Wall controlled the tempo of the game and was masterful in his playmaking. He had 13 assists, compared with the Heat's total of 12. He already a double-double with 11 points and 10 assists by halftime.
STAT OF THE GAME
Washington's 64 points through the first two quarters were a season high for a Miami opponent in a half.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Heat return home to host the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m.
You can follow Surya Fernandez on Twitter @SuryaHeatNBA or email him at SuryaFoxSports@gmail.com.
