The formula to beating the Heat is no longer a mystery, nor is it complicated: Force Miami to make shots in the fourth quarter.
That's what the Washington Wizards did at MCI Center on Wednesday, and it's why they went on to beat the Heat for the second time in two weeks, this time by the score of 82-80.
The Heat remains one of the league's most offensively challenged teams, ranking second-to-last in the NBA in scoring with 84.5 points per game, a figure that seems to dip lower every time a game hangs in the balance. Wednesday, the Heat's late-game struggles totaled 7-of-24 shooting in the last period, including a combined 3-of-12 shooting from Eddie Jones, Alonzo Mourning and Brian Grant.
The trio, who will earn $38 million this season, mustered just six points in the final period. Miami limited the Wizards to 11 points in the fourth but still could not overcome its own ineptitude.
``We had chances to take advantage of them tonight,'' Jones said. ``We just missed too many shots.''
Miami did show some positive signs by rallying from 15 points down in the third quarter, but the comeback fell short with LaPhonso Ellis' desperation three-pointer at the buzzer that could have won the game.