Heat players are raving about point guard Rod Strickland, whose 34 points and 25 assists spearheaded Miami to a two-game weekend sweep of Washington.

''As Rod goes, we go,'' forward LaPhonso Ellis said. ``He sets the tempo from the start.''

On Nov. 30, Strickland was shooting 30.6 percent from the field. He has shot 46 since to raise his percentage to 44.2.

''At the beginning of the season, he was shooting 32 percent from medium range,'' coach Pat Riley said. ``Now Rod's making over 50 percent of his medium-range jumpers, so if they start doubling off him he's going to take it to the rim. He's still very quick. He gets by people.''

The Heat is 7-1 when Strickland has at least eight assists. He's averaging 9.8 points, 6.1 assists and 2.2 turnovers.

''He's a big part of the turnaround,'' forward Brian Grant said. ``He has helped bring the guys a lot closer a lot faster.''

? Because of the Heat's veteran starting lineup and the effects of Alonzo Mourning's kidney disease on his stamina, there was some concern about how Miami would play on the second night of consecutive games.

But after losing its first five games on the back end of back-to-back sets, the Heat has won six straight on the second night to improve to 7-6. Miami has nine more sets of back-to-back games.

? The weekend sweep of Washington marked the second time in franchise history (in seven chances) Miami has beaten the same opponent on consecutive nights.

? Point guard Anthony Carter made a $100,000 donation for a University of Hawaii scholarship fund for its men's basketball program. Carter attended Hawaii.