MIAMI (Ticker) -- The Miami Heat and the Washington Wizards
meet Tuesday at AmericanAirlines Arena in the second half of a
home-and-home series.
Behind a monstrous performance from point guard Dwyane Wade, the
Heat defeated the Wizards on Saturday, 118-106, to remain
perfect on the season at 3-0.
Wade, who was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week on
Monday, scored a career-high 37 points and dished out a
career-high 12 assists in the win, strengthening his hold on a
team that has received less from Shaquille O'Neal than
anticipated.
Wade ranks second in the NBA in scoring (28.7) and seventh in
assists (7.7) while shooting 56 percent (28-of-50) from the
field in a magnificent start. On the other hand, O'Neal, who is
hobbled by a strained left hamstring, is playing in less than
27 minutes per game, and posting numbers far below his career
marks.
But the balance is working as Miami is off to its best start
since 1995. The club was able to hand Washington its first loss
of the season Saturday, pulling away with 36 points in the
fourth quarter.
The Wizards' high-scoring trio of Antawn Jamison, Gilbert Arenas
and Larry Hughes combined for 77 points in the loss. Jamison
has been a fine addition to Washington, scoring 27.3 points and
pulling down 8.0 rebounds per game in the early going.
Center Brendan Haywood will make his debut Tuesday after
finishing up a three-game suspension for a fight in preseason.
The Heat have won five straight vs. the Wizards.




