April 4, 2008 | Verizon Center | Miami HEAT - 95 | Washington Wizards- 109

HEAT Head Coach Pat Riley

On Alexander Johnson's head injury:
"We're more concerned about Alex. The game is irrelevant. The guy was hit real hard and he did some good things. We just hope that he's okay. He got hit in the temple and he's just not responding at all. They're just going to take him to the hospital. He's breathing but he's not responding to who he is and where he's at. We wanted to take him to the hospital because we don't know what happened. They're going to take him to get a C.T. scan. We're just wishing him the best."

HEAT Guard Ricky Davis

On the game:
"We stayed in the game, but we couldn't get over the hump. We gave them too many easy baskets. It was tough."

On hitting a franchise record 19 three-pointers:
"It felt great. Myself, Chris Quinn and Daequan Cook were shooting the ball pretty well. I think after awhile we just got behind the three-point line and let it go."

On shooting 9 of 12 from three-point range:
"I just felt great tonight. I wasn't even seeing the defender and I was just shooting it and letting it go."

HEAT Guard Cris Quinn

On hitting a franchise record 19 three-pointers:
"I didn't know we hit that many. We were able to get some good looks and we've got a few guys that can shoot the ball: myself, Daequan and Ricky. We were able to get some good looks and knock them down."

On playing shorthanded:
"We don't have our full team so those of us who are out there are just trying to compete and play as hard as possible."

On his hot play of late:
"Honestly, I wish we were winning. Winning to me is the most important thing at this point with six games left. The only thing I can do is play as hard as I can and go from there."



Wizards Associate Head Coach Mike O'koren

On tonight’s win:
"Coach Jordan really gutted it out tonight. Just like our team, he played hurt tonight. Certainly, the players responded. We are very, very happy with this win. We are happy with our bench and the way they have responded. Gilbert (Arenas) is coming off the bench and playing well. Andray (Blatche) came off the bench and played pretty well. We got a lead early and kept it."

On clinching a spot in the playoffs:
"We are happy with our accomplishment to make it to the playoffs for the fourth straight year. Considering what we have all been through here with injuries, it's a special moment for us to make the playoffs."

On the toughness of the team:
"Eddie as the head coach has kept this team organized. He has kept this team with a tremendous work ethic. That's a part of toughness. He has been ill and had a fever, and he called me this morning and said he didn't think he would be here tonight. For him to get here, shows toughness. Making the playoffs for the fourth straight year was a tremendous goal for us. It all starts with Eddie as our head coach."

On making the playoffs for four consecutive years:
"It's all about building blocks. Eddie and I with the Nets won 26 games and then two years later we played in two consecutive finals. That's what we are trying to build. We want to win a championship. That's what we are trying to build here. We don't want our players jumping around, it's business. We won a game, we clinched a spot. Now let's move up the ladder, like Eddie told the team after the game. That's what our goal is, to get in the best possible position."

On Gilbert Arenas:
"We are watching Gilbert's minutes. He is in a 20-25 minute range and we are trying to stay within that. We were very proud of him and the way he distributed the basketball, getting six or seven guys in double figures. That's important for a team."

Wizards Forward Caron Butler

On the team:
"We've been though a lot of adversity this year. We lost Gilbert (Arenas) early and have had a lot of doubters since. We've been coming out and playing at a high level night in and night out. Clinching a playoff spot is real rewarding, but at the same time it is what is expected from us."

"As long as we are healthy we can beat anyone. We need to get Antawn (Jamison) back out there. It is ironic that once we get everyone healthy, someone else goes down. Once we get all of our core players back out there we'll be real lethal. We can spread the floor and cause a lot of damage."

On Head Coach Eddie Jordan:
"It starts at the top. He is our head coach and he continues to do a great job every night. He was battling the flu and still showed up. You could barely hear him, but we grinded it out. It is a real tribute to this coaching staff."

Wizards Center Brendan Haywood

On expectations:
"When I first got here just making the playoffs gave the fans something to cheer about. We have made it four years in a row and now they want to see us make a run deep in the playoffs. Being a part of the playoffs isn't good enough now. We have to do something when we get there."

On success in the playoffs:
"It is all about team defense. Everyone knows we have three phenomenal scorers. We have a deeper bench this year that provides us with some good scoring. We can go nine deep. We have a lot of guys, but it is going to take team defense to get it done. We can let our team defense slip. We can't consider ourselves an elite team until we take pride in playing defense."

Wizards Guard Antonio Daniels

On making the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year:
"It is a little different this year. It really shows how great of a job Coach Jordan has done this year putting guys in positions to be successful. Different guys have stepped up and played well on different nights and that is why we are where we are today."

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