Wizards vs. Heat: Play-by-play, highlights and reactions
Game Time: 7:30 PM EST on Tuesday December 28, 2021
Washington Wizards 51, Miami Heat 65 (Half)
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Ava Wallace @avarwallaceHalftime in Miami: The Heat lead 65-51 and the Wizards have 10 turnovers, which is to be expected
Kuzma: 14p
Gafford: 10p 5r
Tyler Herro has 20p, Jimmy Butler 14 – 8:41 PM Washington Wizards @WashWizards
Back at it in a few.
Kuzma: 14 PTS, 3 REB
Gafford: 10 PTS, 5 REB
Dinwiddie: 8 PTS, 5 REB, 6 AST
#DCAboveAll | @CapitalOne – 8:40 PM Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Heat are simply taking care of business and leading 65-51 at halftime. Getting good looks and making them against Washington’s makeshift lineup. Six sloppy turnovers in the 2Q that can get cleaned up, but Miami should cruise to a win. – 8:40 PM Steve Popper @StevePopper
Grimes doesn’t take long to put himself into “what the heck, heat check, mode.” – 8:40 PM Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
Jimmy triple-double watch 👀
14-5-6 at the break pic.twitter.com/EOEF7dnVii – 8:40 PM Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
HALF: 65-51 Heat. Miami is shooting 9-17 3PT. Herro has 20 pts. Kuzma leads the Wizards with 14. Wiz have 10 TOs, which have led to 15 pts for Heat. – 8:39 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Halftime: Heat 65, Wizards 51. Tyler Herro (20 points) and Jimmy Butler (14 points) have combined to score 34 points on 18 shots to lead the short-handed Heat. – 8:38 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Heat 65, Wizards 51 at half. Herro with 20, Butler 14, Robinson 12. – 8:37 PM Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
Deni Avdija was assigned to Kemba Walker for much of the Wizards’ last game and tonight it’s Jimmy Butler. Recently, it was Donovan Mitchell. Some big tests for the 20-year-old. – 8:37 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Tyler Herro up to 20 points on nine shots with 2:02 left in the second quarter. – 8:33 PM Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Tyler Herro is up to 18 points in 14 minutes. – 8:30 PM Ava Wallace @avarwallace
Craig Sword is an undeniably great name – 8:29 PM Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
This game has now featured two Wizards players making their NBA debuts: Jordan Goodwin and Craig Sword. – 8:26 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Heat attacking often, already with 16 shots at the rim and 24 paint points. – 8:26 PM Washington Wizards @WashWizards
Throw it up to throw it down.
@Spencer Dinwiddie → @Daniel Gafford pic.twitter.com/xWzZm0XqlU – 8:26 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Heat with 12 assists and 0 turnovers. That’s a pretty good ratio, I think. – 8:22 PM Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
Caleb jam off two feet 🤯 pic.twitter.com/5vByOt3XvZ – 8:19 PM Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
The Wizards have been one of the best 3PT defenses this season, but Miami is 7-for-12 from deep so far and, as a result, up 16 pts in the 2nd quarter. – 8:15 PM Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
We have some agendas we’d like to push:
#TylerHerro // #6MOTYLER // #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/Tiil51BebZ – 8:13 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
What a pass from Herro for that nice baseline dunk from Caleb
Oladipo and PJ going wild on the sideline – 8:12 PM Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
Alize Johnson arrived with the Wizards at 4 p.m. today and is now in the game early in the 2nd quarter. – 8:12 PM Ava Wallace @avarwallace
Alize Johnson in for the Wizards now. Johnson got to the arena around 4 p.m. today, got to watch some video of the Wiz’s most common sets and off he goes. – 8:12 PM Adam Wexler @AdamJWexler
DeJon Jarreau (@LaDeeky) since April:
-Played in 2021 @MFinalFour w/ @UHCougarMBK
-Summer league @Miami Heat
-Two-way deal w/ @Pacers
– @nbagleague rights traded from @TheMadAnts to @TexasLegends (just yesterday!)
-Signed a 10-day (hardship) deal w/ the @HoustonRockets today! – 8:10 PM Washington Wizards @WashWizards
Done with one in Miami.
Kuzma: 8 PTS, 3 REB
Bertans: 6 PTS, 2-3 3P
#DCAboveAll | @CapitalOne – 8:10 PM Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
Double-digit lead after 1 pic.twitter.com/HHndKI2a8N – 8:09 PM Josh Robbins @JoshuaBRobbins
The Wizards struggled after they broke their lineup, beginning when they subbed out Daniel Gafford and Deni Avdija. The Heat closed the quarter on an 18-3 run. Entering the second quarter, Miami leads 38-24. – 8:09 PM Ava Wallace @avarwallace
After one, the Heat lead the Wizards 38-24.
Kuzma: 8p
Bertans: 6p
Huge end to the quarter for Miami. Jimmy Butler has 12-4-4 and the Heat are shooting 51.9% fg – 8:08 PM Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
The Wizards trail the Heat 38-24 at the end of the 1st quarter. Miami went on an 18-3 run to close the frame. Sheesh.
Jimmy Butler leads all scorers with 12 pts. – 8:07 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
That mid-post void has been filled
Jimmy Butler doing a ton of operation from there, which is where most of his assists have come from
The fluidity of a mid post guy in this offense is picture perfect – 8:07 PM Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
can’t decide if we like the lob or the finish more tbh pic.twitter.com/CwZm6zg7t8 – 8:07 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
End of first quarter: Heat 38, Wizards 24. Jimmy Butler with 12 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists. Heat shooting 6 of 11 on threes. – 8:06 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Heat 38, Wizards 24 at end of one, in shorthanded vs. shorterhanded. Butler with 12-4-4. Herro again at the end of a period with a three. – 8:06 PM Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
Tyler Herro, end of quarters, of course. – 8:06 PM Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
With two of their three PGs in protocol, the Wizards have a PG-less lineup late in the 1st quarter:
Goodwin (NBA debut), Kispert, Bertans, Kuzma, Todd – 8:05 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Impressive finish by KZ while being fouled on that lob from Tyler Herro. – 8:03 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Heat getting Duncan Robinson when needed. – 8:02 PM Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
Jimmy having no problem getting Buckets + 1 pic.twitter.com/N9u0ngiHDc – 8:02 PM Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Twelve points in nine minutes for Jimmy Butler, including eight straight. Heat up 28-21. – 8:01 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
And now Marcus Garrett as third reserve. – 7:58 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Jimmy Butler up to 10 points, two rebounds and three assists in eight minutes for the short-handed Heat. – 7:57 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Jimmy Butler in attack mode right now
Got a little bounce to him
Really picking out mismatches well – 7:57 PM Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
Going 1v1 vs. Caleb’s athleticism is tough 😤 pic.twitter.com/GlJndoIrfD – 7:57 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
KZ Okpala as second reserve. All that remains of bench are Garrett and Cheatham. – 7:56 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Think Miami needs to get away from blitzing right now
Zone would probably fit better right now – 7:55 PM Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
Got a few 3s from Duncan already 👌 pic.twitter.com/pTpJQDTyV5 – 7:54 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Tyler Herro enters as sixth man. – 7:54 PM Ava Wallace @avarwallace
Man good for Omer Yurtseven. A veteran of the super weird georgetown days – 7:51 PM Milwaukee Bucks @Bucks
Heat check. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/qjnIKQ9B4j – 7:50 PM Washington Wizards @WashWizards
KUZ 💪
#DCAboveAll | @Kyle Kuzma pic.twitter.com/5x6aM0swI2 – 7:49 PM Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
Kyle Kuzma has been very aggressive attacking off the dribble. A good sign given the Wizards need his scoring tonight. He has 8 pts in 4 min on 3-4 FG. – 7:48 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
The most threes the Heat has ever taken in a game is 56. Six of the Heat’s first eight shots tonight have been threes. – 7:47 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Every single action is being run through Duncan Robinson to begin this game
Every trip down
Nice pass on that last play when drawing two at the rim – 7:47 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Heat’s first six shots all threes, not the typical mix with Butler in the lineup. – 7:46 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Duncan Robinson shaken up after that foul
Running with a visible limp but seems to be playing through as if he’s fine – 7:45 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Heat’s first three shots all 3-point attempts from Duncan Robinson. He’s 1 of 3. – 7:43 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
3 possessions…3 Duncan Robinson three-point attempts
Omer Yurtseven can’t afford to get in foul trouble tonight as well – 7:43 PM Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
Heat guard Max Strus, earlier today: “When things happen or things change, you’ve just got to adjust to it and overcome it. I mean, that’s what we’re really working with in the world right now.”
Hours later, Max Strus entered the protocols. – 7:41 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
The Heat now has three players in COVID-19 protocols, leaving only nine available players tonight vs. Wizards. Details on the Heat’s current COVID-19 situation miamiherald.com/sports/nba/mia… – 7:39 PM Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
Love the fact that two women – Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling and Jenna Schroeder – are officiating the game tonight in Miami, and hardly anybody notices. It’s normal now, as it should have been long ago. – 7:36 PM Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
Showtime in the 305.
@Miami Heat // @therabody pic.twitter.com/KSzcJUy2We – 7:30 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Heat’s available bench tonight:
Tyler Herro
KZ Okpala
Marcus Garrett
Zylan Cheatham
(And that’s it.) – 7:28 PM Washington Wizards @WashWizards
Sheeeeesh Gaff 👀 pic.twitter.com/9GvWqA0DQL – 7:22 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Heat lineup: Omer Yurtseven, Caleb Martin, Jimmy Butler, Duncan Robinson, Gabe Vincent. – 7:22 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Heat starting Gabe Vincent, Duncan Robinson, Jimmy Butler, Caleb Martin and Omer Yurtseven tonight. Miami has nine players available tonight. – 7:20 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Max Strus the latest Heat player to enter NBA protocols, joining Udonis Haslem and Kyle Lowry with that current status. All the details and updates: sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… – 7:13 PM Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
With half their roster in health and safety protocols, here is the Wizards’ starting lineup vs. Miami:
Dinwiddie, Kispert, Avdija, Kuzma, Gafford – 7:09 PM Washington Wizards @WashWizards
Splashin’
#DCAboveAll | @Kyle Kuzma pic.twitter.com/6XyjnGQ5ee – 7:06 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Heat will probably have to sign another 10 day guy now
Who do you guys want them to sign? – 7:06 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Max Strus out due to the health and safety protocols
List of roster names getting shorter and shorter – 7:04 PM Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Heat starters: Vincent, Robinson, Butler, Martin and Yurtseven. – 7:03 PM Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Max Strus has been added to health and safety protocols. He had been warming up with a mask here at FTX Arena before being shut down. The Strus is no longer loose. – 7:02 PM Ava Wallace @avarwallace
Wiz starters in Miami:
Dinwiddie
Kispert
Avdija
Kuzma
Gafford
My analysis: very tall lineup! – 7:01 PM Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
Tonight’s 5⃣ pic.twitter.com/S9vZZrSobe – 7:01 PM Josh Robbins @JoshuaBRobbins
The Wizards’ starters tonight in Miami: Spencer Dinwiddie, Corey Kispert, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma and Daniel Gafford. – 7:01 PM Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
UPDATE: Max Strus (health and safety protocols) has been ruled out of tonight’s game. – 7:00 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Max Strus out tonight. Joins Kyle Lowry and Udonis Haslem in health and safety protocols. – 7:00 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Max Strus just entered health and safety protocols. He is out tonight. – 7:00 PM Washington Wizards @WashWizards
STARTING 5⃣ #DCAboveAll pic.twitter.com/NE4XcdHCMf – 7:00 PM Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
Heat have added Max Strus to the protocols list. – 6:59 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Feel like this is a 20+ point game for Jimmy Butler where he flirts with a triple-double
He’s going to be fluctuated in different spots lineup wise, and following up an up and down shooting night means he will come out strong – 6:56 PM Washington Wizards @WashWizards
Ready to rock 🤘
#DCAboveAll pic.twitter.com/NjcKYOMEJ0 – 6:53 PM Ava Wallace @avarwallace
Bradley Beal has received a covid-19 vaccine, according to multiple sources. He remains in health & safety protocols and will not play in Miami tonight. – 6:41 PM Washington Wizards @WashWizards
Almost game time!
📍 Miami
🎙 @Team980
📺 @NBCSWashington & @NBATV
#DCAboveAll | @CapitalOne – 6:39 PM Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
Coach Spo is heading into tonight 1 victory away from sole possession of 25th place on the NBA’s All Time wins list 🔥
See what else you need to watch for, up-to-the minute injury news on both sides and tonight’s uniform color vs Washington gohe.at/3qxdh5t – 6:37 PM NBA Math @NBA_Math
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FULL BREAKDOWN pic.twitter.com/yUUshslVl4 – 6:26 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Spoelstra on potentially getting Lowry back sooner than expected with NBA’s shorter quarantine period: “He is part of this new category of either super minor symptoms or asymptomatic. Then it’s just a matter of testing and if he can get to a certain level.” – 6:25 PM Neil Dalal @NeilDalal96
Wizards available at Heat
Joel Ayayi
Deni Avdija
Davis Bertans
Spencer Dinwiddie
Daniel Gafford
Jordan Goodwin
Alize Johnson
Corey Kispert
Kyle Kuzma
Jordan Schakel
Isaiah Todd
Cassius Winston – 6:25 PM Washington Wizards @WashWizards
Planned or nah?
#DCAboveAll | @MichelobULTRA pic.twitter.com/6Q91mYs2zW – 6:18 PM Shandel Richardson @ShandelRich
No Bradley Beal tonight vs Heat si.com/nba/heat/miami… – 6:12 PM Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
Bradley Beal remains in the protocols, Wes Unseld Jr. tells the great @Josh Robbins. – 6:12 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Wizards say Bradley Beal is out, so they are down to NBA minimum of eight available players. – 6:11 PM Chris Miller @cmillsnbcs
Bradley Beal remains OUT tonight vs. Heat. – 6:09 PM Josh Robbins @JoshuaBRobbins
Bradley Beal will not play tonight, Wes Unseld Jr. said. – 6:09 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Bradley Beal will not play tonight vs. Heat. So the Wizards have eight players out because of COVID-19 protocols. – 6:09 PM Quinton Mayo @RealQuintonMayo
Bradley Beal (health and safety protocol) is OUT for the Wizards game tonight vs. Miami Heat – 6:08 PM Ava Wallace @avarwallace
Bradley Beal (questionable – health & safety protocols) will NOT play tonight, Wes Unseld Jr. says. – 6:08 PM Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
Bradley Beal is OUT tonight against the Heat, per Unseld Jr. Beal was listed as questionable as he remains in health and safety protocols. – 6:08 PM Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
No Bradley Beal tonight for the Wizards, per Wes Unseld Jr. – 6:08 PM Washington Wizards @WashWizards
📰 OFFICIAL: We’ve signed forward Alize Johnson to a 10-day contract via the NBA Hardship Exception provisions. #DCAboveAll pic.twitter.com/ucLdgNDYrE – 6:04 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Erik Spoelstra said he’s hopeful the NBA’s shorter quarantine period will allow Kyle Lowry to return quicker than expected. – 5:58 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Erik Spoelstra says he is hopeful of getting Kyle Lowry back sooner than previous 10-day waiting period, amid NBA protocol change. – 5:58 PM Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
No PJ Tucker tonight, per Heat. – 5:54 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
PJ Tucker ruled out tonight for Heat
Omer Yurtseven and KZ Okpala the rotating bigs tonight – 5:53 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Erik Spoelstra says P.J. Tucker (leg) is out tonight.
Also out for Heat: Adebayo, Lowry, Dedmon, Morris, Haslem, Oladipo. – 5:52 PM Tom Orsborn @tom_orsborn
Spurs injury report for Wednesday vs. Miami is limited to Murray (health & safety protocols) and Collins (left ankle, stress fracture). Both remain out. – 5:28 PM Matthew Tynan @Matthew_Tynan
Spurs injury/illness report remains unchanged: Dejounte Murray (H&S protocols), Zach Collins both OUT for tomorrow’s game against Miami, per team. – 5:10 PM Paul Garcia @PaulGarciaNBA
Dejounte Murray (H&S protocols) and Zach Collins (injury) are out Wednesday vs Heat per Spurs – 5:09 PM Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
The Wizards are signing forward Alize Johnson on a 10-day deal, his agent @George Langberg tells ESPN. Johnson cleared waivers at 5 PM, landed in Miami and is on his way to the arena where he’s expected to play significant minutes with three frontcourt players in protocols. – 5:08 PM Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Hornets will be without Miles Bridges, PJ Washington and Scottie Lewis Wednesday night in Indy. All three are in the health and safety protocols.
I expect for Brogdon and Lamb to be questionable. They’re day-to-day. – 5:02 PM Shandel Richardson @ShandelRich
Even with injuries, Miami Heat keep pace in Power Rankings #miamiheat si.com/nba/heat/miami… – 4:47 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Heat’s Udonis Haslem joins Kyle Lowry in NBA’s COVID-19 protocols. Omer Yurtseven is the only available Heat center tonight vs. Wizards miamiherald.com/sports/nba/mia… Wizards also have a list of players in protocols – 4:05 PM Charlotte Hornets PR @HornetsPR
INJURY UPDATE: @Charlotte Hornets at IND 12/29
Miles Bridges (H&S Protocols) is OUT
Scottie Lewis (H&S Protocols) is OUT
PJ Washington (H&S Protocols) is OUT – 3:34 PM Washington Wizards @WashWizards
Kuz has been strong on the glass against the Heat.
#DCAboveAll | @CaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/1P1rHFihDF – 3:00 PM Washington Wizards @WashWizards
Watch the wings in Miami!
#DCAboveAll | @CapitalOne pic.twitter.com/bDezVRH6wi – 2:30 PM Washington Wizards @WashWizards
Over the last three games, our 2.82 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks second in the NBA.
#DCAboveAll | @DXCTechnology pic.twitter.com/6yYEwES9DC – 2:00 PM Shandel Richardson @ShandelRich
As he prepares to donate game-worn shoes to charity, here’s a look at some of P.J. Tucker’s best kicks #miamiheat si.com/nba/heat/miami… – 1:45 PM Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz
Unvaccinated Wentz going on COVID list today isn’t good news for Dolphins if they lose to Titans, because a Colts win over Vegas on Sunday is important to Miami’s one-more-loss scenario of making playoffs, a multi-step process we explained in a piece earlier today. – 1:44 PM Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
A question @DMarcoFarr1 and I posed on @ESPNLosAngeles, in honor of Denzel Washington’s 67th birthday. If you could only watch one Denzel movie for the rest of your life, which one are you picking? AK – 1:42 PM Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
Talking Wizards and what’s remaining of their roster amid their Covid outbreak on @team980 with @CraigHoffman… – 1:33 PM