NBA Game Summary - Miami at Washington

Washington, DC (Basketball News) - Dwyane Wade scored 20 of his franchise playoff-record 42 points in the third quarter and Eddie Jones’ three-pointer with 14.9 seconds left gave Miami the lead for good, as the Heat wrapped up a four-game sweep of the Washington Wizards with a 99-95 victory at the MCI Center.

The Heat once again played without superstar center Shaquille O’Neal, who is out with a bruised right thigh. But Wade’s heroics, as well as Jones’ clutch shot, allowed the Heat to complete the second-round sweep. Miami is now 8-0 in the playoffs and became the first team in NBA history to sweep the same two teams in the playoffs that it swept during the regular season.

The Heat went a combined 7-0 against New Jersey and Washington prior to the start of the playoffs.

Wade shot 13-of-22 from the field and hit 16 of 17 attempts from the charity stripe. He added seven rebounds and four assists.

"It’s about taking what the defense gives you," Wade said. "I was able to get in the lane and make some baskets down low."

Damon Jones had 19 points to go with six assists. Eddie Jones finished with 13 points and five rebounds.

Gilbert Arenas led the way for Washington with 25 points, but shot just 5- for-17 from the field and fouled out with five minutes remaining. Brendan Haywood added 18 points and 15 rebounds, while Larry Hughes and Juan Dixon each finished with 15 points. Washington shot just 37 percent from the field.

The Heat, who led by as many as 13 points and were up by 11 with six minutes left, had to overcome a furious comeback by the Wizards.

Antawn Jamison’s three-pointer with 1:15 left capped a 12-0 run and gave the Wizards a 95-94 lead. The Heat missed 15 straight shots during the Washington burst and were 2-for-21 during the fourth until Jones’ three-pointer.

After a Steve Blake miss, Eddie Jones’ three-pointer with 14.9 seconds put the Heat back in front, 97-95. Larry Hughes then drove the lane and shot a layup that Alonzo Mourning blocked.

"He was in foul trouble since the start of the game," said Wade of Mourning. "But (he) kept his head, made the block and help us get the win."

Wade was then fouled and converted two free throws to put the game away.

"The main thing was to be confident," said Wade of overcoming the furious comeback the Wizards made. "This team came at us hard, but we made big lays down the stretch."

"I tip my hat off to the young man," said Jamison of Wade’s performance. "I’m a big fan. I respect his game and what he’s done, especially with the Big Fella hurt. They always say All-Stars during the regular season and superstars during the playoffs. To me, he’s the brightest star so far."

The Heat and O’Neal can now rest. The earliest the conference finals can start is May 23.

The Wizards scored the game’s first five points and were ahead the entire way in the first quarter. Washington led 16-8 with 7:12 left in the frame on a Jared Jeffries hoop and eventually took a 26-23 advantage into the second quarter.

Miami’s Rasual Butler nailed a three-pointer midway through the second quarter, giving the Heat its first lead of the game at 34-33 with 5:56 left in the first half. But a Haywood hoop on the next possession regained the lead for the Wizards and they would eventually take a 51-47 edge into the intermission.

Haywood had 13 first-half points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field to go along with nine rebounds. Arenas led the Wizards with 14 points before intermission despite missing eight of 11 shots from the field.