The Miami Heat defeated the Washington Wizards 110-102 on Friday night, with Jimmy Butler scoring 24 points and Bam Adebayo adding 20 points and 14 rebounds.
Butler finished 7 for 10 from the field and made his sole three-point try a day after being left off this year’s Eastern Conference reserves.
On a night when the Heat shot 43.2% from the field and only 7 of 31 from three, his efficiency was crucial.
Adebayo recorded his 25th double-double of the season a day after being named a reserve All-Star to help Miami win its second straight game following a seven-game losing streak. In just 15 minutes, Kevin Love added 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Corey Kispert scored a season-high 26 points to help Washington fall to 2-3 under interim coach Brian Keefe, who replaced Wes Unseld Jr.
Jordan Poole had 16 points and 10 assists, while Daniel Gafford added 11 points and 14 rebounds for the Wizards, who were outscored 16 in the third quarter. In a loss Wednesday night to the Los Angeles Clippers, Washington was outscored by 21 in the same time.
Miami gained its first lead early in the third period on Terry Rozier III’s free throws, then took command with a 21-6 run to close the term.
Butler’s free throws, which he made by flinging the ball toward the hoop when he felt Kyle Kuzma’s contact, gave the Heat a commanding lead.
Love’s second 3-pointer over Kispert increased the margin to eight, Jamie Jaquez Jr.’s layup made it ten, and Tyler Herro’s 3-pointer made it 87-74 with a few seconds remaining in the quarter.
The Wizards went on an 18-4 run late in the fourth but couldn’t make it a one-possession game after Poole missed his second of two free throws with 31 seconds remaining.
