Despite Surprising Arenas, Wizards Fall 90-76

(Sports Network) – Dwyane Wade posted 40-plus points for the second time in a week against Washington, scoring 41 to help the Miami Heat take a 90-76 decision from the Wizards.

Wade also notched five rebounds with as many assists, while Michael Beasley contributed 15 points for Miami, which improved to 6-1 — its best start to the season since 1999-2000.

On November 4 in Washington, Wade dropped 40 on the Wizards in a 93-89 victory. Miami has won six straight against Washington and is 21-5 over the previous 26 meetings between the teams.

Gilbert Arenas had 21 points and eight assists but also recorded a dozen of the Wizards’ 22 turnovers in the club’s fifth straight defeat. Caron Butler checked in with 19 points and seven boards.

Brendan Haywood posted 13 points and 11 rebounds while Andray Blatche had 13 and 10 in the loss.

After DeShawn Stevenson drained a three-pointer for a 52-41 Wizards lead a little more than a minute into the third, Wade and Beasley combined to score 21 of the Heat’s 24 points over the stanza for a 65-62 lead.

Washington scored just 27 combined points in the second half compared with Wade’s 29. Miami ran away with the game late on a 19-3 run that ended the contest.

Wade provided 14 of those points, while Mario Chalmers hit a back-breaking three-pointer with 1:47 to play for a 82-74 advantage.

The Wizards last field goal came on a Butler bucket with 6:24 to play, giving the visitors a 73-71 edge.

The Wizards led 27-21 at the close of the first quarter following a three- point play by Haywood and an Arenas three-pointer. Washington strengthened its lead to 10 early in the second before the Heat tied it on a Chalmers three- ball with 4:41 left.

The visitors, though, scored the next 11 points and headed to the locker room with a 49-41 advantage.

The Heat moved to 2-0 on a five-game homestand and will also play host to the Cavs, Nets and Thunder…Chalmers ended with 13 points and five helpers, while Carlos Arroyo scored 10 for Miami, which shot 44.6 percent from the field. Washington hit 40.3 percent of its shots…Randy Foye left the game for Washington after only 6 1/2 minutes due to an ankle sprain.