Miami Heat keep playoff hopes alive with huge win in Washington

The Miami Heat won a huge game against the Wizards to keep their playoff hopes alive, beating Washington 106-103 in regulation. After losing to the Raptors on Friday night and falling into ninth place in the Eastern Conference, the Heat had their backs against the wall. They responded with a big win on Saturday in Washington.

There were several times the Heat could have folded in this game. Not only is it game No. 80 of the season, it was on the road against a tough Wizards team. It was also the second night of a back-to-back, but if we’ve learned anything about this Heat team, they never quit. James Johnson hit the game winner to finally put the Wizards away, as he finished with 10 points in the fourth quarter.

The Heat even escaped a bit of bad luck late in the fourth quarter as they were called for goaltending on John Wall that was not actually a goaltend. It seemed as if it was going to be a pivotal incorrect call by the referees but the Heat prevailed.

The Heat will still need help from the Bulls or the Pacers to get in to the playoffs. Miami will need to finish 2-0 in their last two games, in which they play the Cavaliers and the Wizards. They’ll also need the Pacers to lose one of their games in order to tie, as they have the tiebreaker over Indiana. To get past Chicago, the Heat would need the Bulls to lose both of their final games, as the Bulls own that tiebreaker. It will be tough, but the scenarios are still possible and the Heat have proven to us this season they are up for the challenge.