MIAMI — The Miami Heat secured a dominant 152-136 victory over the Washington Wizards on Saturday, fueled by Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s 32 points before his departure for the NCAA women’s basketball championship game. Kel’el Ware delivered an impressive performance, accumulating 24 points, 19 rebounds, and seven blocks.
Despite facing a triple-team on his initial possession, Bam Adebayo — who previously scored 83 points in Miami’s last encounter with Washington — contributed 14 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists for the Heat. Andrew Wiggins added 21 points, while Pelle Larsson chipped in with 16 points.
This marked the third occasion in franchise history that Miami surpassed the 150-point threshold. They previously scored 153 against New Orleans on April 11 and 150 against the Wizards during Adebayo’s memorable 83-point outing on March 10.
For Washington, Will Riley led the scoring with 31 points, as the team registered its 60th loss for the third consecutive season. Sharife Cooper added 20 points for the Wizards, who found themselves trailing by as many as 35 points during the contest.
Jaquez’s early exit was to attend the women’s final in Phoenix; as a UCLA alumnus, he was there to support his sister, Gabriela, who plays for the Bruins. UCLA is set to compete against South Carolina on Sunday.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra commented on the family bond, stating, “That’s the beauty of their family relationship. They really support each other. We’ve gotten to know his sister from all the times that she has visited. And it’s awesome to see.”
The Heat also honored long-time public address announcer Michael Baiamonte, who is concluding his 35th and final season. Fans gave him a standing ovation following the first quarter.
Baiamonte reflected on his tenure, saying, “I’ve enjoyed the greatest seat to some of the greatest basketball in the world.”
Wizards: Face Brooklyn on Sunday.
Heat: Travel to Toronto on Tuesday.
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