National Basketball Association
Preview
Washington at Miami
When: 7:30 PM ET, Monday, March 3, 2025
Where: Kaseya Center, Miami, Florida

Playing the second leg of a back-to-back, the Miami Heat look to rebound from an overtime loss when they host the Washington Wizards on Monday.

Miami squandered a 19-point lead on Sunday, managing only 43 points in the second half and seven points in overtime of its 116-112 setback versus New York. The loss dropped the Heat to 3-7 over the last 10 games, as they continued to slide behind Detroit in contention for the Eastern Conference's last guaranteed playoff spot.

Miami sits five games behind the Pistons for sixth place with only 23 dates left in the Heat's regular-season docket.

Versatile wing Jaime Jaquez Jr., who is averaging 9.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while also serving as one of Miami's top defenders, missed Sunday's game with an ankle injury. His timetable for return is uncertain.

Recent addition Andrew Wiggins also missed Sunday's game with an ankle injury. Since joining the Heat last month in a multiple-part trade that sent five-time All-NBA wing Jimmy Butler to Golden State, Wiggins is averaging 17.8 points per game.

"He loves the competitive feel of these last couple games," Miami coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters on Sunday about Wiggins wanting to be in the lineup despite the injury. "But we have to be smart about it. He's been very diligent with his work and we'll get him back soon."

Washington, meanwhile, is a winner in two of its last three after losing the previous six straight games. On Saturday, the Wizards won the first in a stretch playing 9-of-10 on the road with a 113-100 defeat of Charlotte.

Eight Wizards scored in double figures, led by Bilal Coulibaly and recently acquired Khris Middleton with 17 points apiece. Middleton's performance was his highest-scoring showing since being traded to Washington in a deal that sent Kyle Kuzma to Milwaukee last month.

"He's been doing this for a very long time," Washington coach Brian Keefe said of the three-time All-Star Middleton. "He's just getting his legs with us and learning some of the places he's going to get to his (shooting) spots. That's what this guy does; he's a professional."

Although Middleton is averaging only 12.4 points per game in 27 games played between his tenures in Milwaukee and Washington this season, missing significant time due to injury, he is a career 16.7 point-per-game producer.

The Wizards need all the offense they can muster, ranking near the bottom of the NBA with 108.4 points scored per game. Jordan Poole, Washington's leading scorer for the season at 21 points per game, had performances of 26 and 24 points before missing Saturday's affair with an elbow injury.

Coulibaly has provided an uptick in scoring over the last three games, including 20 points in the Feb. 24 win over Brooklyn. The second-year wingman has scored more than his 12.6-point per game season average in each of the past three outings.

The Washington offense faces a tall task generating points against Miami's stifling defense. Despite the Heat's recent struggles, their 110.9-point per game yield ranks seventh in the NBA.

--Field Level Media

Stats and Records
Team Comparison
  W/L Strk Home Away Day Night Div Conf
Washington 11-48 W1 6-26 5-22 0-2 11-46 6-5 9-25
Miami 28-31 L1 14-12 13-19 1-3 27-28 6-4 17-19
Last Meeting
Washington Miami
Date Away Home Pts Reb FG% Pts Reb FG%
11/2/24 MIA 118 WAS 98 98 44 41.8 118 65 42.2
Player Stats
Previous Matchup
Points Player Total FG% FTM
Washington B. Coulibaly 22 66.7 4
Miami B. Adebayo 32 50.0 5
Rebounds Player Total Off Def
Washington B. Coulibaly 8 3 5
Miami B. Adebayo 14 5 9
Assists Player  
Washington C. Carrington 8
Miami J. Butler III 4
Season
Points Player Total FG% FTM
Washington J. Poole 1131 41.9 207
Miami T. Herro 1416 45.9 220
Rebounds Player Total Off Def
Washington A. Sarr 304 82 222
Miami B. Adebayo 582 146 436
Assists Player  
Washington J. Poole 262
Miami T. Herro 338
Quickchart Matchup
Washington Washington Off vs  Miami Miami Defense
Washington Off vs Miami - Points For 108.4 Points For
Washington Off vs Miami - Points Against 110.9 Points Against
Washington - FG% 44.1 FG%
Miami - FG% 46.4 FG%
Washington - Reb 43.8 Reb
Miami - Reb 45.2 Reb
Miami Miami Off vs  Washington Washington Defense
Miami Off vs Washington - Points For 110.3 Points For
Miami Off vs Washington - Points Against 120.8 Points Against
Miami - FG% 45.8 FG%
Washington - FG% 47.3 FG%
Miami - Reb 43.7 Reb
Washington - Reb 47.6 Reb