After being slowed by injuries the last two seasons, Dwyane Wade appears to be making up for lost time. The Miami Heat, though, are struggling to capitalize on their star's contributions.
Wade looks to stay hot Friday when the Heat host the Washington Wizards, who are coming off their first win of the season.Wade played just 51 games for the Heat (4-4) in each of the last two seasons because of knee and shoulder problems. He's finally healthy this season and off to a fast start, averaging 28.3 points, 7.6 assists and 5.9 rebounds.
Wade has reached the 30-point mark in Miami's last four games - a franchise record - including a season-high 36 against Portland on Wednesday. The Heat, however, dropped that game 104-96 and have alternated wins and losses in the previous four contests.
The defeat to the Blazers was Miami's first in five home games, and Wade's performance was among the few highlights. Rookie Michael Beasley scored 14 points, but the Heat committed a season-high 19 turnovers which Portland turned into 26 points.
"We shot ourselves in the foot tonight with all the turnovers we had, especially early on and then late in the fourth when we were trying to make a comeback," Wade said. "It really hurt us."
Miami lost all four meetings with the Wizards (1-5) last season by an average of 16.5 points.
Wade averaged 26.8 points against the Wizards during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons, when Miami won all eight matchups, but he's played in only three of the last eight meetings.
Washington will try to slow down the Heat star after an uncharacteristically strong defensive performance led to its first win Wednesday.
The Wizards defeated Utah 95-87, holding the Jazz to 43 percent shooting after coming in allowing NBA highs of 108.8 points and 50.2 percent from the field per game.
Washington had started 0-5 for the second straight season and was the league's last team to record a victory.
"There was a sense of urgency to be in a close game and not let it slip away, to find a way to get it done," forward Antawn Jamison said. "Once you find a way to get that first one, it gets a little easier for you."
Caron Butler scored 27 points and added nine rebounds for Washington, while Jamison had 21 points and eight boards. The two combined for 20 fourth-quarter points, including 15 in a row.
The Wizards also forced 18 turnovers that led to 21 points.
"We did a lot of different things defensively. We had to," coach Eddie Jordan said. "We had to be disruptive."
Washington won six straight after last season's 0-5 start.
