Debatable call leads to crucial 3-pointer as Heat fall to Wizards
MIAMI (AP) -- John Wall's knee was fine. And the Miami Heat thought he and the Washington Wizards got a little extra help in the final moments.
Wall scored 26 points one night after leaving a game with a sore knee, Gary Neal added 21 including a debated 3-pointer with just over a minute left and the Wizards beat the Heat 114-103 on Monday night.
Bradley Beal scored 21 and Otto Porter finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds for Washington, which never trailed in the fourth.
"I'm probably one of the toughest people you'll see," Wall said. "I'm a competitor. I can't say if it wasn't broke I wouldn't play because I did that before, but it was just a time that we really want to play well."
The night was both dubious and maddening for the Heat. It was the first time -- ever -- that Miami shot 59 percent in a game and lost. The Heat shot 58 percent in a 1990 loss to Seattle.
And while the final margin was 11, the Heat would argue that one play changed everything. Miami's contention was that Beal traveled when he lost control of the ball and regained it under the basket with 1:10 remaining. Beal sent it to Neal for a 3 from the right corner that put Washington up five and essentially served as the clincher.
Miami's Chris Bosh was ejected not long afterward, only the second of his 13-year career.
"It was a travel," Bosh said. "No, I didn't watch it. There's no need to watch it. I know what happened. ... You can't travel. It's a travel. You can't go to the rim and catch your own ball when you come down."
Dwyane Wade led Miami with 26 points and nine assists. Goran Dragic added 20 points and nine assists and Bosh scored 18 points for Miami, which fell out of first in the Eastern Conference.
Hassan Whiteside scored 14 for Miami on 7 for 7 shooting, but wasn't on the floor at all in the fourth as the Heat tried to deal with Washington's small lineup.
"This is the NBA right now," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Welcome to this league. Everybody has a speed-space lineup. You have to be able to adapt, you have to be able to contain the basketball and keep the ball out of the paint with different lineups."
Miami was down eight midway through the fourth, then rallied to tie the game twice -- first on a short jumper from Wade in the lane, then on a pair of free throws by Dragic with 2:28 left.
Beal had a steal and dunk to put Washington back on top, and about a minute later Neal hit the debated 3-pointer.
"If you play at that intensity level every night, it (doesn't) matter who you have available," Wizards coach Randy Wittman said.
TIP-INS
Wizards: Marcin Gortat (personal) and Nene (strained left calf) were again out for Washington. ... Porter, who didn't have any double-doubles in the first 128 games of his career, now has two in two days.
Heat: Miami shot 61 percent in the first half and still trailed 60-55 at the break. ... Whiteside's 6-for-6 first half matched the best shooting half of his career. He made all six of his tries from the floor in the first half against Minnesota on Feb. 4. ... Miami's 36 second-quarter points were a Heat season best for any period.
PACKING UP
After opening the season with 14 of 19 games at home, the Heat play four of their next five away from home. The only home game in that stretch is Sunday, when Memphis visits in Mario Chalmers' first game as a visitor to Miami.
STAR POWER
Wall declared himself ready to go before the game, and didn't get added to the list of standouts who've missed games against the Heat this season. Among those who've been in suits instead of sneakers when their teams faced Miami: Kyrie Irving, Dwight Howard, DeMarre Carroll, Kobe Bryant, Rudy Gobert, DeMarcus Cousins and LeBron James.
UP NEXT
Wizards: Host Houston on Wednesday.
Heat: Visit Charlotte on Wednesday.
