Regular Season Game 65
Heat (33-30) at Wizards (36-28)
March 6, 2018 at 7:00 PM Capital One Arena | Washington, D.C.
TV: NBCSW
Radio: 1500 AM
Odds: WSH -4.5
(Photo: Mike Ehrmann via Getty Images)
What to Watch:
Ball Security
In the last three games, Washington has 15, 18, and 18 turnovers against Indiana, Toronto, and Golden State, respectively. The worse part is that they have directly led to 20, 27, and 26 points for their opponents, respectively. Against the onslaught of playoff teams that they are currently playing against, they cannot afford to continue gifting points to the other team.
Key Matchup:
Marcin Gortat vs. Hassan Whiteside
From a traditional box score perspective, Gortat has been struggling a bit lately during Washington’s three-game slide. In the last eight games, his playing time has dipped to just 23 minutes per game as Scott Brooks has opted for the defensive presence of Ian Mahinmi or small ball lineup. Whiteside has made a living playing against the Wizards by averaging 14.5 points on 64.6 percent shooting and 11.8 rebounds per game in 13 matchups against Washington. Although his numbers are a bit down from last season, he is still a force that the Wizards will hope to limit down low and above the rim.
X-Factor:
Kelly Olynyk
As was the case in Game 7 in Boston, Olynyk can be the ultimate game changer especially when the Wizards allow him to look like the reincarnation of Larry Bird. In two games against Washington this season, the big only has 10 points combined. He is probably still afraid of angering Kelly Oubre who is expected to return after sitting out Sunday with a sore left foot.
Fun Factor:
D-Wade Back
Among the Cleveland Cavaliers flurry of trade deadline transactions included sending Dwyane Wade back to his one true home of Miami so that he could potentially finish out his career with the Heat. Probably the OG Wizards killer over the years, it will be nice to see Wade back in the uniform that he dawned for so many years.
(Photo: USA Today)
Prediction:
Washington gets back on track with a close win over Miami to end the four-game homestand.
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