Chris Bosh scored 23 points, Goran Dragic added 18 and the Miami Heat allowed their fewest points this season in a 97-75 victory over the undermanned Washington Wizards.
Washington, which also scored its fewest points of the season, was held to seven points in the second quarter after missing 20 of their 22 field goal attempts.
Miami coach Erik Spolestra credited Hassan Whiteside, who scored just six points but had 13 rebounds and six blocks, for both the team’s defensive turnaround and Sunday’s win.
“You have to do the things you don’t want to do to be successful in this league,” Spoelstra said.
The Heat’s 25-7 second quarter propelled them to a 50-31 halftime lead.
Bosh made three consecutive baskets early in the fourth quarter as Miami built its lead to 80-53.
Washington, which had just nine healthy players, shot just 34.1 percent.
“It’s hard to judge your defense when your offense was as bad as it was,” Wizards coach Randy Wittman said.
John Wall, who led Washington with 14 points, made just six of 21 shots.
“We just kind of made it tough on him, just tried to make him finish over us, just challenge him to come challenge me at the rim,” Whiteside said.
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