Heat Cruise Past Short-Handed Wizards

Miami extends playoff push with dominant win over Washington

Apr. 4, 2026 at 12:11pm

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The Miami Heat (40-37) easily defeated the shorthanded Washington Wizards (17-59) by a score of 150-129 on Saturday afternoon at Kaseya Center in Miami. The Heat, who are fighting for a playoff spot, were led by a dominant 83-point performance from Bam Adebayo, while the Wizards were missing several key players due to injury.

Why it matters

The win keeps Miami's playoff hopes alive as they try to catch the Raptors and 76ers for the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference. For the Wizards, the loss continues their dismal season as they continue to be plagued by injuries to key players.

The details

Miami jumped out to a big lead early and never looked back, taking advantage of a Wizards team missing several starters including Anthony Davis, Trae Young, and Cam Whitmore. Bam Adebayo had a historic night for the Heat, pouring in 83 points on 28-of-32 shooting. Will Barton led the Wizards with 22 points off the bench.

  • The game was played on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
  • The last time these two teams met was on March 10, when the Heat won 150-129.

The players

Bam Adebayo

All-Star center for the Miami Heat who scored a franchise-record 83 points in the game.

Will Barton

Veteran guard for the Washington Wizards who led the team with 22 points off the bench.

Anthony Davis

Injured Wizards forward who missed the game due to a finger injury.

Trae Young

Injured Wizards guard who missed the game due to a quad injury.

Cam Whitmore

Injured Wizards rookie who missed the game due to a venous condition.

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What they’re saying

“Bam was unstoppable tonight. When he's playing like that, we're a tough team to beat.”

— Erik Spoelstra, Head Coach, Miami Heat

“We're just trying to get through this season at this point. Injuries have really decimated our roster.”

— Wes Unseld Jr., Head Coach, Washington Wizards

What’s next

The Heat will look to continue their playoff push as they take on the Raptors on Tuesday. The Wizards will try to get healthier as they host the Knicks on Thursday.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the stark contrast between the playoff-contending Heat and the injury-plagued Wizards. Miami's dominance, led by Bam Adebayo's historic performance, keeps their postseason hopes alive, while Washington's lost season continues as they struggle to field a competitive roster.