NBA

Heat, Wade sweep Wizards

WASHINGTON - The preliminary stuff is over in the Miami Heat's playoff run.

Eddie Jones made a 3-pointer from the right wing with 14.9 seconds remaining, thwarting a late Wizards rally in the Heat's 99-95 victory that wrapped up the Eastern Conference semifinal series in four games.

Jones' basket gave Miami a 97-95 lead and ended a streak of 16 straight misses for Miami, which blew an 11-point lead over the final six minutes.

Dwyane Wade scored 22 of his career playoff-high 42 points in a dazzling third quarter in which he went 7-for-7 from the field and 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.

The Wizards simply could not stop Wade, whether he was working himself open for a jumper or grabbing an offensive rebound and going back up for a dunk. He finished 13-for-22 from the field and 16-for-17 from the line.

"It was just about taking what the defense gave me," Wade said. "I had confidence in my pullup, and I was taking that. Then the defense started getting confused, and I was able to get to the lane and make the basket down low."

Wade broke the Miami playoff record of 38 points set by Tim Hardaway against New York on May 18, 1997. The 22 points in a playoff quarter surpassed Hardaway's 20 in the second quarter at Chicago on April 26, 1996.

Shaquille O'Neal missed his second straight game with a deep thigh bruise that has hobbled him for several weeks. The sweep will give him a minimum of eight days to recover, with the conference final against Detroit or Indiana not scheduled to start until May 23 at the earliest.

"It means we get a lot of rest," Wade said. "We're just going to try to go get healthy. This team is on a mission. Whoever our next opponent is in the next round is going to be tough."

A healthy O'Neal wasn't necessary against New Jersey in the first round or Washington in the second. The Heat went 15-0 against the two teams and is the first team in NBA history to sweep the same two teams in the playoffs that it swept during the regular season.

Damon Jones added 19 points for the Heat, including 12 in the pivotal third quarter when he made all four of his 3-point attempts. Miami outscored Washington 40-25 in the third, opening an 11-point lead that became 13 when Eddie Jones opened the fourth with a basket.

All hope for the Wizards appeared to end when Gilbert Arenas fouled out with 6:04 remaining and his team trailing by 10, but Juan Dixon made a pair of 3-pointers and Antawn Jamison hit a 3 that put the Wizards ahead 95-94 with 1:15 to play.

Arenas scored 25 for the Wizards before fouling out for just the second time this season.

Brendan Haywood added 18 points and 15 rebounds for the Wizards. Dixon and Larry Hughes scored 15 apiece.

Reggie Evans' bruised back was well enough for him to return to Seattle's practice, but Rashard Lewis missed his second straight day with a sprained toe on his left foot. Lewis said he's "about 50-50" for today's Game 4 against San Antonio. Coach Nate McMillan said Lewis' status will be determined at tipoff.

[Last modified May 15, 2005, 01:22:06]