MIAMI — Jaime Jaquez Jr. poured in a season-high 32 points and Kel'el Ware dominated the paint with 24 points, 19 rebounds and seven blocks as the Miami Heat overwhelmed the Washington Wizards 152-136 on Saturday, a win capped by Jaquez sprinting off the court to catch a flight to the NCAA women's basketball title game.
The Heat’s scoring outburst was balanced and relentless. Bam Adebayo, who famously put up 83 points in Miami’s previous meeting with Washington, was met with a triple-team on his first touch but still finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Andrew Wiggins added 21 points and Pelle Larsson contributed 16 as Miami reached 150 points for only the third time in franchise history.
Miami’s offensive ceiling has been on display all season: the Heat scored 153 against New Orleans on April 11 and registered 150 in the March 10 game in which Adebayo scored 83. Saturday’s 152-point total underscores how the Heat’s offense can surge when shots fall and the floor is spaced, with Jaquez and Ware anchoring different ends of the court — Jaquez as an aggressive perimeter scorer and Ware as an interior deterrent.
The Wizards received 31 points from Will Riley and 20 from Sharife Cooper, but were unable to contain Miami’s multi-pronged attack and fell behind by as many as 35 points. The loss extended Washington’s struggles; the franchise has now reached the 60-loss mark for the third consecutive season, a stark indicator of the rebuilding hurdles that remain.
Jaquez’s night carried an immediate personal significance. The UCLA graduate left immediately after the final buzzer to fly to Phoenix for the women’s national championship — his sister, Gabriela Jaquez, is a starter for the Bruins, who were scheduled to face South Carolina on Sunday. “That’s the beauty of their family relationship. They really support each other,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We’ve gotten to know his sister from all the times that she has visited. And it’s awesome to see.”
The game also featured a touching nod to franchise history. Longtime Miami public address announcer Michael Baiamonte received a standing ovation after the first quarter as the Heat paid tribute to his 35th and final season on the PA. “I’ve enjoyed the greatest seat to some of the greatest basketball in the world,” Baiamonte told the crowd.
Miami will head north to face the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday. The Wizards travel to Brooklyn on Sunday. The rout provided another emphatic offensive statement for the Heat while offering little comfort for a Washington team still searching for consistency.