Team returns home with eyes on 19th win The Wizards eliminated the chance that they would equal an NBA record for futility in the final game of their lengthy swing out West. With nine games remaining, they’ll now focus on the two victories that are required to make sure they don’t equal a similar dubious franchise mark.
With Monday’s 100-95 overtime win at Utah — on the second night of a back-to-back and the fifth contest in a five-game road trip — the Wizards (18-55) improved to 2-35 on the road, ensuring they won’t match the 1990-91 Sacramento Kings, who finished that season an NBA record 1-41 away from home.
Washington’s first chance to get itself even with the franchise’s low-water mark for overall wins in a season (19), set in 2000-01 and matched in 2008-09, will come against the Heat (51-23), who lost in Cleveland on Tuesday. The Wizards fumbled away a chance to beat Miami in its previous visit to Verizon Center in December, throwing away a five-point lead in the final 32 seconds to lose 95-94.
| Up Next |
| Heat at Wizards |
| Where » Verizon Center |
| When » Wednesday, 7 p.m. |
| TV » Comcast SportsNet |
John Wall, who scored 24 of his 28 points in the first half against the Jazz, is on track for another rookie of the month award, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 assists and 5.4 rebounds in March. But the heavy load has been forced upon him by the Wizards’ mounting injury problems.
Fellow rookie Trevor Booker missed the final two games of Washington’s road trip with a right foot injury, and Nick Young returned to the bench against Utah after re-aggravating a left knee injury against Golden State on Sunday.
The Wizards have been without Andray Blatche since March?8 — a span of 10 games — due to a sprained right shoulder that was initially diagnosed as day-to-day. Rashard Lewis (right knee) isn’t likely to play again this season, and Josh Howard (left knee) also hasn’t played since March 14.
The multiple absences have opened the door for rookie Jordan Crawford, who has averaged 19.2 points in nine starts, and JaVale McGee was solid over the final four games of the Wizards road trip, averaging 13.5 points, 15.3 rebounds and 3.0 blocks.
