Shaq-less Heat still handle Wizards

WASHINGTON -- Shaquille O'Neal didn't play, and Dwyane Wade committed five turnovers in the first quarter. Still, the Miami Heat kept their perfect postseason intact.

Five Miami players scored in a 13-0 third-quarter run that swung the game, and Wade steadied himself to finish with 31 points, nine rebounds and six assists, leading a 102-95 victory over the Washington Wizards on Thursday night. That gave the Heat a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The Heat, 7-0 in the postseason, can complete their second straight sweep on Saturday night.

The deep thigh bruise that has bothered O'Neal for weeks finally caused him to miss a playoff game for the first time in his career, ending a streak of 164 consecutive postseason appearances. His absence appeared to open a golden opportunity for the Wizards, who had won seven straight at home and needed some momentum after back-to-back losses in Miami.

But 35-year-old Alonzo Mourning started for O'Neal and continued his postseason renaissance with 14 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks, including a rejection of Larry Hughes' layup attempt in the final minute.

Eddie Jones and Damon Jones added 16 points apiece, and Udonis Haslem had 12 points and 12 rebounds. Wade made 14 of 27 shots and finished with eight turnovers.

Gilbert Arenas scored 20 points and set a franchise playoff record with 14 assists for the Wizards, who trailed by 11 early in the fourth quarter and by 10 with 4:19 remaining before Arenas led a late charge. He stumbled through the paint for a layup that cut the lead to 98-95 with 1:51 remaining, but Haslem's 18-footer and Wade's falling-down layup pushed the lead back to seven in the final minute.

Antawn Jamison scored 21 points for the Wizards, who have lost 11 straight to the Heat. Hughes added 19, Juan Dixon 16 and Brendan Haywood 15.

Mourning looked every bit his age as he walked downcourt on some possessions, but he was a force when he chose to assert himself, even getting called twice for goaltending. He had 10 points and nine rebounds at the half.

Mourning's early rebounds were crucial because his teammates were struggling to keep the ball. The Heat committed 11 first-half turnovers. Wade had six.

Meanwhile, the Wizards' Big Three of Arenas, Hughes and Jamison accounted for all of the team's 24 first-quarter points. Washington had 14 assists in the first half, surpassing the team's total for the all of Game 1 (9) or Game 2 (13).

Washington led 40-34 after two 3-pointers by Arenas and a jumper by Hughes, but Damon Jones and Keyon Dooling quickly tied the game with a pair of 3s. Hughes made two free throws to give the Wizards a 51-49 lead at the half.

The Wizards built their lead to eight with a layup from Arenas, but the Heat responded with the 13-0 run that rattled the home team and stunned the fans. Suddenly, the Heat were leading 65-60.

Shortly afterward, Wade made a spectacular one-handed dunk down the middle of the lane, and the Wizards were completely on their heels. By the end of the quarter, Miami was ahead 79-70. After committing just three turnovers in the first half, the Wizards had seven in the third quarter.

But the Wizards weren't done. After Wade made two baskets to get the lead to 13 early in the fourth quarter, Washington answered with a 12-4 run, capped by Hughes' 3-pointer.

The Heat responded with a 7-0 spurt, with Damon Jones sandwiching two jumpers around a hook shot by Mourning, providing enough cushion to withstand the Wizards' final run.

Notes: Both frontcourts were thin. The Wizards played without Etan Thomas, who strained an abdominal muscle in Game 2 on Tuesday, and Kwame Brown, who is suspended for the playoffs. Mourning and backup Michael Doleac each picked up three fouls in the first half, but they combined for just one foul in the second half. ... The Heat extended a franchise record with their seventh consecutive playoff game with 100 points or more. ... The previous Wizards record for assists in a playoff game was held by Kevin Porter with 13 against Buffalo in 1975. ... Washington's Eddie Jordan is 0-14 as a head coach against the Heat.