Skip to main content

Wizards clinch NBA’s worst record with 140-117 loss to Heat

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Wizards clinched the worst record in the NBA on Friday night with a 140-117 loss to the Miami Heat. Washington (17-64) has lost nine in a row and 25 of its last 26 to tumble to the bottom of the standings.

The Wizards became the first NBA team to lose 64 games in three consecutive seasons. The Vancouver Grizzlies lost at least 63 games in each of their first three seasons from 1995-96 to 1997-98, while the Process-era Philadelphia 76ers matched that futility from 2013-14 to 2015-16. Simone Fontecchio and Pelle Larsson both scored 24 points for the Heat (42-39), who had lost 10 of 13. Miami scored an average of 143.5 points while going 4-0 against Washington this season. The Heat are already assured a fourth consecutive trip to the play-in tournament. Miami’s Bam Adebayo had 20 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. He scored 83 points, the second-most in NBA history, against Washington on March 10 and averaged 34.8 points against the Wizards this season. Miami used a 10-0 run late in the first quarter to take the lead for good. The Heat was up 34-23 after a quarter and 72-52 at halftime. Miami shot 63.2% (24 of 38) in the first half. The Wizards closed within 92-82 late in the third quarter, but Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored the last seven points in Miami’s 13-3 run to close the period to re-establish a cushion. Bub Carrington scored 30 points to lead Washington, while Bilal Coulibaly scored 19 of his 25 points in the first half. The Heat played without its top two scorers, Norman Powell (right groin soreness) and Tyler Herro (right foot soreness).

Up next

Heat: Closes regular season at home Sunday against Atlanta. Wizards: Concludes season Sunday at Cleveland. ___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Peterson, Dybantsa, Boozer and Wilson wait to see who goes first in the NBA draft

CHICAGO (AP) — Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa had an epic showdown in high school, crossed paths in college and could be the top two picks in this year's NBA draft after starring at Kansas and BYU. That's if Duke's Cameron Boozer and North Carolina's Caleb Wilson don't have something to say about it. All four are considered potential stars and a clear cut above the rest in a loaded draft class. What remains to be seen is the order they will be taken. The Washington Wizards hold the No. 1 pick for the first time since they drafted John Wall in 2010. Utah, Memphis and Chicago round out the top four. “It would mean a lot,” Dybantsa said Wednesday at the NBA draft combine of being picked first. “It would just mean that all my hard work is paying off. All the countless hours and all the sacrifices I made have paid off.”
Read Next Story