MIAMI _ Erik Spoelstra was desperate for answers as a 19-point halftime lead dwindled to single digits in the third quarter Wednesday at AmericanAirlines Arena. The Miami Heat dismantled the Washington Wizards for the first 24 minutes, leading by as much as 21, and then the second half arrived. The Wizards cut the lead to 10, so Spoelstra countered with a timeout. They cut the lead down to three and now Spoelstra was desperate.
The coach sent five substitutes to the scorer's table. All five starters came out. Five replacements came in. Washington eventually took the lead against the bench squad, but the same unit eventually twisted the Heat out of its tailspin to survive for a 134-129, overtime win in Miami.
Guard Goran Dragic, wing Tyler Herro, post player Kelly Olynyk, and forwards Derrick Jones Jr. and James Johnson handled the final 6:41 of the third quarter, then the first 3:47 of the fourth. When Spoelstra finally broke up the five after 10:28 straight, the Heat (31-13) had rebuilt a 99-95 lead and the crowd of 19,600, once baffled and agitated by a blown lead, was reinvigorated by its motley crew of saviors.
Herro was the immediate spark for the unit. The rookie hit three three-pointers in the third quarter to stabilize the struggling offense and he finished with 25 points, including 23 in the second half on a career-high seven total threes. Dragic, however, was the engine and scored 14 of his 22 points in the second half _ including 10 in the bench stretch _ while dishing out 10 total assists.
The other three in the lineup have jerked in and out of the rotation all season. They combined for 27 points, led by 14 from Olynyk, who was out of the rotation as recently as Jan. 12.
They briefly got Miami's lead back to 10 before back-to-back threes by the Wizards (14-29) forced Spoelstra to go back to some starters. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo reentered, but the Heat still needed a corner three by Johnson with 35.7 seconds left to force overtime.
Once in the extra period, Miami never trailed. Butler scored nine points _ seven on free throws _ to keep Washington at bay when a potential game-tying three-pointer by Bradley Beal with 10.6 seconds left hit back rim and bounced out of bounds.
