MIAMI _ It was kid stuff again Saturday night for the Miami Heat.
Lately, there has been little choice.
With Dwyane Wade away from the team for a third consecutive game following the birth of his daughter, and with Goran Dragic unable to contribute after missing the previous two games with a swollen knee, it again was youth movement or bust for the Heat.
On a night Rodney McGruder scored a career-high 22 points, closing time became closed-out time, with the Heat falling, 116-110 to the Washington Wizards at AmericanAirlines Arena, their fifth loss in the last seven games.
As was the case a night earlier in the loss to the visiting Indiana Pacers, the Heat built a double-digit lead, held a fourth-quarter advantage, but ultimately wilted.
John Wall led the Wizards with 28, with backcourt partner Bradley Beal scoring 18.
With Dion Waiters and James Johnson still sidelined, direction seemingly has become an issue, amid the reality of Saturday's Jimmy Butler shift to the Philadelphia 76ers that there are no easy answers out there.
"Our guys' hearts are in the right place. That's the thing," coach Erik Spoelstra said going in. "When you get to know this locker room, it's a very hard-working, ambitious group.
"We just have to direct that ambition collectively in a way where everybody's helping each other. We'll get there."
Just not yet, as the Heat fell to 3-4 at home, during what was supposed to be a favorable portion of the schedule.
Josh Richardson led the Heat with 24 points, with center Hassan Whiteside adding a 15-point, 14-rebound double-double.
