WASHINGTON, 16 May 2005 — Eddie Jones shot a 27-foot three-pointer with 15 seconds remaining to propel the Miami Heat to a 99-95 win over the Washington Wizards on Saturday and a place in the Eastern Conference finals.
Dwyane Wade scored 42 points as the Heat overcame the absence of center Shaquille O’Neal to complete a four-game sweep. Miami, unbeaten in eight playoff games this year, will play the winners of the Indianapolis-Detroit series.
With Miami trailing 95-94, Jones launched his three-pointer from well outside the arc. Two foul shots by Wade with seven seconds remaining sealed the win.
Miami had held a comfortable 94-83 lead with six minutes left before the Wizards reeled off 12 straight points. A 23-foot three-pointer by Antawn Jamison gave the Wizards a 95-94 lead with 1:15 left before Jones turned the game around. Wade, a second-year guard, scored 22 of his points in the third quarter. He hit 13 of 22 shots from the floor and 16 of 17 from the free throw line. Guard Damon Jones added 19 points for the Heat, including 12 in the third quarter.
The Heat outscored Washington 40-25 in the third period, turning a four-point halftime deficit into an 87-76 advantage with a quarter to play.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Wade was unstoppable in the quarter, hitting all seven shots from the floor on a variety of jump shots, running one-handers and layups.
A layup by Jones to start the final period increased the Heat’s lead to 89-76 before the Wizards’ late run.
Meantime, former Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he might wind up returning to guide the National Basketball Association team’s revival. Speaking at an event for coaches in Los Angeles Saturday night, Jackson said he might return to the Lakers, who missed the playoffs for the first time in 11 years this season after trading star center Shaquille O’Neal to the Miami Heat.
“I am considering it,” Jackson said.
“There has been a loss of status. That’s not fair. I feel badly for the Lakers because of that.”
