Briefing: Turnover Meltdown in Miami

Sloppy Arenas provides scare - Mike Jones, Washington Times

The Heat thumped the Wizards 90-76, and Arenas had 21 points, eight assists and a career-high 12 turnovers. And he had a late-game technical foul for arguing a call. Arenas' butter fingers proved contagious; Washington combined for 22 turnovers as a team. Miami (6-1) capitalized, scoring 27 points off the Wizards' giveaways, and the Heat got their second victory over Washington (2-6) in a seven-day span. "It's the same thing," a frustrated Saunders said. "When things get bad, we as individuals try to do too much instead of trying to get everybody involved. Then we made some bad decisions, turned the ball over, had some charges that were called. But it wasn't for a lack of effort."

Dwayne Wade just outscored the Wizards in the second half - William Yoder, Agent Dagger

The Wizards, as usual, echoed the fate of their star. When Arenas was up, so were the Wizards, but when the tides turned for Agent 0, things just got ugly for Washington. The first half saw Arenas driving to the basket and sticking jumpers on the way to grabbing 15 points and 5 assists. The second half saw Arenas turn the ball over seven times in the third quarter to add to his total of 12 as he only managed to muster six more points to finish the game with 21.

Heat 90, Wizards 76: Arenas pads the wrong stat - Craig Stouffer, Washington Examiner 

No judgment yet on Randy Foye, who left in the second quarter after rolling (spraining) his right ankle over Michael Beasley’s shoe. But Andray Blatche also looked to be cringing after a couple plays, and DeShawn Stevenson’s been popped more than once, too. Hey guys, spend tomorrow on South Beach -- not in the bars on South Beach -- then come home rested.

Instant Analysis: Wizards-Heat - Brian Jackson, CSN Washington

The lack of depth hit the Wizards like a brick wall in the second half.  Logging 39 minutes Andray Blatche was the only starter that didn’t top 40.   The fatigue was very evident.  Wizards held an 11-point lead in the second half but literally handed the game to Miami.  For the fourth straight game they finished with more turnovers (22) than assist (16).  Over half of those turnovers belonged to Arenas who committed a career high 12 turnover.  In turn the Heat turned those missed opportunities by the Wizards into 27 points.  

Heat 90, Wizards 76 - Ira Winderman, The Sun-Sentinel

While the Wizards were running short on point guards, with Mike James and Javaris Crittenton already out, their offense hardly resembled a Flip Saunders production. Helter-skelter was more like it.

Dwyane Wade's 41 keep Heat rolling, Miami now 6-1 - DolPhanDave, Peninsula is Mightier

At halftime Dwyane Wade told his teammates that losing this game would linger for the rest of the season.  The Heat responded by holding the Wizards to only 27 2nd half points, possibly their best defensive effort of the season. 

Best of Twitterville

Twitter / The BF gang
Carlos Arroyo is really killing Arenas. Kudos to Spolestra for letting Arroyo go at him. God, Miami is so well-coached.

Twitter / Michael Lee
Caron Butler said he wants to be a defensive stopper. He has taken Quentin Richardson out of this game. Q has 0 points after 19 last week

Twitter / Agent Dagger
Without Foye, James, Miller, or Antawn, Nick Young still only has played 2 minutes tonight, JaVale, none #Wizards

Twitter / Craig Stouffer
The focus & intensity Gilbert Arenas had to earn a tech after the game was decided might've been better used during his 7-turnover 3rd qtr

Twitter / chad dukes
I have to start thinking there might an issue conditioning or with the trainers with the 'Zards. This is too much...

Twitter / Dan Steinberg
Can we just go back to 2005 for wiz/skins/dcu please? Or forward to 2019?

Twitter / Holly MacKenzie
my word. washington, we need to sort out this injury situation, stat. can we propose a trade: Phx trainers to Wash for whoever they want.

Twitter / Mike Jones
Randy Foye left AmericanAirlines Arena wearing a protective boot on his right foot.

Twitter / Truth_About_It
Just saw the D-Wade quote: "This is a good WAS team, they're just in disarray." Damn.