Tip-off: Monday, 7:35 p.m. ET
Line: Washington -1.0, Total: 205.0

The Wizards will be going for their third straight win when they face the Heat on Monday night.

Washington had a disastrous start to the season, but the team has found its groove recently. The Wizards have won two straight games coming into this one, and they have also won seven of their past 12 as well. Things are clicking for this team offensively, as the Wizards have shot 45% or better from the floor in four of their past five. They’ll need to keep scoring efficiently moving forward. For Miami, things have not been going as well in recent weeks. The Heat have lost five straight coming into this game, and they just do not look like the same team with Dwyane Wade now in Chicago. Fortunately, the Heat are facing a team they’ll be confident against on Monday. Miami has won-and-covered in two straight games against Washington, and one of those victories was a 114-111 win as a 4.5-point road dog on Nov. 19. That win could fuel the Wizards, though. They are 20-8 ATS when revenging a same season loss versus an opponent over the past two seasons. Washington is, however, a lousy 3-16 ATS after two straight games committing 7+ less turnovers than its opponents since 1996. SF Justise Winslow (Wrist) is doubtful for Miami in this game, and SF James Johnson (Shoulder) is questionable.

Washington has really played some solid basketball as of late, and PG John Wall (23.6 PPG, 9.6 APG, 4.3 RPG, 2.2 SPG) is a huge reason for the team’s recent improvement. Over the past five games, Wall is averaging 26.6 PPG and 10.4 APG on 49.0% shooting from the floor and 36.4% shooting from three. If he can continue to shoot it that well then the Wizards will be back at .500 very shortly. Monday presents a good opportunity for him to go off, as he is both quicker and stronger than Goran Dragic. It showed in their last meeting, as Wall had 34 points and eight assists in that one. SG Bradley Beal (21.5 PPG) also went off in that game, as he poured in 34 points as well. Beal has been red-hot from three recently, shooting 53.3% from the outside over the past five contests. Look for him to be extremely aggressive on Monday. The x-factor in this game will, however, be C Marcin Gortat (11.0 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 1.2 BPG). Gortat is going to need to hold his own against Hassan Whiteside or the Wizards are going to have no chance of winning this one. That means that Gortat will also have to be aware of his foul situation. Washington needs him in the court as much as possible.

The Heat are looking to end their five-game losing streak and they’ll need a big performance from C Hassan Whiteside (17.3 PPG, 14.3 RPG, 2.4 BPG) in order to do that. Whiteside is coming off of a 20-point performance, but he had just 16 points total in his previous two games before that. The Heat will likely need at least 20 from him on Monday. PG Goran Dragic (18.0 PPG, 6.6 APG, 3.8 RPG, 1.0 SPG) will also need to have a huge game on Monday. Dragic needs to find a way to win his personal matchup with John Wall, and he just might be able to do that. Dragic is shooting the three-ball about as well as he has in his entire career recently. Over the past five games, he’s knocking down 46.7% of his threes. That is really opening up lanes to the rim, and he’ll need to attack frequently in this one. It’d also be big for Miami if SG Josh Richardson (10.9 PPG) can find his stroke in this one. He was 0-for-6 from the outside for the Heat last game, and they need him to turn it around soon.