James Johnson's layup, Whiteside's block give Heat season-saving win

The Miami Heat went into Washington on Saturday on the second night of a back-to-back, and came away with perhaps their biggest win of the season. Sitting a game back of a playoff spot with just three to play, the Heat kept their hopes alive with a one-point win over the Wizards.

It was James Johnson providing the winning bucket, laying one in on a drive-and-spin on Marcus Morris after John Wall had split a pair of tiebreaking free throws at the other end.

The Heat, though, still needed a stop at the other end, and Hassan Whiteside gave it to them, hanging with Bradley Beal on a switch and blocking Beal's game-winning attempt just before the buzzer.

It's the second game-winning play Whiteside has made during the stretch run, following his buzzer-beating tip-in to beat the Detroit Pistons on March 28.

Thanks to the Chicago Bulls' loss earlier Saturday, the Heat and Bulls now have equal 39-41 records, though the Bulls remain in the 8-spot, thanks to holding the head-to-head tiebreaker.