Heat pay tribute to Pearl Washington

MIAMI (AP) — Pearl Washington once was the leading scorer in Miami Heat franchise history.

It was after one game, but technically correct nonetheless.

Washington scored a team-high 16 points in the first game the Heat ever played, a 111-91 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 5, 1988. He was with the team for only that inaugural season, yet the Heat still mourned him Wednesday after the former Syracuse University star died from brain cancer.

Washington was 52.

“Too early. Way too early,” said Ron Rothstein, the coach of that first Heat team. “I wish his family the best.”

Washington played in 54 games with the Heat, in what was his third and final season in the NBA. With Miami he averaged 7.6 points; in …

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