WASHINGTON – Shaquille O’Neal didn’t play, and Dwyane Wade committed five turnovers in the first quarter. Still, the Miami Heat kept their perfect postseason intact.

Five Miami players scored in a 13-0 third-quarter run that swung the game, and Wade steadied himself to finish with 31 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, leading a 102-95 victory over the Washington Wizards last night. That gave the Heat a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The Heat, 7-0 in the postseason, can complete their second straight sweep on Saturday night.

The deep thigh bruise that has bothered O’Neal for weeks finally caused him to miss a playoff game for the first time in his career, ending a streak of 164 consecutive postseason appearances. His absence appeared to open a golden opportunity for the Wizards, who had won seven straight at home and needed some momentum after back-to-back losses in Miami.

But 35-year-old Alonzo Mourning started for O’Neal and continued his postseason renaissance with 14 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks, including a rejection of Larry Hughes’s layup attempt in the final minute.

Eddie Jones and Damon Jones added 16 points apiece, and Udonis Haslem had 12 points and 12 rebounds. Wade made 14 of 27 shots and finished with eight turnovers.

Gilbert Arenas scored 20 points and set a franchise playoff record with 14 assists for the Wizards, who trailed by 11 early in the fourth quarter and by 10 with 4:19 remaining before Arenas led a late charge. He stumbled through the paint for a layup that cut the lead to 98-95 with 1:51 remaining, but Haslem’s 18-footer and Wade’s falling down layup pushed the lead back to seven in the final minute.

Antawn Jamison scored 21 points for the Wizards, who have lost 11 straight to the Heat.

Mourning looked every bit his age as he walked down court on some possessions, but he was a force when he chose to assert himself, even getting called twice for goaltending. He had 10 points and nine rebounds at the half.

Mourning’s early rebounds were crucial because his teammates were struggling to keep the ball. The Heat committed 11 first-half turnovers.

Meanwhile, the Wizards’ Big Three of Arenas, Hughes, and Jamison accounted for all of the team’s 24 first quarter points. Washington had 14 assists in the first half.

The Wizards built their lead to eight in the third quarter, but the Heat responded with the 13-0 run that rattled the home team and stunned the fans. Shortly afterward, Wade made a spectacular one-handed dunk down the middle of the lane, and the Wizards were completely on their heels.

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SUNS’ JOHNSON HAS SURGERY

Phoenix Suns guard Joe Johnson underwent surgery yesterday to repair a displaced fracture in the bone around his left eye.

The starting guard will miss at least the next two games of the team’s Western Conference semifinal series against Dallas and probably Game 5 in Phoenix as well, Suns president Bryan Colangelo said.