Hassan Whiteside’s triple double off the bench helps Heat edge Hornets
The Miami Heat are charging up the Eastern Conference standings, now just a half game out of the No. 3 seed following a strong 98–95 win in Charlotte on Friday evening. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh combined for 42 points, but it was Hassan Whiteside’s efforts that stole the show.
In 27 minutes off the pine, Whiteside totaled 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocks, finishing with his second triple double of the season and third of his career. The performance also set an NBA record, as Whiteside became the only player in NBA history to record multiple points-rebounds-blocks triple doubles off the bench.
Whiteside starred in the fourth quarter. He opened the frame with an emphatic rejection, sprinted down the floor and finished the Heat’s possession with a powerful, putback jam.
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The center saved his best for last, literally grabbing an opponent’s shot out of mid air in the final minutes of the contest.
Whiteside showed exactly why he leads the league in defensive rating.
