Whiteside’s Double-Double, Block Party Leads Heat Past Raptors

The Heat shot only 42% for the game. (Hassan) Whiteside had a big game with 20 points, which is out of the norm for him.

The Hawks had 12 more assists than the Heat (25-13) showing off their chemistry and experience compared to the new-look Heat. Johnson played almost 26 minutes against the Heat and finished with seven points, a team-high seven rebounds, two assists and a steal as he provided energy from the opening tip and helped Toronto get off to a quick start. “They started scoring off our turnovers”.

Gerald Green was sent to the hospital with what is being called an illness and that is about as much as we know regarding his current health status. Reports indicated that Green had to be restrained and that he was “screaming at the top of his lungs” outside his residence, although nothing was confirmed by the Heat. It did get Mario Chalmers back from an ankle issue on Friday but big man Amar’e Stoudemire missed his fourth game in a row due to a knee injury. All 5 starters contributed in double figures to keep the Heat ahead the whole game.

“We only shot the ball 71 times tonight and that’s not enough at all”, Lowry said.

Orlando has a young team, searching for footing in the Eastern Conference. But we will bounce back.

“We just got bogged down mentally”, coach Byron Scott told the team’s official website. They’re at home on Tuesday to face the NY Knicks.

Paul George scored 32 points for Indiana. Miami took a 74-63 lead into the fourth. Chris Bosh had 21 points, 11 rebounds and two assists to lead the Heat.

Their five-game win streak is a cushion now, as the Raptors have dropped two straight.

The Miami Heat need a win after splitting their last six games. Whiteside had 11 points while Valanciunas had 16 to give his team the 47-44 edge at half-time.

With the loss, the Raptors fell to 5-2.

The Heat also got contributions from forward Chris Bosh (23 points, eight rebounds) and shooting guard Dwyane Wade (12 points). Wade passed former Chicago Bulls star Scottie Pippen for 51st place on the National Basketball Association career scoring list. Miami would only expand their lead from there. Despite quiet games from Goran Dragic and Luol Deng, the Heat got a monster game from Hassan Whiteside (20 points, 11 rebounds, 6 blocks) and Justice Winslow (nine points and five rebounds, but his presence was felt all over the court). The loses were tough but they were close games within winning range. Winslow also continued to show his defensive maturity with unseen heroics on several occasions.

This was already mentioned by Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel in an earlier column, and the Heat’s failure to lock him in for three years will become their downfall.

Though Green is expected back soon, Winderman stated that he is not expected at AmericanAirlines Arena for their game versus the Los Angeles Lakers.