Whiteside’s big game propels Heat to rare victory over Spurs
MIAMI — Hassan Whiteside wants a recount.
Even if that doesn’t happen, he finally knows what it’s like to beat San Antonio.
Whiteside had 29 points, 20 rebounds and an NBA seasonhigh nine blocked shots — he thinks it was 10, and some of his teammates and coaches feel the same way. That was all the Miami Heat had to fret about Wednesday after they snapped a four-year drought against San Antonio by beating the Spurs 95-88.
“It would have been pretty cool for him to get that tripledouble,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “But the context of his winning plays had nothing to do with the stat line. When he brings that kind of intensity, competitiveness, the defensive efforts … we’re clearly a different team.”
Spoelstra’s postgame news conference was interrupted by a crasher — Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who burst through a side door.
“That’s baloney. Everything he just said is pure crap,” Popovich said, before jumping onto the platform where Spoelstra was speaking and giving the Heat coach a hug.
The coaches laughed, and Popovich then said “go to hell” before walking out. So everyone left happy. Whiteside just left happier than most, even without his triple-double.
“Whoever’s got to review it, review it,” Whiteside said.
Many numbers were without dispute: The Spurs shot 33 percent, their lowest in a regular-season game since 2008, and connected on only 29 percent of their 2-point tries.
“We all have nights like these,” said San Antonio’s LaMarcus Aldridge, who had six points on 2-for-14 shooting. “Hopefully they’re few and far between.”
Wayne Ellington scored 20 points and Justise Winslow added 16 for the Heat, who had dropped their last nine regularseason games to the Spurs — and 11 consecutive games overall going back to the 2014 NBA Finals.
“We’ve got a lot of guys who are capable,” Ellington said. “Tonight was my night to get out there and be able to contribute.”
The Heat were down to an eight-man rotation for the second half because of injuries and Dwyane Wade missing the game for personal reasons.
Patty Mills scored 20 off the bench for San Antonio. Davis Bertans scored 19 and DeMar DeRozan added 18.