Heat 93, Mavericks 90
DALLAS -- With 10 points, nine rebounds, five blocks and many more altered shots in limited playing time, Miami center Hassan Whiteside made a major statement about his importance in the Heat's 93-90 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night at American Airlines Center.
Whiteside missed the previous six games with a hip injury, and he wasn't even certain he would play in Dallas until warming up before the game. Coach Erik Spoelstra opted not to start the big man, and he didn't insert Whiteside into the game until the 8:11 mark of the second quarter with Miami trailing 32-27.
Instantly, Whiteside, who had 25 points and 19 rebounds in the Heat's win over Dallas on Jan. 1, changed the game's dynamic.
In the final eight minutes of the second quarter, Whiteside went 4-for-4 from the floor and blocked two shots to give Miami a 47-46 halftime lead. He played the final three minutes of the third quarter, added another bucket and two more blocks, and Miami led by 74-65 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Mavs, as they always seem to do, quickly got back in the game and were within 89-87 after guard Raymond Felton made two free throws with 1:22 to go. Then Miami forward Luol Deng, who was having a relatively quiet night, swished a corner 3-pointer to push the lead up to 92-87 with 1:04 left.
Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki, who finished with 28 points on 10-of-21 shooting, drilled a deep 3-pointer with 17.9 seconds left to keep Dallas alive, down 92-90.
Forced to foul, Dallas put Miami guard and old nemesis Dwyane Wade on the free-throw line with 15.5 seconds left. He made the first but missed the second for a 93-90 lead.
Dallas had a final chance to tie, but Felton couldn't get the ball to the heavily guarded Nowitzki, and he misfired on a long 3-pointer over outstretched Miami defender Chris Bosh.
Whiteside wasn't on the floor late in the game because of five fouls, but his presence inside changed the dynamic of the game and helped Miami, which was 2-for-15 from 3-point range and shot just 42 percent overall, rebound from a Tuesday loss at Houston.
Bosh led the Heat (28-22) with 20 points despite going 0-for-6 from beyond the arc. Wade had 18 points on just 6-of-19 shooting, and Deng finished with 15 points.
Dallas (28-24) had five players score in double figures, but outside of Nowitzki's 28, forward Chandler Parsons had the second-most points with 12. Center Zaza Pachulia had 10 points and 15 rebounds, and Felton and guard J.J. Barea each had 11 points.
Barea and Felton were pressed into extra duty because Mavs starting point guard Deron Williams sat out with a hip injury, and backup guard Devin Harris missed his sixth consecutive game with a toe injury.
NOTES: Mavericks G Deron Williams did not play in Wednesday's game due to a right hip injury that took him out of Monday's game at Atlanta. ... G Devin Harris missed his sixth consecutive game with a left great toe injury. Mavs coach Rick Carlisle expects Harris will miss at least two more games. ... Dallas heads into a difficult home-road back-to-back against San Antonio on Friday and Memphis on Saturday. ... Miami G Tyler Johnson underwent left shoulder surgery Wednesday. There is no timetable for his return. ... Dallas lost its previous four home games against the Heat. ... Miami wraps up its road trip Friday at Charlotte.