Whiteside dominates as Heat complete sweep of Rockets
HOUSTON -- Hassan Whiteside posted a double-double and led a decisive performance on the offensive glass as the Miami Heat completed a season sweep of the Houston Rockets with a 117-109 victory Wednesday night at Toyota Center.
Whiteside finished with 23 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks as the Heat (25-32) turned 12 offensive rebounds into 19 second-chance points for the wire-to-wire victory. Whiteside wasn't alone in his dominance on the glass as Dion Waiters and Tyler Johnson, a pair of guards, combined for 16 boards.
Waiters totaled 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists while Johnson added 16 points and seven boards off the bench. Goran Dragic chipped in 21 points and five assists for the Heat, who shot 52.4 percent overall including 13 for 35 from 3-point range.
James Harden produced his 15th triple-double with 38 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists while Ryan Anderson added 17 points, including four 3-pointers during a two-minute stretch that allowed Houston (40-18) to slice the deficit to nine points midway through the fourth quarter.
But the Rockets shot 41.4 percent from the floor and their inability to slow Miami proved to undermine their rally hopes.
The Heat recorded nine offensive rebounds and 11 second-chance points in the second quarter and turned the tide during one particular sequence midway through the second quarter after the Rockets cut an eight-point deficit to 37-35.
Miami collected four offensive rebounds during one offensive series, three by Johnson, who ended the possession with a layup following a Whiteside miss. That stretch provided a spark as Miami stretched the lead to 15 just prior to the break.
When the Rockets attempted to claw back in the third quarter, the Heat responded with dagger 3-pointers from Rodney McGruder and Waiters. Miami shot 5 for 9 from behind the arc in the third to keep the Rockets at bay, and that shot-making helped the Heat maintain their edge when Anderson caught fire late.
The Heat have won 14 of 16 games. Houston had its four-game winning streak snapped.
NOTES: Rockets G Eric Gordon returned to the rotation after missing two games with a sore back. Gordon, second on the team in scoring at 17.3 points per game, is slated to participate in the All-Star Game 3-Point Contest on Saturday in New Orleans. Gordon entered Wednesday tied for third in the league with 181 3s. ... Heat coach Erik Spoelstra continued to harp on defensive focus despite the chatter over the improved offense during the team's recently-snapped 13-game winning streak. While the Heat averaged 110.4 points per 100 possessions during the stretch, their defensive rating (99.9) ranked second in the NBA. ... The Rockets are usually active participants before the trade deadline under general manager Daryl Morey. But Houston coach Mike D'Antoni expressed contentment with his current roster in the event the team doesn't make a move. This year's deadline is Feb. 23.