Heat 98, Nuggets 95
DENVER -- Center Hassan Whiteside had his third career-triple double, forward Chris Bosh scored 24 points, and the shorthanded Miami Heat rallied to beat the Denver Nuggets 98-95 on Friday night.
Whiteside had 19 points, 17 rebounds and 11 blocks to pace the Heat (23-17). The 11 blocks were a season high and one shy of his career best and helped Miami end a three-game losing streak.
Forward Darrell Arthur led Denver (15-25) with 18 points and guard Emmanuel Mudiay scored 16 off the bench.
The Heat were without guard Dwyane Wade, who sat out with two sore shoulders. Coach Erik Spoelstra said before the game that Wade had a slight sprain of one shoulder and "a little bit of an impingement issue that he's had" in the other.
Wade's absence meant the Heat played without their starting backcourt and two of their top three scorers. Guard Goran Dragic missed his second straight game with a strained left calf. Beno Udrih (11 points, 11 assists) started in his place.
Bosh and Whiteside brought the Heat back from a double-digit deficit in the third. Bosh scored 10 points and Whiteside had nine points, six rebounds and four blocks in the period. Whiteside slammed home an alley-oop from Udrih at the end of the quarter to cut Denver's lead to 78-76.
Forward Justise Winslow scored five straight points during a 9-0 run that gave Miami an 87-82 lead. Whiteside had two blocks early in the fourth to record his triple-double.
Denver rallied to tie it at 95 but Bosh hit a turnaround jumper with 55 seconds left to give Miami a 97-95 lead.
Forward Danilo Gallinari missed a 3-pointer with 8.9 seconds left and Bosh split a pair of free throws to give Denver a chance to tie. Guard Jameer Nelson missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
The Nuggets took advantage of the injury-depleted Heat with a scorching start. They hit their first five 3-pointers and were shooting 67 percent midway through the second quarter before cooling off. They led by as many as 18 in the first half and were up 62-46 at the break.
NOTES: Nuggets C Jusuf Nurkic did not play because of left knee soreness. Nurkic missed the first 33 games of the season recovering from surgery on the knee and was injured in Wednesday's win over Golden State. .... Miami dressed just 10 players due to injuries. In addition to G Dwyane Wade (shoulders), C Chris Andersen (left knee), G Goran Dragic (strained left calf) and F Josh McRoberts (right knee) were also out. ... Denver G Emmanuel Mudiay continue to come off the bench as he works his way back from a right ankle sprain that kept him out of 14 straight games. ... Andersen is scheduled to have an MRI on his knee.