Statistics never tell the whole story. And in this specific case, Hassan Whiteside’s monstrous triple-double in the Miami Heat’s 103-91 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves is absent a crucial late-game chapter.
Whiteside, Miami’s quick-tempered, long-limbed, ultra-talented center, was downright dominant in Tuesday’s contest – for the most part. He scored 22 points (10-14 FGs), grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked 10 shots, notching the second triple-double of his ascendant career and becoming just the third player since the new millennium to reach those combined statistical thresholds in a single game.
The 25-year-old absolutely owned the paint all game long. He altered at least as many shots as he actually swatted, and likely made Kevin Garnett reconsider returning for a record-tying 21st season with this filthy block in the third quarter.
But it wasn’t just the future Hall of Famer who was embarrassed by Whiteside at American Airlines Arena. Karl-Anthony Towns, Gorgui Dieng, Shabazz Muhammad and more were all thwarted at the rim by the Heat center’s supreme blend of length, timing and leaping ability. Not even Andrew Wiggins’ most jaw-dropping aerial exploits could quite get the best of Whiteside.
What finally did, though? ‘Wolves coach Sam Mitchell intentionally putting the 50.3 percent career free throw shooter at the charity stripe when the game hung in the balance.
Minnesota sent Whiteside to the line after Wiggins nailed a jumper to put his team up 84-82. Miami’s big man split his first set of freebies, and missed both tries on his ensuing trip 40 seconds later. Following a jumper by Rubio that extended the Timberwolves’ lead to five, Erik Spoelstra brought in Justise Winslow for Whiteside to ensure his team wouldn’t waste another crunch-time chance to score with a poor shooter at the line.
By the time Whiteside returned to action under the two-minute mark that negates the opportunity for intentional fouling, the damage had already been done. Zach LaVine made a corner three on the Timberwolves’ next possession, giving Minny a nine-point advantage that Miami never had legitimate hopes of overcoming.
Whiteside was an obvious plus for his team on Tuesday night. The Heat built an early double-digit lead almost solely around his surreal rim protection. It certainly bears mentioning that he ended the game as one of two Miami players who had a plus-minus of at least +10, to. He was awesome.
But not even the league’s truly elite players are perfect. And Whiteside, for all his immense gifts and incredible production, still isn’t among that group of luminaries – and suffers from a glaring weakness that can be easily exploited.
