Hassan Whiteside loses out on All-Star berth to Carmelo Anthony
Channel: sport 4 geek
Date: 2017-02-16

Heat top Rockets for 14th win in last 16 going into All-Star break



 Hassan Whiteside loses out on All-Star berth to Carmelo Anthony 
This is how the turnaround began, with the Jan. 17 victory over the Houston Rockets at AmericanAirlines Arena.

And because the Heat backed it up Wednesday night with a 117-109 decision over the Rockets at the Toyota Center to conclude the two-game season, they will go into the All-Star break with 14 victories in their last 16 games.

Putting on display so many of the facets that have created this turnaround, the Heat pushed to a 20-point lead and then fought off James Harden's 38-point, 12-rebound, 12-assist performance.

Hassan Whiteside, on the night he was snubbed for an All-Star berth in favor of New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, closed with 23 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots.

The Heat's backcourt was driven by the 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists of Dion Waiters and 21 points from Goran Dragic.

And when the Heat bench needed a boost, Tyler Johnson was there with 16 points.

While losses to the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic kept the Heat from a 16-game roll into their eight-day All-Star break, the hiatus nonetheless comes with a brightened outlook.

A pair of Ryan Anderson 3-pointers drew the Rockets within 100-86 with 7:21 to play. Another Anderson 3-pointer late trimmed the Heat lead to 105-94.

Later, a Harden 3-pointer and then driving layup got Houston within 109-101.