Six players in double figures rise up, lead Lakers past Heat
- by Grant Boone
- in Sports
- — Jan 8, 2017
The Heat announced Friday that Whiteside is en route to rejoin the team in L.A. where coach Erik Spoelstra expects him to return to action Sunday against the Clippers.
Although teammates and officials kept them apart before any punches flew, both the Heat's leading scorer and the Lakers' reserve guard were ejected.
"Heat of the game".
The second-year guard has taken it up a notch since the new year averaging 21.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in four games played. Meanwhile, Brandon Ingram tied his career high with 17 points on an efficient 6-of-9 shooting along with six rebounds and four assists. However, they snapped a six-game losing streak with a 107-102 victory in their last outing at Sacramento against the Kings on Wednesday.
The Lakers (14-26) then locked up a win by storming out to a strong fourth quarter, after suffering through a 3-16 stretch partly due to their failure to secure tight games.
That game proved extremely costly for the Heat as Justise Winslow hurt his shoulder in the same game, an injury that required season-ending surgery this week.
But if it's been any consolation to the team's fans, the Lakers have a promising young nucleus that includes guards D'Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson, power forward Julius Randle, and the second-overall pick in the 2016 National Basketball Association draft, small forward Brandon Ingram. Tarik Black chipped in 10 points and 11 boards. "I didn't know what he was going to do. I know how much it means for him to be here (with his team) and be able to make an impact".
The Heat indicated a couple days ago that Whiteside would likely miss Friday's contest, and while that remains the case, the center at least appears to be progressing well from the right rentinal contusion he sustained when he was poked in the eye one week earlier in a game against the Celtics. In spite of that, Ingram and Williams picked up the slack combining for 33 points scored in the final two quarters of play, including 27 coming in the final period. Johnson scored nine points in the ensuing five minutes to keep the Heat close. Following last night's loss against Portland the purple and gold weren't about any amusing business when they took on the under-manned Heat squad.
