Whiteside: Len frustrated because 'it was the 4th or 5th time I dunked on him'

You might say Hassan Whiteside stole Alex Len's sunshine on Monday.

The Miami Heat center certainly didn't make friends with the Phoenix Suns center, anyway, with the two engaging in quite the wrestling match in the third quarter. Whiteside had just banged on Len, the two got tangled as Whiteside landed, Len tried to toss Whiteside away and Whtieside drove for the double-leg takedown.

The two spilled to the floor and had to be separated, leading to both getting ejected. It was par for the course in Monday's chippy affair, and Whiteside has a theory as to why Len, in particular, was edgy.

"I realize a lot more teams are being really physical with me," Whiteside said. "And I'm down for it. That's what I lift weights for. It was the fourth or fifth time I dunked on him and I could tell he was frustrated."

Whiteside was credited with a dunk on four of his eight field goals on the way to outscoring Len 17-10. Len had an 11-10 rebound edge, but Whiteside had two blocks to none for the Ukrainian.

Much as the Whiteside regretted getting tossed for the skirmish, the resurgent big man used it as an opportunity to send a warning to any opponents coming in to AmericanAirlines Arena over the next six weeks.

"I shouldn't have retaliated, because it really hurt my team," Whiteside said. But every day is a learning day for me. You're not going to come into Miami and bully us."

That sound you just heard is Pat Riley swooning.

With the win, the Heat improved to 26-33, seventh in the Eastern Conference with a one-game cushion over ninth.