Whiteside's triple-double leads Heat to victory over Nuggets

After being called out by All-Star teammates Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade earlier in the week, Hassan Whiteside responded with an incredible individual performance Friday night.

The 7-foot center posted his second triple-double of the season, collecting 19 points, 17 rebounds, and 11 blocks to lead Miami to a 98-95 win over the Denver Nuggets.

Whiteside's triple-double was impressive, but his plus-13 rating on the night was arguably his more important statistic on the night. The North Carolina native has struggled to see his impressive counting stats translate into positive team play, particularly on the defensive end. Despite leading the league in blocks per game (3.78), the Heat give up 5.5 fewer points per 100 possessions when Whiteside sits.

An unrestricted free-agent this summer, Whiteside will likely attempt to leverage his gaudy numbers into a max-level deal. The Marshall alumnus is averaging 12.1 points and 11.1 rebounds this season, while posting a player efficiency rating of 22.67.

The victory snaps Miami's three-game losing streak, bringing their record to 23-17 on the season. They now sit tied with the Atlanta Hawks for fourth in the Eastern Conference.