Chris Andersen turns in strong game to help Heat weather absence of Hassan Whiteside
MIAMI -- In a season filled with surprising twists and turns, Chris Andersen somehow put together one of the best games of his career in the Miami Heat's 104-98 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.
He notched his 22nd career double-double and his second with the Heat by tying his career high with 18 points and grabbing a season-high 14 rebounds, including five in the fourth quarter to go along with a crucial tip-in basket with 2:23 left when there was hardly anything left in the tank.
"He gives you everything he has," Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said. "That's what it's about right now in that locker room. Guys are fighting for each other. They're playing with pain for each other. They're doing whatever they can just to get themselves out on the court, and they're not doing it for themselves. They're doing it for the next guy. You love to see it."
Andersen made a huge impact early in the game to help mitigate the loss of starting center Hassan Whiteside, who was suspended for one game for his ejection against the Boston Celtics on Monday. Andersen had 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting along with four rebounds in the first quarter. He made his first six shots of the game displaying great hands to catch passes as he rolled toward the basket.
"They were running a bunch of handoffs and going backdoor with the big guys away from the basket," Nets head coach Lionel Hollins said. "They really attacked quickly with the ball movement, and (Andersen) seemed to the guy who wound up with the ball and he grabbed a couple of offensive rebounds."
Dwyane Wade assisted on Andersen's first three baskets and was more than glad the player they call Birdman was even available, with his participation in doubt up because of an ankle injury.
"I am glad he did (play)," Wade said. "It is that time of the year. Birdman played great. Some days you feel OK, some days you don't, but today he had a little extra pep in his step. He gave us a lot, especially with them having (Brook) Lopez and (Mason) Plumlee, two big guys who can play."
His importance to the team has never been in question since the day he arrived in Miami, and although he received plenty of outside offers last summer, he never seriously considered leaving the team that gave him a second chance after he was jettisoned by the Denver Nuggets in 2012 as an amnesty cut. He has proven himself during his time with Miami, but this latest performance may have been his greatest with the franchise.
"He was huge tonight with his rebounding, on defense, and on offense," Goran Dragic said. "He was all over the place. It's so much easier for us because we see him with so much energy, we can feed from him. On offense he was catching those lobs and on offensive rebounds he would give us those second possessions that we needed."
Also stepping up was Udonis Haslem, who grabbed a season-high nine rebounds. The two big men combined for 25 points and 23 rebounds.
"Those two guys were really valuable for us tonight and were the reason we won the game," Wade said. "Haslem and (Andersen) did a lot down there."
You can follow Surya Fernandez on Twitter @SuryaHeatNBA or email him at SuryaFoxSports@gmail.com.
