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Whiteside’s buzzer-beating tip-in lifts Heat past Pistons

By The Associated Press

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) — Hassan Whiteside used his good hand to push the Miami Heat closer to a most unlikely playoff berth Tuesday night.

Whiteside tipped in a shot with his left hand as time expired to lift the Heat over the Detroit Pistons 97-96.

Whiteside, playing with a thick bandage on his right hand to protect 13 stitches he got a week ago, tipped in Goran Dragic’s miss after a wild final play over the game’s final 11.3 seconds. James Johnson took the initial shot for Miami, Dragic muscled the rebound off the rim and Whiteside elevated over Andre Drummond for the winning tip.

“I was like, ‘Whatever happens, I’m going to chase this rebound,'” Whiteside said. “I just tried to get a hand on it anyway I could.”

The win was huge for Miami (36-38), which moved one game ahead of No. 9 Chicago and 2 1/2 games ahead of No. 10 Detroit for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

“Our guys want this so bad,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Dragic scored 28 points and Whiteside finished with 17 points and nine rebounds for the Heat.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 25 points and Tobias Harris and Ish Smith each scored 19 for the Pistons (34-41). Detroit lost its fifth straight and eighth in nine games.

“That one hurts,” Smith said. “It was a fun game to be a part of. Somebody had to lose it. I was hoping it wasn’t going to be us, but it was. Kudos to them. They played hard. They played really hard.”

The Pistons led 96-92 after Smith’s jumper with 30 seconds left. Dragic hit a free throw after Detroit committed a sideline violation, then made a jumper to cut the deficit to one with 24 seconds left.

Miami forced a jump ball on the next possession, which was won by Johnson. He advanced it to Dragic, who nearly lost it out of bounds. The final play went to Johnson, whose 14-footer from the right wing missed, before the Heat found a way in the final moment.

Johnson threw Whiteside over his shoulder in celebration as Heat players sprinted off the bench to join in.

“Hassan, maybe for the first time in his career, he is playing more for the guys next to him than he is for himself,” Spoelstra said.

Miami wasted a 12-point second half lead and was up 78-69 going into the fourth quarter. Detroit’s four-point lead in the final minute was the biggest edge the Pistons enjoyed all night, before the Heat scored the game’s final five points.

“One tip away,” Smith said.

TIP-INS

Heat: G Dion Waiters (left ankle) was out again, and there is still no timetable for his return. … The Heat and Pistons split the season series at two games apiece. … It was Miami’s final trip to The Palace of Auburn Hills. … After an 11-30 start, Miami has now won 25 of its last 33 games.

Pistons: PG Reggie Jackson (rest) was inactive for the second straight game. He also missed the team’s loss at New York on Monday. He was replaced in the starting lineup by Smith before missing the past two games. Coach Stan Van Gundy said Jackson is day-to-day. … G Reggie Bullock (right foot) did not play.

COMING UP CLUTCH

Whiteside had a relatively quiet night before his heroics at the end. He shot 7 of 13 from the field and recorded one block. But his winning basket was all that mattered.

“He really cares about the guys in the locker room and that’s one of the most powerful things I’ve seen as a coach,” Spoelstra said. “You could see him grimacing, but he was giving us whatever he could.”

UP NEXT

Heat: At New York on Wednesday.

Pistons: Host Brooklyn on Thursday.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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