Whiteside says Hornets flopping; Clifford says no

1:15 PM ET

MIAMI — Hassan Whiteside groused about the officiating after the Miami Heat’s Game 4 loss to Charlotte Hornets, going as far to call their first-round series “the flop-offs.”

Hornets coach Steve Clifford hadn’t heard of the complaints Wednesday morning at shootaround ahead of Game 5, but he disagreed with the characterization.

“Listen, I watch the films really closely,” Clifford said. “If you’re going to get into career flopping between the two rosters, it wouldn’t be close. So, I don’t — yeah. … We don’t have anybody that flops. We haven’t had a flopping issue all year.”

The Hornets’ Frank Kaminsky goes up against the Heat’s Luol Deng in a series that is getting more physical. Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

The Heat were called for 26 personal fouls in Game 4, resulting in 30 free throw attempts for the Hornets. Charlotte was charged with 20 fouls, giving Miami 21 attempts.

“I thought this was the playoffs,” Whiteside told reporters after Game 4. “Isn’t this supposed to be physical basketball? I thought the playoffs were more physical. This is the flop-offs, man. … I don’t even want to get on the calls. I got nothing to say. That’s …

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