Whiteside explains leaving bench: 'I had to go to the bathroom'

Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside caused some controversy when he headed to the locker room with 40.5 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter during a 105-90 loss to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night.

Considering the center's past comments, it was easy to believe Whiteside was frustrated with sitting the entire final frame. However, the big man said he had to relieve himself.

"I had to go to the bathroom," Whiteside told reporters after the game. "I was just holding it. It's not the first time I left the bench to go to the bathroom but I think the situation kind of made it a bigger deal. We were down 15, I guess."

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said Whiteside's behavior was unacceptable and the matter is being handled internally, according to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press. But the 7-footer remains adamant that his absence is a non-issue.

"I didn't know it was going to be as big of a deal as it was," he said. "I couldn't hold it and my stomach was bothering me. ... I'm sorry if that makes me a bad guy."

He added: "I think it was a bigger deal because it was me."

Whiteside is the league leader in blocks (2.9) and is third in rebounds (13.7) despite averaging just 26.9 minutes per game.