The Raptors find themselves in the same situation as the opening round of the playoffs against Indiana – a winner-take-all Game 7 back home at the ACC. Awaiting the winner is a well-rested Cavaliers team, which dispatched Detroit in four straight before sweeping Atlanta in the second round.
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LOOK AHEAD
The Raptors were looking to end the series in Miami and avoid another game against the Heat in what’s already been their longest postseason in franchise history. Instead, they fell to 1-5 all-time in road closeout games by losing to the Heat 103-91 on Friday to even their conference semifinal series at three wins apiece. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan again played well for the Raptors, combining for 59 points, but this time their teammates couldn’t help out. The rest of the roster combined to shoot 14 of 34 from the floor and manage 32 points.
After losing Hassan Whiteside to a knee injury in Game 3, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra had to make a decision. Did he want to stay big and hope his reserves could fill the 7-footer’s shoes, or go small, betting that the increase in athleticism and effort would make up for the size disadvantage? He went small and the choice paid off. Miami outscored Toronto by 16 points in 23 minutes using a combination that had barely seen the floor during the regular season with the tallest player being 6-foot-7 Justise Winslow.
INJURIES
Both starting centers will not play in Game 7. Toronto’s Jonas Valanciunas was already ruled out with a sprained ankle and Miami announced Friday night that Whiteside will not play on Sunday as he continues to recuperate from his sprained knee ligament. Both players were injured in Game 3.
Forwards Luol Deng and DeMarre Carroll were back in the starting lineup Friday after both left the court at separate times with wrist injuries in Wednesday’s Game 5. Deng played over 40 minutes scoring two points with eight rebounds. Carroll played 25 minutes with five points and six boards.
KEY MATCHUP
The downsized lineup Miami used on Friday worked so expect the Heat to offer more of the same in Game 7. Going small with an attack focused on pushing the pace, spacing the floor, widening driving lanes, and creating more high-value looks in the paint and from beyond the arc seemed to unleash Goran Dragic, who turned in a yet another stellar performance in a critical game to keep Miami alive.
Dragic planted 25 points in a Game 7 win over Charlotte to help the Heat advance. That was his highest offensive output in nearly two months. He’s eclipsed that number twice in six games against the Raptors with a playoff career-high 30 on 12 of 21 shooting Friday. Dragic was at a different level all game. He blew past defenders on his way to the hoop and, when contested, kicked the ball to open shooters. He pulled down seven rebounds while battling with a bigger Toronto lineup and committed just two turnovers in 38 minutes.
QUICK PICK
A Game 7 in this series was inevitable considering how tightly-contested the entire series has been. And don’t be surprised to see another overtime contest. Miami made its adjustments, went small, and ran the Raptors off the floor to force a seventh game. Now it’s time for Toronto to counter.
The All-Star guards did their part again, a welcome sight for Raptors fans, but the non-All-Stars were held in check. It was the first playoff loss for Toronto when Lowry and DeRozan each scored 20 points. Toronto fought all season to win 56 games and get homecourt advantage, just for moments like this, and the Raptors will use the backing of their faithful to advance.
NBA Odds: Toronto 98, Miami 95
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