Facing elimination in Game 6 for the second straight series, the Heat need a win to extend their season and guarantee another trip north of the border. Toronto got a breakout game from its all-star backcourt in Game 5 and can advance to the conference finals for the first time if they show up again.
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LOOK AHEAD
What we saw on Wednesday is what Toronto expected to happen every game of this postseason. The All-Star guard combination of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry torching the nets, running the floor, and the No. 2 seed Raptors winning games on their way to an Eastern Conference finals showdown with the top-seeded Cavaliers. It obviously hasn’t worked out that way for Toronto, but a 99-91 Game 5 victory had all the components.
The pair combined for 59 points, the most they’ve contributed as a duo this postseason, and with Toronto already missing injured rising-star center Jonas Valanciunas and losing forward DeMarre Carroll to a wrist injury, those buckets were sorely needed. Heading into Wednesday, the Raptors needed somebody to step up, and their two stars finally managed to do it at the same time. If the Heat can’t return the favor on Friday, the Raptors may well clinch the first trip to the Eastern Conference finals in the franchise’s 21-year history.
INJURIES
The Raptors and Heat both lost their starting center in Game 3 and now they each lost a forward to a wrist injury on Wednesday. Miami’s Luol Deng left midway through the third quarter with a sore left wrist and did not return. The Heat said X-rays were inconclusive. Deng scored four points and missed all eight of his field goal attempts before exiting.
Shortly after, Toronto’s DeMarre Carroll injured his left wrist after being called for a charge, ending his night. Carroll went down in pain after the play, then got up and walked to the locker room. The Raptors said X-rays were negative. Both players are listed as questionable for Friday’s Game 6. DeRozan, meanwhile, continues to deal with a sore thumb that he originally injured in Game 1 and aggravated on Wednesday.
KEY MATCHUP
This series was billed as a battle of the backcourts and with frontline players dropping with injuries, the guard play becomes even more important. How important, you ask? The team whose starters score more has yet to lose. For Toronto, the play of DeRozan and Lowry was spectacular on Wednesday. DeRozan matched a playoff high with 34 points and Lowry had 25 as the Raptors took a 3-2 lead in the series.
Lowry and DeRozan made just six of 28 shot attempts and scored 19 total points as Toronto lost Game 4 in overtime. In Game 5, Toronto’s All-Stars tallied 19 points in the first quarter alone. They shot 20 for 47 overall and scored 59 points, their highest total this postseason. Miami’s duo of Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic combined for 45 points in Game 4, but managed only 33 on Wednesday. The duo that produces will likely carry their team to a victory.
QUICK PICK
This series just feels like it’s going seven games and the Heat need a win at home to make sure that happens. We saw what Wade did against Charlotte in the first round with Miami down 3-2 and the veteran leader will guide the Heat again as they stare at elimination. It will be more difficult without Deng, but Wade has done more with less.
We’ve seen more bad than good from DeRozan and Lowry this postseason and until they can put a few quality games together, the Raptors are just a shaky bet. It’ll be close, just like all the games in the series have been, and the Heat will use the homecourt advantage to force a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday.
NBA Odds: Miami 97, Toronto 93
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