In this duel of in-form teams in the Eastern Conference (7-3 over the last 10 games for both teams), the first quarter is undecided and exciting. The level of play is good and it is the duo Fred VanVleet – Chris Boucher who strikes first. The tandem has 18 points, including 11 for the leader, and the Raptors secure a narrow lead after 12 minutes (30-27).
Subsequently, the Heat take out the barbed wire and allow only 21 points (10/25) from the Raptors during the second quarter. Fred VanVleet well contained (0 point in the quarter), it’s Pascal Siakam who wakes up while Chris Boucher adds 7 additional points to his personal counter. In attack, the locals rely on a Jimmy Butler – Tyler Herro duo which has 29 points, and the Heat take the lead at halftime (58-51).
After the break, the Raptors in turn take out the barbed wire and the Heat are having great difficulty finding solutions on offense. But while the visitors have caught up with their short delay and are back in front of the score (75-73), Tyler Herro catches fire and sticks a 7-0 to the Raptors all by himself in the last minute of the third quarter and the Heat breathe (80-75).
The strong men of both teams continued to go blow for blow in the fourth quarter. The crossover continues and it is in the “money-time” that the outcome of the meeting takes shape. While the Raptors are now 3 points from the Heat (99-96), PJ Tucker, royally served by Jimmy Butler, registers his favorite shot, an award-winning shot in the “corner”, to allow the Heat to move to +6 in the last minute. Despite a final response behind the arc, the Raptors are too short and bow after an honorable fight.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Successful comeback for Bam Adebayo. After 22 games out with a thumb injury, the center returned to the Heat’s major five and was quick to point out how important he is to this team. He compiled 14 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block.
– Omer Yurtseven in the closet. While he had chained the matches as holder lately, the Turk logically gave way to his All-Star teammate. But Erik Spoelstra did not even call on him off the bench since it was Dewayne Dedmon who filled the role of substitute pivot.
– The Raptors in a small committee. Since Gary Trent Jr. and Khem Birch were out, Nick Nurse used a very tight rotation. Only Chris Boucher and rookie Justin Champagnie came off the bench and played. With despite everything a significant disparity to note in the use of the two substitutes since the first played 38 minutes, against 9 minutes for the second.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ chris butcher. Off the bench, the Canadian delivered a very good performance with 23 points (7/13) and 10 rebounds in 38 minutes. Within a tight rotation of seven players, he was empowered and made the most of the confidence granted by Nick Nurse.
✅ Tyler Herro. It’s almost becoming a habit to place the sixth man among the Heat’s satisfactions. Once again, the full back was fantastic off the bench, both in scoring and creating. He finished the game with 23 points (8/16), 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.
✅ Jimmy Butler. The Heat boss posted a triple-double (19 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) to overcome the valiant Raptors. After a start to the season truncated by a tailbone injury, the winger has found his stride and the Heat are thriving.
⛔️ The Heat’s snipers, Duncan Robinson and Max Strus, who had 14 points at 5/14 on shots. Yet always sought, and found, by their teammates, the two rear men had a hard time adjusting the sights.
THE FOLLOWING
Miami (28-16) : reception of Portland on Wednesday
Toronto (21-20) : trip to Dallas on Wednesday
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
