The Toronto Raptors and the Miami Heat are playing the second game of a two game miniseries Friday night. The Heat took the first game on Wednesday at Toronto, or Tampa as it were, by the score of 111-102. They covered easily as 4 point underdogs. The Heat improved to 6-7 while the Raptors fell to 5-9. They do it again Friday in Tampa -- can Toronto even the score?
Heat takes the first game against Raptors
The Miami Heat were shorthanded due to injuries and illnesses, and on the road, but they still managed to take out the Toronto Raptors 111-102. The Heat held the Raptors to 40% shooting in the game. Also, they were red hot from three, draining 18 of 40 from deep for a 45% shooting percentage. The Heat played without Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro, but others picked up the slack, particularly Kendrick Nunn.Kendrick Nunn tonight:
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) January 21, 2021
28 points
8 rebounds
5 assists
9/12 FG pic.twitter.com/oO1FNjLouL
Nunn had fallen out of favor over the course of last season for other snipers, Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro, but Nunn got a chance to play some serious minutes and he delivered, pouring in a game high 28 points. Goran Dragic added 17 points while Kelly Olynyk tossed in 15. Also, Bam Adebayo added 14 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists. The win improved the Heat's record to 6-7. Herro is questionable for Friday, as is Butler and Avery Bradley.
Raptors fall short
The Toronto Raptors had come into this game against the Heat having won 3 straight games. But they fell short against a short handed Heat team, losing 111-102 to fall back to 5-9. The Raptors only shot 40% from the floor and 32% from three-point range. The Raptors were generally at full strength, at least among their key players. Fred Van Vleet led the way with 24 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists.Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby added 18 points apiece while Terence Davis had 16 points off the bench. Kyle Lowry had an off night offensively with just 8 points, but he did have 10 rebounds and 7 assists. The Raptors are pretty much at full strength with only reserve player Patrick McCaw out. The Raptors are in last place in the Atlantic division, 4.5 games behind the Sixers.
Stats & Trends
- Heat are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS win.
- Heat are 1-8-1 ATS in their last 10 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Raptors are 4-3 at home this season
The Pick
Take the Raptors here to cover. I didn't expect the Heat to beat the Raptors on Wednesday night given that the Raptors are starting to play better and the Heat were short handed. But I also didn't expect Kendrick Nunn to step up and score 28 points. I don't see that happening again. The Heat have great depth, it's one of their best features. But its hard for a bench player to do that twice in a row. The Heat remains shorthanded and the Raptors will be maybe a little more focused on losing to the same team twice in their own building. Look for Kyle Lowry to have a bounce back game and carry the Raptors to a win.