The Toronto Raptors defeated the Miami Heat, 125-115 on Sunday night but Dwyane Wade turns into vintage mode scoring 35 points off the bench setting a new Miami Heat record of most points off the bench.
Game Recap
The Raptors used a different starting lineup with no Serge Ibaka putting Pascal Siakam at the 4 position and Jonas Valanciunas at center. No Goran Dragic and Tyler Johnson tonight for Miami as they also had a different starting lineup putting Josh Richardson at point guard, Rodney McGruder at the 3 and James Johnson at the 4 with Whiteside playing at center. Justice Winslow is questionable but Miami decided to let him play. I don’t understand how Miami is managing Hassan Whiteside’s playing time. He only played 12 minutes in this game. He’s been impressive these past few games but this game his minutes are limited.
Toronto started the game getting the momentum early with Kawhi Leonard leading the Raptors with his mid-range and outside shooting. Pascal Siakam was very active driving to the lane and getting some buckets. Siakam is so quick and lengthy at the 4 position giving opponents a mismatch. He’s been doing a pretty well job throughout the season and I think he’s become one of the most important pieces for the Raptors. The Raptors got an early 10-point lead in the first quarter but when D-Wade was inserted in the game, he calms Miami down with a quick bucket and a nice dish for a Whiteside dunk.
But after that sequence Toronto answers with some transition offense pushing the basketball quickly after getting a defensive rebound to an open team mate at the other side. Miami’s defense was awful that time that they let Toronto get 3 consecutive wide-open transition baskets.
Bam Adebayo did some great job cleaning up the glass getting some big boards and close buckets. Dwyane Wade keeps Miami alive with an and-one play from a very nice pump-fake and another basket following the and-one play to cut the deficit to 4. But CJ Miles hits a 3-pointer to make it back up to 7.
Kelly Olynyk made 5 straight points to start the second quarter hitting a 3-pointer and a layup. D-Wade keeps getting buckets but the rest of the team has been quiet while Toronto are consistently scoring as they increase the lead momentarily. Miami couldn’t hold off Toronto’s onslaught as they failed to keep the game close and the Raptors took control of the second period.
In the third, the Raptors continues destroying the Heat as Kawhi Leonard tortures them with his terrific offensive skills inside and out increasing the lead to 20 points in a Leonard dunk and making it 23 with his three-pointer. Toronto was too much for the Heat as the lead continues to grow but Dwyane Wade is having a night for himself scoring buckets quietly and cutting the deficit slowly. Toronto ends 3 quarters scoring 101 points while the Heat had only 89 points.
In the final quarter, Dwyane Wade cuts the deficit to single digit with a corner 3-pointer to make it 105-97. Wade was feeling it at that moment and hits another 3-pointer. The Raptors did not let the Heat come even closer as they increase their intensity in defense and their aggressiveness. The Heat was stuck in an 8 and 9-point game and couldn’t make it closer. And in the final minutes of the game, Kyle Lowry sealed the game with a deep three-pointer as the Toronto Raptors win it, 125-115.
My Thoughts
Dwyane Wade proves that he’s a true leader and he has still many left in the tank. Wade made 4 three-pointers and shot 13 for 22 from the field. It looks amazing seeing players like him score more than 30 points at his age. This is probably his farewell season and I think it is going to be fun and memorable for him. He had a great career. One of the greatest players to ever play the game.
For Toronto, Serge Ibaka was not in the starting lineup that results in a decrease performance and scoring. Before this game, he scored in double figures in 18 consecutive games but in this game, he failed reaching double-digits. But still, the Raptors are the best team in the Eastern Conference as of now.
Stats
Kawhi Leonard – 29 pts, 10 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 2 blk
Pascal Siakam – 21 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk
Kyle Lowry – 12 pts, 2 reb, 10 ast
Dwyane Wade – 35 pts, 5 reb, 6 ast, 1 blk
Bam Adebayo – 16 pts, 21 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 2 blk
Josh Richardson – 19 pts, 5 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl
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