By now everyone knows that the Toronto Raptors have won back to back series at home in game seven vs the Indiana Pacers and the Miami Heat. LWOS will now look back at that series.
Game 1
The Miami Heat came into Air Canada Centre to play the second place Toronto Raptors. Game 1 was back and forth until the last three minutes when the Heat dominated and it looked like the game was over until Lowry time. With a three ball from Terrence Ross and then with 1 second left and the Raptors down by three, Lowry let it go from half court and drained it to force OT. Unfortunately for the Raptors they struggled to hit anything in OT and lost game 1.
Game 2
With the Raptors losing game one yet again for back to back series, the Raptors were already in a back to the wall scenario as they can not go to Miami down 2-0, which DeMarre Carroll understood. Carroll went off and led the Raptors to a fourth quarter lead. The lead, however, quickly evaporated and with 10 seconds left and the game tied, Lowry took a questionable shot and missed it, sending the game to overtime again. Unlike game one, Toronto hit most shots in overtime and Miami was ice cold ,which led to Toronto winning game two and evening the series.
Game 3
Shaking off epic playoff struggles, Lowry scored 33 points – including five straight to break a late tie – in a duel with Dwyane Wade to lift the Raptors to a 95-91 victory over the Heat on Saturday night in game three of the Eastern Conference Semifinal series.
The Raptors now lead the series 2-1. Game four is in Miami on Monday night. It was tied at 82 when Lowry hit a three pointer with 2:07 left, and he followed that with a pair of free throws on the next Toronto possession. Miami answered with four straight, a layup by center Udonis Haslem.
When Whiteside left, the Raptors attacked the basket at will and went up 49-40 at the half. Lowry made a pair of quick threes when play resumed, and the lead was quickly up to 13. That was the margin when Valanciunas got hurt. When he left, Wade went on a spurt. He shot 5 for 9 in the third, slamming down one of his own misses, making a pair of 3-pointers, freeing himself from defenders with behind-the-back dribbles and getting friendly bounces.It was vintage Wade, and the tied-up series had a tied-up score of 68-all going into the fourth quarter. The Raptors, just like in the Pacers series took games two and three and lead the series 2-1.
Game 4
The Miami Heat had their backs against the wall in game four of their matchup with the Toronto Raptors. Miami was down 2-1 in their best-of-seven series with Toronto and had found out early on Monday that the Heat would be without starting center and block machine Hassan Whiteside.
The game, just like game one, was back and forth, and then Dwyane Wade hit a layup with 12.3 seconds left to tie up the game. Toronto then took a timeout to draw up the winning play. Cory Joseph ended up taking the shot and missing it, meaning the game would go to overtime for the third time in four games. Miami went on to win and even the series at two.
Game 5
Once again, exactly like the Indiana series, the Raptors lose game one, win games two and three, and lose game four. The Raptors also have yet to lose back to back games in the playoffs. It is now a best two out of three series with Raptors having two games at home.
DeRozan scored 34 points, while Lowry had 25 points and 10 rebounds to lift the Raptors 99-91 over the Heat on Wednesday. Lowry got cut on the head right by the eye and had a bandage over it. The main story line of this game was that many Raptors fans thought Lowry and DeRozan were back.
The Raptors head to Miami for game six up 3-2 and looking to advance to the Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history.
“They’re our guys,” said coach Dwane Casey — as he’s been saying all playoffs. “We can disparage them all we want to and talk about how bad their shooting is, but you don’t forget how to score the basketball. We have faith in those guys, they carried us the entire season.” -CBC sports
Game 6
Once again this Miami series is exactly the Pacers series with the Raptors winning Game 5 at home and a chance to close the series out in game six on the road in Miami.
With Lowry and DeRozan going off last game, it was once again time for Goran Dragic to go off scoring 30 points in the game and dominating the court. Lowry once again showed up for Toronto as he had 36 points, but it was Dwayne Wade also showing up for Miami and DeRozan once again playing mediocre at best in the playoffs.
Miami’s fans kept the team going all game like Toronto’s fans have done all season long. Once again just like Indiana, it is back to game seven in Toronto as the Raptors can’t close out the series in game six.
Game 7
Welcome to game seven, ladies and gentlemen. The story lines are big this series as the Toronto Raptors are looking to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals with a win, and with a Miami win it can be LeBron James vs Dwyane Wade as James could face his former team once again.
This game was lopsided and lopsided early. Toronto took advantage of home court and having their fans behind them as they got out to an early lead and never looked back. The Raptors looked like they wanted it and Miami not so much. The Raptors ended up practically playing their D-league team with an exception of two players. Toronto ran out the clock and dominated the Heat in game seven and will play the Cleveland Cavaliers as the winner goes on to the NBA Finals. The Raptors also advance to the Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history.
