Raptors Beat Heat 106-92 at Home to Return to .500

The Toronto Raptors came out with a win on Tuesday night at the Scotiabank Arena, topping the Miami Heat 106-92. The victory brought the Raps NBA regular season record back to .500, as they sit in contention for a play-in spot with 8th seed in the Eastern Conference. 

This was Toronto’s third win in a row as they attempt to claw their way through the tightly packed East to the sixth seed for a guaranteed postseason spot. The team is now 6-4 in their past 10 games.

Pascal Siakam led the Raptors in scoring, finishing with 26 points to go along with 9 boards and five assists. Scotty Barnes impressed with a double-double, putting up 22 points and a career high 12 assists. OG Anunoby chipped in with 22 points as well, while Fred VanVleet had a below par game, managing only 12 points on 5-13 shooting.

Tyler Herro hit a hot shooting streak for the heat on his way to dropping 33 points, which included 6 from three-point-land. Bam Adebayo had yet another double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds.

Ultimately the Raptors’ defense was the difference in the game, holding Miami to 40% from the field on the night. Toronto was also +14 in the assists column, finishing with 32 assists to the Heat’s 18. 

The game started off relatively close, with both teams jostling for the lead in the first half. Toronto was able to go into halftime with a six point lead which ballooned by the end of the third quarter to 17. 

Despite a run by the Heat in the 4th which cut the lead to 10 with 3:25 left, Toronto was able to hang on and come out with the W on the back of a couple clutch three-pointers by VanVleet and Siakam.

With only six games left to go in the regular season the Raptors will be focused on cementing their play-in position and making a run for that 6th seed. It seems rather unlikely they’ll get there however, sitting 2.5 games back.

Who’s next for the Raptors?

Next on the calendar for the Raptors is the 76ers on the road at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Phili has already claimed a top 4 seed in the East but will be looking to cement themselves as the #3 seed with the Cleveland Cavaliers breathing down their neck, just one game behind.

If the plan is to bet on the upcoming Raps/76ers game, then make sure you go through our list of the best NBA betting sites in Ontario for all the top legal online sports betting options in the province.