This series between the Miami Heat and the Toronto Raptors has been unpredictable. Both teams have been able to win one on the road, but neither has won two-straight games yet. Can the Heat finally be the first one to do so in tonight’s pivotal Game 5? Or will the Raptors protect their home court and grab a 3-2 lead in the series? Read on below for a closer look at this Eastern Conference showdown.
For more NBA Playoff action, click here to checkout our preview for Game 5 between the Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors. The defending champs currently own a 3-1 lead in that series.
Heat vs. Raptors Game Five Round Two Preview
Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario
When: Wednesday, May 11, 2016, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Miami Heat (+4.5) vs. Toronto Raptors (-4.5); total: 188.5 – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: TNT
Betting on the Miami Heat
Someone else has got to step it up and garner at least some of the attention of the opposing defense. That being said, the pressure is on the pair of Goran Dragic and Luol Deng to get it going for the Heat.
Dragic had a relatively poor performance in the last game as he finished with 15 points, six boards and four dimes, while shooting 5-of-16 from the field. Deng, meanwhile, barely made his presence felt again. He’s been limited to just 13 points in the past two games at Miami. He’s really got to constantly involve himself on offense, and also take more shot attempts. Deng is averaging 15.3 points this postseason.
Defensively, the Heat are in a serious predicament without the presence of Hassan Whiteside, who is likely out for the rest of this series with a sprained MCL. But they did pretty well without him in Game 4, as they didn’t allow the Raps to out-rebound or overpower them in the paint. The Heat will have to replicate that effort, and also make sure to remain as physical as possible in defending the backcourt tandem of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan.
Miami is 2-3 SU and 3-2 ATS in its last five road games.
Betting on the Toronto Raptors
You have to hand it to the Toronto Raptors for giving the Heat one hell of a fight in Game 4. The Raps had the lead throughout the most part of the game, but then Dwyane Wade reminded them why he’s still as dangerous as ever by delivering some clutch plays in the final and overtime period.
On the bright side, the Raps still have the home court advantage in this series, and that’s precisely what they’ll try to capitalize on in tonight’s crucial Game 5. In order for them to do so, the Raps obviously need the pair of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan to relocate their old selves.
Lowry, in particular, has got to put on another spectacular performance like the way he did back in Game 3. He exploded for 33 points and knocked down five treys during that game. Lowry, though, has been limited to just 25 points in the first two games of this series.
In case both Lowry and DeRozan end up struggling again, Toronto will desperately need its role players to pick up the slack. Cory Joseph and Terrence Ross did just that in Game 4, as the two scored 14 points apiece off the bench.
The pair of DeMarre Carroll and Bismack Biyombo, meanwhile, was pretty solid as well. The two combined for 26 points and 16 rebounds in the same game.
As for the defense, there’s no question that the Raptors defense, which is allowing 94.7 points in this series, needs to prevent Dwyane Wade from finding his rhythm again. Wade’s been almost unstoppable in the last two games, as the 34-year-old superstar is averaging 34.0 points in that brief stretch.
Toronto is 8-2 SU and 5-5 ATS in its previous 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Raps (-4.5) prevail in Game 5, 101-93.
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