Toronto Raptors vs Miami Heat: Predictions, Odds and Roster Notes

What: Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors

Where: Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada

When: Sunday, April 7th at 12:00 PM EST

How (TV/Radio): NBATV, TSN, Fox Sports Sun | TSN Radio 1050 Toronto, 790 The Ticket / S: WAQI 710 AM

Miami Heat (Away)

Head Coach: Erik Spoelstra {All-Time 522-361 | MIA}

Projected Starting Five: (G) Goran Dragic – (G) Dion Waiters – (F) Justise Winslow – (F) Kelly Olynyk – (C) Bam Adebayo

The Miami Heat enter this match with a 38-41 record. They are in ninth place in the Eastern Conference and are a game out from Detroit Pistons. They take on a Toronto Raptors team that are secure, but hungry to prove themselves to the very end.

The Miami Heat have done their best to stay competitive in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Over the last ten games, the Miami Heat have compiled a record of 5-5. With how tight the race for the last three seeds in the East is, the Heat have seen their position fluctuate from seventh to ninth in the span of days.

The Miami Heat take on a Toronto Raptors side that have gotten the best of them in their last three matches. They’ve never been competitive in their previous matches with the Raptors, so they need to show their fans this time out. The return of Goran Dragic should help them in that regard.

Toronto Raptors (Home)

Head Coach: Nick Nurse {All-Time 56-24 | TOR}

Projected Starting Five: (G) Kyle Lowry – (G) Danny Green – (F) Kawhi Leonard – (F) Pascal Siakam – (C) Marc Gasol

The Toronto Raptors are locked into the second seed in the Eastern Conference, and thus will be matched with the seventh seed in the NBA Playoffs. With a record of 56-24, they own a six-game lead over the Philadelphia 76ers but don’t have enough games left in their schedule to take on the Milwaukee Bucks in first place.

The Toronto Raptors have done their best with their schedule in their pursuit for first in the Eastern Conference. While they fell short, they compiled a 7-3 record in their last ten games to secure home court for a guaranteed three rounds in the postseason.

The Toronto Raptors take on a Miami Heat side that are looking to stay alive in the playoff race. The Heat are on their heels, just behind the eighth-place team by a whole game. With the race so tight, the Raptors need to buckle down against a hungry, defensive-oriented squad.

What’s At Stake?

The Toronto Raptors have a one-sided series with the Miami Heat that is not in their favor. In 85 regular season games, the Heat lead the Raptors 52-33.

A win for the Raptors would keep them second in the Eastern Conference.

A win for the Miami Heat would bring them within half a game of the Detroit Pistons who are eighth in the Eastern Conference.

Questions to answer

Do the Heat have what it takes to make the playoffs?

Where can the Raptors improve after their loss?

We are going to compare the Miami Heat and the Toronto Raptors in an attempt to see who has the advantage in this matchup.

The Heat Have Three Games Left

At this point in the season the Miami Heat can’t afford to lose more games. Finishing 40-42 leaves them with a chance, but winning out is all they can do to leave it out of the hands of their competitors.

The question for the Heat is whether or not they can pull it off and make it to the post-season in Wade’s final year. They’re on a three-game losing streak and will face only the East’s top teams as the season winds down, starting with the Raptors.

While the Heat defense is capable, they’ve gone through doubts of being unable to score multiple times throughout the year. Spoelstra has made adjustments – adding in Dragic and Olynyk – but they are yet to totally pay off. The Raptors own a strong defense of their own, so beating them will bode well for their final games.

The Toronto Raptors Lost Again to the Hornets

For the second time within two weeks, the Toronto Raptors dropped a game to the Charlotte Hornets. While not crucial to their season, they’ve shown some problems that may show their head in the future.

Most importantly, the Raptors defense failed them in clutch situations in both matches. In their most recent, the Raptors failed to rotate onto an open Jeremy Lamb and they allowed Kemba Walker to get an easy lay-up almost unguarded. Lapses happen, but the consistency of late is concerning.

The Raptors go against a Heat team that is not talented offensively, but their grittiness on the boards and in the paint is difficult to handle. They’ve been pushing hard in the late season with their stars, despite securing their space, so the extra reps are surely important regardless of the result.

Miami Heat Roster Notes

G Josh Richardson – 5 Apr 2019 – Day To Day (Left Leg) – Richardson did not play in Friday’s game (Apr. 5) against the Timberwolves and Sunday’s game (Apr. 7) against the Raptors.

Toronto Raptors Roster Notes

G-F Patrick McCaw – 5 Apr 2019 – Day To Day (Thumb) – McCaw did not play in Friday’s game (Apr. 5) against the Hornets.

Head-to-Head: Goran Dragic (MIA) vs Kyle Lowry (TOR)

The battle of former teammates is what will highlight this game. Dragic has been injured for a significant portion of the season but has a great history against the Toronto Raptors. Kyle Lowry has upped his form recently and has always played competitively against Dragic. It should be an exciting match.

Goran Dragic

Point Guard | 6-3, 190lb (190cm, 86kg) | Slovenia | Exp. 10 Years

14.5 PPG | 4.7 APG | 2.5 RPG | 0.8 SPG | 0.2 BPG | 2.0 TOV | .424 FG% | .350 3P%

Goran Dragic has been solid since his return, acting as both a capable playmaker and scorer for the Heat in his time. With Josh Richardson out, his ability on the ball is incredibly valuable. They will need his offense against this tough Toronto Raptors defense.

Kyle Lowry

Point Guard | 6-1, 196lb (185cm, 88kg) | Villanova | Exp. 12 Years

14.4 PPG | 8.7 APG | 4.7 RPG | 1.4 SPG | 0.5 BPG | 2.8 TOV | .415 FG% | .350 3P%

Kyle Lowry has really increased his volume in recent games. Owing to his tendency to “fade” in the postseason, Lowry has looked to regain his rhythm by taking more selfish liberties in the game. He’s not shooting the ball to the detriment of his squad, but he will certainly take a more central role in the Toronto Raptors offense in this game.

Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors Predictions and Odds

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