The Toronto Raptors drop their second game in a row after losing to Kyle Lowry and the Miami Heat 112-103.
The Raptors started the game 3-10 from the field as Miami hit 8 of their first 14 field goals. Darko Rajakovic had to burn two early timeouts in 2 minutes.
After the second timeout though, the Raptors turned it around. Raptors shot 8-16 from deep and hit their free throws. Their bench also had 19 points in the first-half as the Raptors carried a 2-point lead into halftime.
However, in the second-half the Raptors got off to another terrible start. They missed their first 6 shots and committed 7 turnovers. The Heat went on a 16-0 run. Then the Raptors responded as Gary Trent Jr. caught fire. Trent Jr., O.G. Anunoby and Pascal Siakam scored the team’s 18 points in the quarter.
In the fourth Toronto closed the gap but Miami pulled away late after shot clutch shots.
Siakam had a game-high 30 points and was 11-11 from the free throw line. He even hit his lone three-pointer as well. Anunoby was another bright spot for the Raptors finishing with 23 points on 5-10 from three.
However, the rest of Toronto’s starters struggled. Dennis Schroder who took the most shot attempts in this game went 4-18 from the field. He had his worst game of the season and held onto the ball more times than he should.
Scottie Barnes who woke up a bit in the fourth quarter had an overall quiet outing. Barnes struggled with his shot going 5-17 from the field and 2-7 from three. Jakob Poeltl had 2 points in 28 minutes after only taking 2 shots.
Toronto’s bench which came alive in the first-half didn’t do much in the second-half outside of Trent Jr. who finished with 15 points.
This was a bad loss for Toronto. The Heat didn’t have Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro or Haywood Highsmith and they still won the game comfortably.
The Raptors have now dropped 4 of their last 5 games.
Next on tap
The Raptors look to snap their 2-game losing streak when they travel to Charolette to take on the 6-13 Hornets. This will be an early must win game for the Raptors.
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