NBA Playoffs: Raptors vs. Heat Game 1 recap, full highlights

Goran Dragic and the Heat went on the road and held on to steal Game 1 from the Raptors 

The Toronto Raptors had the weight of history on their shoulders in Round 1 as they’d never won a seven-game series in the NBA Playoffs in the history of the franchise. However, they were able to withstand the Indiana Pacers and advance to the second round in dramatic fashion. Now their task was to keep on advancing, a task that would begin on Tuesday night as the Raptors welcomed the Miami Heat to the Air Canada Centre for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Much like you’d expect it to be with these two talented teams going at it with one another, they were simply trading blows for the first half. The scariest moment undoubtedly came early in the first quarter when Heat star center Hassan Whiteside went down with a frightening looking knee injury. After going to the locker room, though, he returned after a few minutes and appeared to be alright and/or fighting through it. After that, it was a defensive struggle that ended with the Raptors up by two points going into halftime.

Coming out of the half, though, Goran Dragic really started to pick things up for the Heat on the offensive end of the floor while Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan continued to struggle in regards to finding a rhythm offensively. It was an ordeal all night for the Toronto backcourt in trying to get to the foul line or trying to get their jumpers to fall—especially from the perimeter.

Even still, a competitor like DeRozan wouldn’t be denied and tried to keep the Raptors afloat, along with the continued excellence of Jonas Valanciunas on the interior, in the fourth quarter as they trailed the Heat. Dragic seemed to ice the game pending free throws, but a Terrence Ross three and then odd inbounds play that resulted in two Ross free throws made things interesting.

Down by two points, the Raptors sent Whiteside to the line and the big man missed the first of the freebies. He knocked down the second, but the Raptors still needed a three. Unbelievably, Lowry delivered after playing an awful game to that point, knocking down a halfcourt heave as time expired.

Once into the overtime period, though, the Heat just seemed to be angered by the Lowry heroics and started off by scoring the first eight points of the frame. Though the Raptors tried to fight back once again, they turned the ball over on their most crucial possession when they were only down three with the ball. That allowed Wade to hit an and-1 and ultimately ice it to escape with Game 1.

Three Stars

Goran Dragic, Heat – 26 points, six rebounds, two assists

Jonas Valanciunas, Raptors – 2r points, 14 rebounds, three assists, two steals, three blocks

Dwyane Wade, Heat – 24 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals, two blocks

Highlights

Next Game

Game 2 of this series between the Raptors and Heat will take place on Thursday, May 5 again in Toronto at 8 p.m. ET with the broadcast being on ESPN.

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