The Miami Heat will visit the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night with both teams coming off victories that were impressive for different reasons.
The Heat won their third consecutive home game — their longest winning streak of the young season Monday night — by outscoring the Phoenix Suns 24-10 in the final eight minutes to eke out a 113-112 victory. Bam Adebayo scored 12 points during that winning run and Jimmy Butler blocked Devin Booker’s shot with 6.2 seconds to play.
Meanwhile, the injury-depleted Raptors were performing some heroics of their own on Monday when they defeated the host Detroit Pistons 115-111.
The Raptors were without Pascal Siakam (groin), Fred VanVleet (non-COVID illness), Precious Achiuwa (ankle sprain), and Gary Trent Jr. (hip). In addition, Otto Porter Jr. (toe) left at halftime.
Yet, with Dalano Banton scoring a career-high 27 points, Chris Boucher matching his season best with 20 points and Jeff Dowtin Jr. blocking a shot with 19.2 seconds left in the game, the Raptors emerged victorious following a pair of road losses.
Regular starter O.G. Anunoby added 19 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots.
Banton was making his second career start.
Banton said the improvement was a result of summer work with the Raptors, Team Canada and practice on his own.
Dowtin had made only two previous appearances for a combined 8:22 this season — and had not played in the previous six games — before playing 15 minutes Monday, when he recorded four points, four rebounds, two assists and the key block of Jaden Ivy’s layup attempt with the Heat leading 111-108.
Adebayo led Miami’s victory over Phoenix with 30 points and 10 rebounds, and Butler had 16 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.
Lowry, a former Raptor, had 15 points and six assists on Monday.
Miami was without Tyler Herro (ankle sprain) for the fourth straight game.
With Herro out, Max Strus started again and had five points on Monday after scoring 31 on Saturday.
