Heat vs. Raptors: Play-by-play, highlights and reactions

The Miami Heat (50-28) play against the Toronto Raptors (32-32) at Scotiabank Arena

Game Time: 7:00 PM EDT on Sunday April 3, 2022

Miami Heat 85, Toronto Raptors 83 (Q4 09:30)

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
Coming down to the wire pic.twitter.com/h455agLUDG – 8:55 PM Eric Smith @Eric__Smith
Max Strus…0 for 0 in the first half…was 4 for 7 in q3 (all triples)…putting up 14 pts…helping Miami outscore Toronto 34-23. Raptors — up 10 at half — go into the 4th qrt trailing by 1.
Hear it on @FAN590 – 8:54 PM Aaron Rose @AaronBenRose
Can anyone see who is on the back of Yuta Watanabe’s jacket? It’s been bugging me all night – 8:54 PM Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
A little Vic stepback triple to close out a big 3rd quarter for us pic.twitter.com/TX4fyhX5q2 – 8:54 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
End of third quarter: Heat 79, Raptors 78. Already six Heat players with double-digit points, led by Tyler Herro’s 15. Also helps that the Heat is shooting 12 of 30 (40 percent) on threes. – 8:53 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Max Strus loads up with 14 second-period points, with Heat taking 79-78 lead into fourth in Toronto. – 8:52 PM Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Raps let up 34 to the Heat in the third, and they trail 79-78 after 3. We’ll see if they can find a way to free up Siakam in the 4th. – 8:52 PM Doug Smith @SmithRaps
Heat just making all the tough shots at big moments
They’re up 79-78 going to the fourth
Imagine that, a close low-scoring game between these teams – 8:51 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Max Strus has the ability to win Miami a playoff game
That’s why he is a starter
And I don’t think he’s leaving any time soon – 8:49 PM Doug Smith @SmithRaps
Raptors have 13 points in almost 11 minutes – 8:47 PM Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
This 3Q comeback has been brought to you by the generous contributions of Max Strus
11 pts and counting in the quarter pic.twitter.com/NUbp3qtcvm – 8:45 PM Tom Orsborn @tom_orsborn
Bates-Diop with his first double-digit game since he had 22 in a loss at Miami on Feb. 26. He’s got 11 points and 6 rebounds with under a minute to go in the 3Q. – 8:44 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Kyle Lowry having a very Kyle Lowry quarter. He has two points, four rebounds, four assists and one steal in the third quarter. – 8:44 PM Eric Smith @Eric__Smith
Heat down 10 at the half have come back to take a 1 point lead over the Raptors with 2:04 to go in q3 — Miami’s first lead since they were up 1 early in q1.
69-68. Hear it on @FAN590 – 8:44 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
As I say all the time:
Max Strus has never seen a contest when he has the ball in shooting motion – 8:44 PM Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Lowry’s fingerprints all over this quarter, as the Heat have taken the lead. – 8:43 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
A Strus 3, and from 13 down Heat take lead. – 8:42 PM Doug Smith @SmithRaps
Heat lead, Raptors 3rd quarter woes return – 8:42 PM Michael Grange @michaelgrange
Fred VanVleet’s defense is just so incredibly good. Possession after possession, play after play. On ball, off ball — often both on the same possession. What a gift. – 8:42 PM Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
QB1 always finds his man 🎯 pic.twitter.com/ymiemkBNom – 8:41 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Heat with 18 points off 15 Raptors turnovers, helping to keep the game close. Raptors lead 68-64. – 8:41 PM Toronto Raptors @Raptors
Views from our halftime performance from our Welcome Toronto Creator, Kyana Kingbird pic.twitter.com/Fw0SnDVeEv – 8:39 PM Doug Smith @SmithRaps
Raptors could use some energy and production from Boucher and Achiuwa here – 8:37 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
If Miami wants to win this game, Strus or Duncan has to get them out of this – 8:35 PM Doug Smith @SmithRaps
Sixers beat Cavs, Raptors magic number for at least 6th is now 2; they lead Heat by 5,6:26 left in third and they’re scuffling a bit – 8:34 PM Josh Lewenberg @JLew1050
Sixers beat the Cavs. Bad news is the Raptors can’t make up ground on 4th-place Philly tonight (they’ll be 2 games back if they beat Miami, 3 games back if they lose). Good news is they’re a step closer to clinching a playoff spot. Their magic number is down to 2 (1 if they win) – 8:32 PM Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
quick hands ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/q35C5AloPg – 8:30 PM Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Cavs about to lose to Philadelphia, and Raptors magic number to clinch a top-6 spot moves to 2. – 8:30 PM James Edwards III @JLEdwardsIII
Toronto has done well without top-5 picks. Denver. Phoenix is there. Name me the last team with two homegrown top-3 picks to win a title? Getting Cade so early changed everything. – 8:28 PM Doug Smith @SmithRaps
The Raptors fly-by defence guarding 3s is on point; Heat patiently getting all kinds of good looks – 8:27 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Gotta blitz VanVleet occasionally in this half for sure – 8:27 PM Aaron Rose @AaronBenRose
When you have 21 points and a Raptors franchise record in the first half pic.twitter.com/8AJMgefnwT – 8:23 PM Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Good minutes from Victor Oladipo to end the first half. He’s up nine points on 3 of 6 from 3-point range. Still some rust (five turnovers) but this is a game where the Heat can use a boost from anywhere. – 8:12 PM Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
Work to do after the break pic.twitter.com/mAwk5cstqP – 8:10 PM Toronto Raptors @Raptors
strong start 👏 pic.twitter.com/3yMZhzNkvP – 8:10 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Halftime: Raptors 55, Heat 45. Tyler Herro with 11 points, and Kyle Lowry with nine points and four assists. Short-handed Heat already with 20 three-point attempts. – 8:10 PM Eric Koreen @ekoreen
At the half, Raps up 55-45. VanVleet, Siakam and Barnes have 41 of the Raptors’ points. Lowry with 9 and 4. – 8:08 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Raptors 55, Heat 45 at half. VanVleet 21 for Raptors. Herro 11 for Heat. – 8:08 PM Doug Smith @SmithRaps
Fun first half, both teams good/bad in stretches
Raptors up 55-45 at the break – 8:08 PM Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Bam Adebayo shouldn’t be able to set a screen on VanVleet ever again, just for Raptors fans’ mental welfare. – 8:07 PM Doug Smith @SmithRaps
Heat show a trap and some zone, Trent beats it with a rhythm 3 – 8:07 PM Toronto Raptors @Raptors
ROTY for THREE @ScottBarnes561 👌 pic.twitter.com/WslEVjNfPI – 8:04 PM Eric Koreen @ekoreen
VanVleet finishes through some VerticaLowry. – 8:00 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Victor Oladipo is not only knocking down big shots, but looks really active and under control
Hmmmm
Plus Tyler Herro is incredible btw – 7:59 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Hmm, the Victor Oladipo game. – 7:58 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Victor Oladipo already 3 of 6 from three-point range. He has nine points in nine minutes. These are probably Oladipo’s best minutes of the season, so far. – 7:58 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Victor Oladipo’s seventh point was the 8,000th of his career. – 7:57 PM Josh Lewenberg @JLew1050
Scottie Barnes just became the first player in NBA history to successfully post up Kyle Lowry. – 7:56 PM Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Scottie Barnes hits a floater over Lowry and would you look at that, I just turned 98 years old. – 7:56 PM Eric Smith @Eric__Smith
A Herro 3pt from earlier was just taken back. Off court official ruled he was out of bounds. So after a VanVleet lay up ….the Raps now go into the timeout with a 5-point swing on the scoreboard…
The Score is now 45-33 with 6:25 to go in the 1st half – 7:56 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Short-handed Heat with just four shots at the rim tonight. Heat trailing by 12 in the second quarter. – 7:54 PM Doug Smith @SmithRaps
They reviewed a Herro 3 and took it off the board because he was out of bounds
Raptors up 12 with 6:25 until halftime – 7:53 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Victor Oladipo hitting that release valve 3 👀 – 7:52 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Tyler Herro is doing some incredible shot creating things right now
Seriously
Length bothers him, but he just counters that with tough shot making – 7:50 PM Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Two more blocked shot attempts for Chris Boucher, although the second one was a product of the shot clock. – 7:48 PM Doug Smith @SmithRaps
I don’t know what the world record is for shot attempts blocked in a 3-games span but i’m pretty sure Chris Boucher’s close to it – 7:48 PM Michael Pina @MichaelVPina
haven’t seen a team/player this committed to hunting herro as siakam right now – 7:47 PM Doug Smith @SmithRaps
Gary Trent Jr passing up an OTB 3 to give Precious Achiuwa an OTB 3 is probably not the wisest of decisions ever made – 7:46 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Victor Oladipo commits a turnover and then take a charge on the other end seconds later. – 7:45 PM Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
2nd quarter incoming pic.twitter.com/WnraNmvWfG – 7:44 PM Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
Yurt grabs the offensive rebound, Vic connects pic.twitter.com/dc0cTFlSAH – 7:42 PM Josh Lewenberg @JLew1050
Fred VanVleet came into his first day of training camp as an undrafted rookie back in 2016 and immediately earned Kyle Lowry’s respect by going right after him in practice.
Their first game against each other, 6 years later, and that hasn’t changed.
FVV with 17 1st-quarter pts – 7:42 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
End of the first quarter: Raptors 34, Heat 28.
The bad news: Toronto scored 34 points.
The good news: The Heat is trailing by only six. – 7:41 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Raptors 34, Heat 28 after one. VanVleet with 17 for Raptors. Lowry 8 points for Heat. – 7:41 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Two bigs shots from Tyler Herro
That second one was him knowing he can’t drive it in against this team
We should see a lot of those transition pull up threes – 7:41 PM Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Raps with a rough end to the quarter, and they lead 34-28 after 1. VanVleet has 17, Lowry has 8. – 7:40 PM Doug Smith @SmithRaps
VanVleet’s got 17 but there’s some Raptors defensive slippage late and they’re up 34-28 after a quarter – 7:40 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Tyler Herro’s third shot moved him past Steve Smith for 21st of the Heat all-time list. – 7:39 PM Toronto Raptors @Raptors
DINHO ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/btjL03VAu2 – 7:38 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Omer Yurtseven in the game, as the Heat plays without Butler, Tucker, Dedmon and Vincent. – 7:38 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
And now Oladipo. – 7:38 PM Doug Smith @SmithRaps
With OG out, Armoni Brooks gets some early time tonight – 7:38 PM Eric Koreen @ekoreen
In a tribute to his time in Toronto, Kyle Lowry’s new team has put the opponent into the penalty. – 7:37 PM Eric Koreen @ekoreen
With Anunoby out, Armoni Brooks creeps back into the rotation. – 7:35 PM Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
Sneaky move by Kyle there leads to the Herro slam 💪 pic.twitter.com/ws7z6uih2u – 7:35 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
These are one of the weirder teams for Herro to operate against
It’s hard to score at the rim, but they also play high in the pick and roll
High pick and roll is the way to go here – 7:35 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Herro thought he was fouled. And let referee know it. And know it. And know it. Technical. – 7:33 PM Toronto Raptors @Raptors
Familiar face in attendance pic.twitter.com/FMquIbOMOE – 7:33 PM Eric Smith @Eric__Smith
Fred VanVleet… with 3 first quarter triples… has passed Kyle Lowry for most three-pointers in one season in Raptors franchise history.
239 & counting
@Toronto Raptors #raptors #rtz #WeTheNorth – 7:33 PM Toronto Raptors @Raptors
my goodness @Fred VanVleet 👀 pic.twitter.com/rPyQvWztnw – 7:33 PM Doug Smith @SmithRaps
I think if the Raptors make 4 of every 6 threes they take, it may allow them to achieve glorious victory – 7:32 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
And now Omer Yurtseven about to enter. – 7:32 PM Payal Doshi @PayalDoshiTV
Kyle Lowry bringing the best out in Freddy.
Just showing the mentor all he’s learned. – 7:31 PM Eric Koreen @ekoreen
With Chris Boucher running at him, Kyle Lowry pump-faked and side stepped him. Off the board in Vegas. – 7:31 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Fred VanVleet with 16 points in the first seven minutes. – 7:31 PM Aaron Rose @AaronBenRose
Fred VanVleet is now your single-season Toronto Raptors three-point king – 7:29 PM Eric Koreen @ekoreen
There’s the franchise record for VanVleet, with his 239th 3 of the season. – 7:29 PM Josh Lewenberg @JLew1050
Most 3-pointers in a single season, Raptors history:
Fred VanVleet: 239 (and counting), 2021-22
Kyle Lowry: 238, 2017-18 – 7:29 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
VanVleet already with 13 first-quarter points. Heat have 12. – 7:29 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
A needed Morris 3 for the Heat. – 7:28 PM Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
Raptors taking an early 7-point lead is quite a tribute to Kyle. – 7:27 PM Michael Grange @michaelgrange
Last week I caught the end of Fred VanVleet’s early shoot-around and he was going hard, working on step backs, smiling and laughing, no worries about his knee. He’s played really well defensively since, but tonight it’s transferring to his offense for the first time. – 7:27 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Tyler Herro again as sixth man. – 7:27 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
The way to attack this Raptors defense will have a lot to do with Miami’s second unit
Gotta stretch the floor out a bit with Herro-Robinson etc
Felt like the spacing would be off with this first unit – 7:25 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
VanVleet 10, Lowry 5.
Heat trailing Raptors 16-9. – 7:24 PM Doug Smith @SmithRaps
Fred’s got 10, Raptors up 16-9 early – 7:23 PM Chris Herring @Herring_NBA
It’s Lowry’s first time back in Toronto, and VanVleet is *active* – 7:22 PM Payal Doshi @PayalDoshiTV
FVV making Lowry work. – 7:21 PM Josh Lewenberg @JLew1050
Fred VanVleet only needed 3 minutes to hit a couple 3s. He ties Kyle Lowry’s franchise record for most 3s in a season with 238. – 7:21 PM Aaron Rose @AaronBenRose
Fred VanVleet has now tied Kyle Lowry for the most three-pointers in a single season for the Raptors – 7:20 PM Doug Smith @SmithRaps
VanVleet ties Lowry’s 3s-in-a-season record – 7:20 PM Eric Koreen @ekoreen
VanVleet has tied Lowry’s franchise record for total 3s in a season. – 7:20 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Markieff Morris with the Heat’s first three shots. – 7:19 PM Tas Melas @TasMelas
Lowry homecoming foul call! – 7:18 PM Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Pascal avoids a Lowry charge attempt. And here we go. – 7:17 PM Josh Lewenberg @JLew1050
Here we go. Lowry vs VanVleet to start. pic.twitter.com/Cm0lKjZErS – 7:17 PM Payal Doshi @PayalDoshiTV
So who shed a tear watching the tribute to Lowry 🙋🏽‍♀️? – 7:15 PM Michael Grange @michaelgrange
That was special. Says everything that Lowry wanted to share moment with his sons. Growing up without a father has shaped him many ways, but one way is his determination to be the best Dad he can be. Boys are getting big now. “They’re great kids,” Kyle always says, with pride. – 7:14 PM Toronto Raptors @Raptors
From Canada to Klow. #WeTheNorth
@Kyle Lowry pic.twitter.com/s0icnqCfUB – 7:14 PM Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
Let’s get this Eastern Conference showdown started pic.twitter.com/pufERDME8U – 7:13 PM Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
But really, you’d expect nothing less from the Raptors. Every level of that team – media relations, coaching staff, front office, so on, so forth – is first class. Hell, even the beat writers are first class. Except @Doug Smith of course. – 7:12 PM Doug Smith @SmithRaps
Really well done.
And Lowry having his sons with him at midcourt was a wonderful touch – 7:11 PM David Morrow @_DavidMorrow
Kyle Lowry playing vs DeRozan last night and in Toronto tonight is all the feels – 7:10 PM Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
Well done, Toronto. Absolutely well done. – 7:10 PM Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Lowry and his sons come to centre court after the video. A rousing ovation. – 7:09 PM Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Lowry video tribute will come right after Miami starting intros. – 7:04 PM Toronto Raptors @Raptors
Great prizes from @TangerineBank are up for grabs in Game Time.
Play while you countdown to tip-off for the chance to WIN!
📲: https://t.co/QwAD1fF392 pic.twitter.com/JIhK0pU6rA – 7:02 PM Toronto Raptors @Raptors
Support the Raptors and your community by purchasing your 50/50 tickets today for a chance to WIN the jackpot!
🎟: https://t.co/0p9bSvOHKT pic.twitter.com/HYJ9spGpAf – 6:59 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
The Spoelstra test results, plus other ancillary testing results for Heat, show that the team that faces Raptors in the playoffs (and even the Raptors themselves) will face unique postseason pressures. Basically, there will be eight opening-round series and only one with testing. – 6:52 PM Miami Heat @MiamiHEAT
A night full of memories and emotions ahead for @Kyle Lowry in Toronto pic.twitter.com/dGenTCThUl – 6:51 PM Michael Grange @michaelgrange
Standing ‘O’ for Lowry as he leads Heat on the floor for warm-ups. – 6:50 PM Eric Koreen @ekoreen
A mostly standing ovation as the HEAT take the court for warmups. – 6:50 P