Behind a dominant performance from Bam Adebayo, the Miami Heat defeated the Toronto Raptors 114-104 on Thursday night, securing their fourth consecutive victory. Adebayo led the charge with a double-double, tallying 21 points, 16 rebounds, and five assists, while Tyler Herro paced Miami with a game-high 23 points.
The Heat’s balanced scoring attack featured contributions from Nikola Jovic, who added 14 points, and Jimmy Butler and Dru Smith, who chipped in 11 apiece. Miami capitalized on its long-range shooting, converting 13 of 32 attempts from beyond the arc, including a 4-of-7 performance from Herro.
The Raptors jumped out to an early lead, going up by 16 points three minutes into the second quarter. However, Miami responded with a commanding 33-10 run to close the first half, flipping the momentum. Nikola Jovic was instrumental in the surge, scoring 11 points and knocking down two 3-pointers during the stretch.
For the Raptors, rookie Gradey Dick had a breakout game with a career-high 22 points, while Jakob Poeltl contributed 16. Team scoring leader RJ Barrett notched a triple-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, but struggled with his shooting, going just 5-of-18 from the field.
Toronto, now 1-12 on the road this season, began its second extended stretch without Scottie Barnes, who sprained his right ankle earlier this week. Barnes has already missed 11 games this season due to an orbital fracture, and his absence continues to hinder the Raptors’ consistency.
The Heat outrebounded the Raptors 52-42, continuing a trend of dominance on the glass during their homestand, Three-Point Efficiency: Miami’s 13 three-pointers were crucial in overcoming their early deficit. Raptors’ Road Woes: Toronto’s road struggles were evident once again, with their defense faltering during Miami’s second-quarter surge.
Both teams return to action on Monday night. The Raptors will host the Chicago Bulls, hoping to improve their fortunes at home, while the Heat travel to Detroit to face the Pistons, seeking their fifth straight victory.
This win highlights Miami’s growing cohesion as they maintain their momentum, while Toronto continues to search for answers amid injuries and inconsistency.
