The Toronto Raptors secured a hard-fought 119-116 victory over the Miami Heat on Sunday night, powered by a stellar performance from RJ Barrett. The star forward scored 37 points on an efficient 15-for-20 shooting, including a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. Barrett also knocked down three of his four attempts from beyond the arc, marking his third consecutive 30-point game at home.
Scottie Barnes continued his impressive form, posting 23 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, just missing his seventh career triple-double. The versatile forward was instrumental in setting the tone for Toronto’s offense. Jakob Poeltl provided a strong presence in the paint with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while rookie Ja’Kobe Walter chipped in 12 points off the bench to help the Raptors improve their home record to 5-4.
Tyler Herro led Miami with 31 points, hitting six of his 12 attempts from three-point range. Jimmy Butler added 17 points, and Bam Adebayo recorded a monster double-double with 13 points and 20 rebounds. Despite the effort, Miami couldn’t extend its winning streak to three games. Herro had a chance to tie the game with 29 seconds left but missed a crucial three-pointer.
The turning point came late in the third quarter when Barrett spearheaded a 13-2 Raptors run, turning a 77-75 deficit into an 88-79 lead. Toronto capitalized on Miami’s cold shooting, particularly from Duncan Robinson, who finished with just eight points on 3-for-12 shooting, including 2-for-7 from deep.
The Heat, who had been hot from three-point range in Friday’s win over Toronto, struggled to maintain their accuracy, going 15-for-40 from long distance. This proved costly in a tightly contested matchup.
The Raptors will look to carry their momentum into Tuesday’s NBA Cup game against the Indiana Pacers, while the Heat face a tough challenge on the road against the Boston Celtics on Monday.
This win not only solidifies Toronto’s growing confidence at home but also highlights the team’s balanced scoring and defensive grit as they navigate a competitive Eastern Conference.
