NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference – Round 2
Tip-off: Saturday, 5:05 p.m. ET
Line: Miami -5.0, Total: 187.5

The Heat will be looking to take a 2-1 series lead when they host the Raptors on Saturday.

Toronto desperately needed a victory in Game 2 of this series and the team was able to pull out a 96-92 victory as a five-point home favorite in that one. This series is now all tied up, but the Heat have the home court advantage after winning Game 1 in Toronto. One thing that the Heat are going to have to start doing is take care of the basketball. Miami is averaging 19.0 turnovers per game through two contests in this series and that is not a formula for winning basketball. The Heat will be hoping to limit their mistakes when these teams meet in Miami in Game 3. One trend that is worth pointing out in this game is that Miami is 21-11 ATS after playing a game as an underdog this season. The Heat are also 15-5 ATS in home games after a loss by six points or less over the past three seasons. PF Chris Bosh (Blood Clot) is out for the year for Miami, but he is the only player that is expected to miss this game for either team.

The Raptors gave away their home court advantage by losing Game 1 at Air Canada Centre and they’ll now head into Miami with a bit of desperation. This team knows it needs to win one in Miami and if that is going to happen then PG Kyle Lowry (13.6 PPG, 7.2 APG, 1.7 SPG in playoffs) and SG DeMar DeRozan (18.6 PPG, 1.7 SPG in playoffs) are going to need to get it together fast. Lowry is shooting just 30.8% from the floor and 15.8% from the outside in the postseason and DeRozan hasn’t been much better, shooting 33.7% from the floor and 16.7% from three himself. This has been one of the best backcourts in the NBA all year, but it has failed to show up when it matters most. Lowry and DeRozan are going to need to get their shots to start falling beginning on Saturday. Another option for Toronto would be to get C Jonas Valanciunas (14.9 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 1.6 BPG in playoffs) more involved. He has been a monster in the playoffs and really was the reason this team won the game on Thursday. Valanciunas had 15 points and 12 boards on 7-for-9 shooting from the floor and has been unstoppable around the basket. The Raptors need to get him the ball more often moving forward.

The Heat are in good position heading back to Miami after splitting victories with the Raptors in Toronto. If they can just take care of business at home then this team will be heading to the Eastern Conference Finals when this series is all over. If that’s going to happen then SG Dwyane Wade (19.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.0 BPG in playoffs) will need to play well the rest of the way. He struggled a bit in Game 2, finishing with just 17 points on 7-for-17 shooting in that one. Miami needs him to be a bit more efficient moving forward. PG Goran Dragic (16.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 4.0 APG in playoffs) did, however, continue to play some fantastic basketball for the Heat. He had 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting in Game 2 and hit the game-tying three to send that one to overtime. If he can continue to outplay Kyle Lowry then the Heat should be able to advance rather easily.