Gameday: Heat vs. Raptors, April 9

No, you’re not having deja vu: the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat will square off once again at Scotiabank Arena Thursday night, after matching up two days ago.

In the last one, the Raptors delivered exactly what they needed to in the biggest game of the year in the middle of a muddied playoff race in the East, riding fantastic performances from Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram to a convincing 121–95 win.

The duo combined for 48 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists, while RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, and Sandro Mamukelashvili all got into double figures as well.

It was a massive win for Toronto, as only two games separate the five-seeded Atlanta Hawks (45-35) and the nine-seeded Charlotte Hornets (43-37) in a jam-packed Eastern Conference.

For the first time in a while, Toronto was virtually at full strength in the last matchup. Immanuel Quickley returned after dealing with plantar fasciitis, while Sandro Mamukelashvili and rookie Collin Murray-Boyles were cleared to play just before tip-off. The only absence was Chucky Hepburn, who continues to recover from meniscus surgery.

The injury report remains the same for Thursday for the Raptors. For Miami, while Nikola Jovic (ankle) remains out, former Raptor Norman Powell (groin) has been added and is questionable for the rematch.

The Heat will look to snap a three-game road slide and get back on track heading into the postseason. The team is 3-7 in their last 10 games, allowing nearly 130 points per game over that stretch (129.3), while shooting 47.1 per cent from the field.

Raptors Outlook

Record: 44-35 | 6th in Eastern Conference
Offensive Rating: 114.6 (15th) | Defensive Rating: 112.0 (5th) | Net Rating: +2.5 (11th)

Top performer:

• Scottie Barnes – 18.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 3.0 stocks, 50.4 field goal percentage.

Quick facts:

• Despite sitting in the bottom 10 in 3-point percentage (35.2), the Raptors boast a top 10 field goal percentage (48.0).
• Toronto turns the ball over the seventh-least amount in the NBA at 13.8 per game.
• The Raptors rank second in the NBA in assists per game (29.5).

Heat Outlook

Record: 41-38 | 10th in Eastern Conference
Offensive Rating: 115.2 (13th) | Defensive Rating: 113.4 (11th) | Net Rating: +1.8 (13th)

Top performer:

• Bam Adebayo – 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.8 stocks, 43.6 field goal percentage.

Quick facts:

• The Heat play at the fastest pace in the NBA (104.37).
• Miami shoots the ninth-most free throw attempts per game (25.2).
• The Heat rank sixth in the NBA in assists per game (28.7).

Game Info

Tip-Off: 7:00 p.m. ET

Television: TSN

Venue: Scotiabank Arena

Starting Lineups (Projected)

Miami Heat

PG: Davion Mitchell

SG: Tyler Herro

SF: Pelle Larsson

PF: Andrew Wiggins

C: Bam Adebayo

Toronto Raptors

PG: Immanuel Quickley

SG: RJ Barrett

SF: Brandon Ingram

PF: Scottie Barnes

C: Jakob Poeltl

Injury Report

Toronto Raptors

Chucky Hepburn (Knee) – Out

Miami Heat

Norman Powell (Groin) – Questionable

Dru Smith (Foot – Questionable

Nikola Jovic (Ankle) – Out

Team	Spread	Money	Total
Toronto Raptors	-3.5 (–110)	-164	O 237.5 (-110)
Miami Heat	+3.5 (-110)	+138	U 237.5 (-110)

Odds as of Apr. 9, 12:00 a.m. ET

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