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Larry Ness
Jan 17 '22, 7:40 PM in 3h
NBA | Raptors vs Heat
Play on: Heat -3 -106 at pinnacle
My free play is on the Mia Heat at 7:40 ET.
The Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors made a major trade in August, with the Heat getting veteran PG Kyle Lowry, while the Raptors got veteran PG Goran Dragic and young forward Precious Achiuwa in the trade. Lowry is averaging (13,4 & 8.3 APG) for Miami, while Dragic is out due to personal reasons and has played just FIVE games for Toronto. However, Achiuwa is starting for Toronto, averaging 7.9 & 7.6.
Unlike in the West where hte 33-9 Suns (.786) and the 31-12 Warriors (.721) are playing better than .700 basketball, the 27-14 Bulls lead the East (.649) and the top-six seeds are separated by a mere 2.5 games. The Heat are 27-16 (No. 3 seed and just ONE game back of the Bulls), while 21-19 Raptors are currently among the 7-10 seeds that would be headed to the "Play-In" round. Note that Toronto is currently three games back of the No. 6 seed (last guaranteed playoff spot) but also just ONE game ahead of the 11th seed, the last team left out of the play-in tourney.
The Raptors enter this contest with SEVEN wins in its last nine games. The team's top-three scorers have led the way. PG Fred VanVleet (21.9-4.9-6.7), PF Pascal Siakam (21.1-8.5-4.8) and SF Anunoby (19.4 & 5.1), who is having a career season). Toronto beat the Milwaukee Bucks 103-96 Saturday night, as Siakam posted 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his second-career triple-double. The Raptors won without Trent (16.4) and rookie Barnes (14.5 & 7.9) not playing. Bothe are listed as questionable for Monday night, Trent with an ankle issue and Barnes with a knee issue).
Lowry will miss tonight (personal reasons) but the really good news is that center Bam Adebayo (18.7 & 10.2), who has played just 18 games (hasn't played since Nov 29) is expected back for this contest. SF Butler (22.6-5.7-5.7) and guard Herro (20.6-4.9-4.1 are both topping 20 points. Consistent contributors all season have been guard Robinson (11.5) and PF Tucker (8.5 & 5.7).
Miami comes in after having its four-game win streak snapped on Saturday night in a 109-98 home loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.mJimmy Butler shot just 1 for 11, Lowry made 2 of 11 and Duncan Robinson was 1 of 9, while missing all EIGHT of his three-point attempts. Any chance the Heat can possibly shoot that poorly again? This is the first meeting of the season between the two teams and note Miami is 18-8 against the Eastern Conference and 13-5 at home. Meanwhile, Toronto is just 13-12 vs the East and 9-8 on the road. I'm backing the heat.
Good luck...Larry
Jan 17 '22, 7:40 PM in 3h
NBA | Raptors vs Heat
Play on: Heat -3 -106 at pinnacle
My free play is on the Mia Heat at 7:40 ET.
The Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors made a major trade in August, with the Heat getting veteran PG Kyle Lowry, while the Raptors got veteran PG Goran Dragic and young forward Precious Achiuwa in the trade. Lowry is averaging (13,4 & 8.3 APG) for Miami, while Dragic is out due to personal reasons and has played just FIVE games for Toronto. However, Achiuwa is starting for Toronto, averaging 7.9 & 7.6.
Unlike in the West where hte 33-9 Suns (.786) and the 31-12 Warriors (.721) are playing better than .700 basketball, the 27-14 Bulls lead the East (.649) and the top-six seeds are separated by a mere 2.5 games. The Heat are 27-16 (No. 3 seed and just ONE game back of the Bulls), while 21-19 Raptors are currently among the 7-10 seeds that would be headed to the "Play-In" round. Note that Toronto is currently three games back of the No. 6 seed (last guaranteed playoff spot) but also just ONE game ahead of the 11th seed, the last team left out of the play-in tourney.
The Raptors enter this contest with SEVEN wins in its last nine games. The team's top-three scorers have led the way. PG Fred VanVleet (21.9-4.9-6.7), PF Pascal Siakam (21.1-8.5-4.8) and SF Anunoby (19.4 & 5.1), who is having a career season). Toronto beat the Milwaukee Bucks 103-96 Saturday night, as Siakam posted 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his second-career triple-double. The Raptors won without Trent (16.4) and rookie Barnes (14.5 & 7.9) not playing. Bothe are listed as questionable for Monday night, Trent with an ankle issue and Barnes with a knee issue).
Lowry will miss tonight (personal reasons) but the really good news is that center Bam Adebayo (18.7 & 10.2), who has played just 18 games (hasn't played since Nov 29) is expected back for this contest. SF Butler (22.6-5.7-5.7) and guard Herro (20.6-4.9-4.1 are both topping 20 points. Consistent contributors all season have been guard Robinson (11.5) and PF Tucker (8.5 & 5.7).
Miami comes in after having its four-game win streak snapped on Saturday night in a 109-98 home loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.mJimmy Butler shot just 1 for 11, Lowry made 2 of 11 and Duncan Robinson was 1 of 9, while missing all EIGHT of his three-point attempts. Any chance the Heat can possibly shoot that poorly again? This is the first meeting of the season between the two teams and note Miami is 18-8 against the Eastern Conference and 13-5 at home. Meanwhile, Toronto is just 13-12 vs the East and 9-8 on the road. I'm backing the heat.
Good luck...Larry
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