Toronto Raptors savage Miami Heat to make first Eastern Conference finals

Toronto Raptors vs Miami Heat - Game 6 - Full Game Highlights | May 13, 2016 | 2016 NBA Playoffs

Kyle Lowry scored 35 points, DeMar DeRozan had 28 and the Toronto Raptors beat the Miami Heat 116-89 on Sunday in Game 7 to reach the conference finals for the first time in franchise history.

Related: Miami Heat 89-116 Toronto Raptors: NBA Eastern Conference semi-final - as it happened!

Bismack Biyombo added 17 points and 16 rebounds for the Raptors. Theyll open the Eastern Conference Finals in Cleveland against LeBron James and the Cavaliers on Tuesday night. Toronto fans chanted We Want Cleveland!.

DeMarre Carroll scored 14 points, and Patrick Patterson had 11 to help the Raptors become the 15th team in NBA history to win two Game 7s in one postseason. Toronto beat Indiana in the first round.

Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic each scored 16 points for the Heat. They were denied the opportunity to renew acquaintances with former team-mate James in the conference finals.

Miami hadnt lost a Game 7 since the first round at Atlanta in 2009. They won their past four Game 7s, all at home. Miami were seeking to join the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics as the only teams to win five straight Game 7s.

Joe Johnson and Justise Winslow scored 13, and Luol Deng had 12 for the Heat. Miami, which rallied to beat Charlotte in the first round, fell short in their bid to become the first team to erase 3-2 deficits in consecutive series. The Raptors improved to 3-6 when they had a chance to eliminate their opponent, and won for the first time in 14 tries in a playoff game that started before 4pm.

Toronto lost Game 7 of the conference semi-finals to Philadelphia in 2001 when Vince Carters buzzer beater rimmed out. Charlotte, the Los Angeles Clippers, and New Orleans are the only three NBA teams to never reach a conference final.

Leading 86-78 to begin the fourth, Toronto stretched the lead to 16 on a dunk by Biyombo and back-to-back three-pointers by Carroll and Terrence Ross, making it 96-80 at 9:41.

Patterson made a layup and, following Lowrys steal on Dragic, added a pair of free throws that gave the Raptorsa102-82 lead at 7:30, all but sealing Miamis fate. The Raptors didnt let up, and a three by Lowry at 3:23 made it 111-86.

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNEb_IrEUqGHIAR2U7g5fhjn7qXwqg&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52779107921243&ei=nxQ6V-DKMILd3AGqgqC4Dw&url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/may/15/toronto-raptors-miami-heat-nba-playoffs-game-seven

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NBA Playoffs 2016: What time, TV, channel is Miami Heat vs. Toronto Raptors, Game 7? (5/15/16)

Miami Heat Fan Curses on Live TV | Heat vs Raptors - Game 7 Preview | May 14, 2016 | NBA Playoffs

The Miami Heat and the Toronto Raptors meet in a winner-take-all Game 7 in their NBA Eastern Conference semifinal serieson Sunday, May 15, 2016.

The winner advances to meet the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.

Here"s what you need to know:

Who: Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors

What: Game 7, Eastern Conference semifinals

When: Sunday, May 15, 2016

Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto

Tipoff: 3:30 p.m. Eastern

TV: ABC

Livestream:WatchESPN

Line: Raptors -4.5

History is going to happen.

Either Toronto or Miami will become the 15th NBA team to win two Game 7s in the same postseason. TheRaptorscould go to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time. The Heat have a shot at being the first team ever to erase 3-2 deficits in consecutive playoff series.

And if that wasn"t enough, LeBron James awaits the winner in the East finals.

The stage is set, the stakes are super-high. The final second-round game of this year"s playoffs is Sunday afternoon in Toronto, where theRaptorsand Heat will play Game 7 and finally decide their back-and-forth, black-and-blue series. The winner will join Golden State, Oklahoma City and Cleveland as the four teams left standing in the chase for the NBA championship.

"This is why we"re in this business, to be pushed and tested and challenged," Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said Saturday. "There"s no greater challenge than a Game 7."

The Heat fended off elimination Friday, going with a super-small lineup and beating theRaptors103-91 in Miami to force a winner-take-all game. Miami won a Game 7 in the first round, topping Charlotte at home. Toronto also successfully defended home-court in a first-round Game 7, and this series has gone just as that one against Indiana did Raptorslose at home, win at home, win on the road, lose on the road, win at home, lose on the road.

They hope history repeats itself one more time Sunday.

"Game 7 in the first round was a little more tight,"Raptorsguard Kyle Lowry said. "This one Sunday will be "Just go out there and hoop.""

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Source: http://www.nj.com/knicks/index.ssf/2016/05/nba_playoffs_2016_what_time_tv_channel_is_miami_he_1.html

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Miami Heat Point Guard Goran Dragic Fined And Given Technical Foul After Actions During Game 4 Of Eastern ...

Miami Heat vs Toronto Raptors - Game 5 - Full Game Highlights | May 11, 2016 | 2016 NBA Playoffs

Miami Heat point guard Goran Dragic has been fined $2,000and assessed a technical foul after getting tangled up and swingingat Toronto RaptorsCory Joseph. He did not connect with the punch and nothing was done during thegame.

MIAs G. Dragic assessed Technical Foul upon league office review (2:17, 4th qtr) from game on May9.

NBA Official (@NBAOfficial) May 11, 2016The Miami Heat won the game 94-87 and tied the series at two games each againstthe Toronto Raptors. They will play Game 5 tonight in Toronto.

Source: http://thesportsquotient.com/nba/2016/5/11/miami-heat-point-guard-goran-dragic-fined-and-given-technical

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Chris Bosh"s rift with the Miami Heat is getting worse

Miami Heat vs Charlotte Hornets - Game 4 - Full Highlights | April 25, 2016 | NBA Playoffs

After dropping a pivotal Game 5 at home on Wednesday night, the Miami Heat face elimination the next time they take the court. And, just like every game they"ve played since the All-Star break, Chris Bosh won"t be around to help.

But why? Boshinsists he"s healthy enough to play and even traveled on the team"s charter flight back from Charlotte on Monday -- something he hadn"t done since February. The Heat won"t budge, though. They continue to put his health above everything else, and, unfortunately, the disagreement has created an apparent rift between both sides that"s getting messier by the day (via Miami Herald):

The difference of opinion between Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat regarding his treatment and potential return from blood clots, which has been playing out behind the scenes, has finally gone public...For months now, both the Heat and Bosh have maintained a code of silence publicly. The Heat has been the more cautious party, making it known behind the scenes that just because an outside doctor clears the 11-time All-Star, it doesnt mean the team will be comfortable letting him play.

Bosh and his wife have taken to social media to let their followers know he"s ready and willing to get back on the floor:

A couple main issues are at play. First, is Bosh actually healthy? The team"s stance is clear and their intentions are in the right place. Bosh"s physical well being is the priority over how they conclude the 2015-16 season, as it most definitely should be, 10 times out of 10.

Beyond that, there"s a real question of whether adding Bosh to the lineup would actually make them a better team at this stage in the year. He hasn"t played NBA minutes in two months, and in that time Miami found success adopting a speedy brand of small ball that"s helped open up the offense.

Spoelstra trying to steal a couple of minutes w/ McRoberts against Zeller. Would be a good time for Chris Bosh to rip off suit. (Kidding...)

Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick)April 28, 2016

Throw a rusty Bosh in at the four, even if it"s for 15 minutes off the bench, and all of a sudden the identity that carried them to a three seed gets thrown off track. It"s a tricky situation for both sides, but the Heat have no incentive to keep Bosh out if he"s truly healthy enough to play. So, maybe everyone should calm down, take a deep breath and come back even stronger next year.

Source: http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/miami-heat-chris-bosh-injury-blood-clots-playoffs-return-042816

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Photo gallery: Miami Heat fishing excursion with Overtown Youth Center | Wed ...

December 25, 2015 - @jc_heat305 - Game 28 Miami Heat Vs Pelicans - Win OT (17-11)(Heat Highlights)

Miami Heat player Gerald Green teaches his son Geremiah Green, 4, how to fish at Bill Baggs Park on Key Biscayne. Green and Alonzo Mourning joined for an afternoon of fishing with 10 children from the Overtown Youth Center. Green gifted these children with brand new fishing rods and Heat goodies for the holidays on Wednesday, December 23, 2015AL DIAZadiaz@miamiherald.com

Ahmed Ali, 12, checks out his new fishing rod he received during the holiday event at Bill Baggs Park on Key Biscayne. Alonzo Mourning joined Miami Heat player Gerald Green for an afternoon of fishing with 10 children from the Overtown Youth Center. Green gifted these children with brand new fishing rods and Heat goodies for the holidays on Wednesday, December 23, 2015AL DIAZadiaz@miamiherald.com

Alonzo Mourning helps Taderrius Davis, 13, bait a hook while fishing at Bill Baggs Park on Key Biscayne. Mourning joined Miami Heat player Gerald Green for an afternoon of fishing with 10 children from the Overtown Youth Center. Green gifted these children with brand new fishing rods and Heat goodies for the holidays on Wednesday, December 23, 2015AL DIAZadiaz@miamiherald.com

Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article51441395.html

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