RJ Barrett (37 points), Raptors fend off Heat

Field Level Media|published: Sun 1st December, 20:52 2024

Dec 1, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Miami Heat forward Duncan Robinson (55) drives to the basket as Toronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett (9) defends in the first half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

RJ Barrett scored 37 points and the Toronto Raptors held on to defeat the visiting Miami Heat 119-116 on Sunday night.

The Raptors led by as many as 14 points in the fourth quarter but had to stave off Miami's late charge.

Scottie Barnes added 23 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for the Raptors, who gained a split in back-to-back games with the Heat after losing in Miami on Friday. Jakob Poeltl had 17 points and 11 rebounds. Ja'Kobe Walter scored 12 points.

Tyler Herro scored 31 points for the Heat. Bam Adebayo put up 13 points and a season-best 20 rebounds. Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier each added 17 points.

Davion Mitchell's 3-pointer gave the Raptors a 12-point lead with 8:19 remaining in the fourth quarter. Barrett's layup stretched the advantage to 105-91 with 7:48 left. Herro answered with six straight points.

Toronto led by 12 on Barrett's layup with 4:03 to play. The Heat responded with a 11-2 run, the first five points coming from Rozier, and Butler's layup and free throw cut the lead to 113-110 with 1:27 to play.

Barnes and Herro exchanged 3-pointers on the following possessions. After Toronto committed a shot-clock violation, Herro missed a 3-pointer with 29 seconds left, and the Raptors finished the game at the free-throw line.

Toronto led by as many as 12 after a 13-1 run and had a 34-24 lead after one quarter.

Rozier scored six consecutive points to tie the game at 40 with 8:53 to play in the second quarter. Rozier hit a 3-pointer to give Miami a one-point lead with 8:09 to play. After the Heat extended the lead to six, the Raptors answered with a 14-2 run and took a 65-60 edge into halftime.

Miami recaptured the lead with a 12-4 surge to open the third quarter. Toronto soon used a 13-2 run to lead by nine with 3:36 remaining in the third. Chris Boucher's layup increased the margin to 10 with 2:12 to go, and Toronto led 98-87 after three quarters.

Toronto was without Bruce Brown (knee), Gradey Dick (calf), Kelly Olynyk (back) and Immanuel Quickley (elbow).

Miami was without Kel'el Ware (foot), Nikola Jovic (ankle) and Josh Richardson (head).

--Field Level Media

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