Raptors lose three-point battle badly, have too many turnovers in loss.
After a rare road win in New Orleans, the Raptors got back in the losing column away from home, largely thanks to a poor third quarter in Miami.
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Leading 61-58 at halftime in a back-and-forth game, Toronto got smothered by an active Miami defence that often went into a zone against the confused visitors and fell 121-111 in a game where two players notched triple-doubles.
Scottie Barnes had 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Raptors, while Bam Adebayo had 14, 10 and 10. Jimmy Butler added 26 for the Heat, RJ Barrett 25, and Jakob Poeltl 24 for the Raptors.
A 19-7 Heat run turned things around and gave Miami a 12-point advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
Turnovers were a huge issue for the Raptors, with Miami turning 19 Toronto miscues into 27 points.
Toronto and Miami games are often ugly affairs, but there was plenty of offence in this one, with the Raptors shooting 53.8% from the field and the Heat hitting 21 three-pointers, making up for that torrid shooting.
Toronto dropped to 5-15, including 1-11 on the road, while Miami improved to 9-9.
Things looked good for the visitors early though, with Miami launching an incredible 17 three-pointers in the first quarter, but only making two of them.
But the Raptors still fell behind by a point despite those numbers. And when the inevitable happened — Miami hitting shots — the pressure was on. Miami buried 5-of-10 three-pointers in the second quarter and trailed by three.
Sophomore Jaime Jacquez took over in the third with eight of his 15 points, while Toronto started the quarter just 1-for-10 from three-point range. The Heat closed the quarter on a 19-7 run to take full control of the game with a 96-84 lead.
Toronto got no closer than within seven the rest of the way.
Barnes notched his sixth triple-double, passing Pascal Siakam for second on the all-time Raptors list behind Kyle Lowry’s 16.
The contest wrapped up a four-game Raptors road trip and was also the kickoff of a home-and-home set with the Heat. Miami is in Toronto for an early tip on Sunday. There’s a chance Raptors wing Bruce Brown could make his season debut in that game after the team had initially hoped he’d play on the trip. With Brown and sophomore Gradey Dick still out, along with starting point guard Immanuel Quickley, rookie Ja’Kobe Walter got his second straight start and scored six points. Toronto was also again without veteran big man and ex-Miami player Kelly Olynyk.