5 notes from the Miami Heat’s Game 4 win over the Toronto Raptors

Dwyane Wade scores 30 points and comes up big late to lift the Miami Heat to a win against the Toronto Raptors and tie the series 2-2.

Up just 89-87 with 22 seconds to go, the Miami Heat have seen crazier things happen in this series with the Toronto Raptors already. Just 22 more solid seconds and the Heat, who battled back to force overtime and avoid losing three-straight games in the series, could tie the series at two games apiece.

That’s when Goran Dragic, off a kick out from Joe Johnson, drove to the rim and laid it up through three defenders. And one. Makes the free throw. Heat up 92-87 but, again, crazier things have happened.

Wade wasn’t gonna let anything happen.

On the inbounds with 17 seconds left, Wade played Cory Joseph in the full court press, swiped the ball from the Toronto point guard and glided to the rim to slam home a two-handed dagger.

Just like that, the Heat had scored five points in five seconds to hammer the nail in the coffin and win yet another close game in this series.

Here are more notes from the game:

1. Dwyane Wade is magnificent

Down 72-67 with 7:41 remaining in regulation, the Raptors were in the midst of a 6-0 run when Wade entered the game. He scored nine points in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to force overtime, something that’s been a common site already in this series.

Both the Heat and Raptors have struggled to make shots, but Wade has put the team on his back time and time again to keep Miami’s offense afloat. He scored 38 points in a Game 3 loss, but this time the team did enough around him–that Dragic layup, Luol Deng pitching in in the final minutes, Joe Johnson initiating and Justise Winslow doing the dirty work–to get the win this time.

Tonight, Wade finished with 30 points and is averaging 27.3 points per game on 49.4 percent shooting this series.

2. Really, really small ball

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has tinkered with super small lineups with Deng at center once in the playoffs, early during the Charlotte Hornets series. Charlotte wiped that unit off the floor and Spoelstra hadn’t gone back to it… until tonight (dun dun dun).

In the absence of Hassan Whiteside (who missed the game with a right MCL sprain), Spoelstra went most of the game with a steady diet of Amar’e Stoudemire, Udonis Haslem and Josh McRoberts at center. When Miami’s offense was stuck in mud, Spoelstra threw in the super small lineup of Deng, Winslow, Johnson/Richardson, Wade and Dragic.

It certainly helped things as Miami pushed the pace, got in motion and passed the ball around more than ever. It opened up lanes for Wade and Dragic, and got Miami’s best five players on the court. allowing Johnson to thrive and facilitate in space and Winslow* to bind things together with his hustle plays (he had many at the end of the game) and top notch defense on Joseph in the half court.

It’s unclear if Whiteside will be available for Game 5 but, either way, this could be something Spoelstra goes back to at some point.

* Winslow didn’t play in Game 3 at all and, based on his performance tonight, I don’t think Spoelstra pulls that move again.

3. Body movin’

The Heat still finished with just 15 assists and were certainly isolation heavy at times, but the ball movement in general was noticeably improved.

The Heat put the ball in McRoberts’ hands early and often, allowing guys to move around him and allow him to facilitate. Deng was active cutting off the ball, as was Winslow. Johnson and Wade were more willing to pass out of the mid-post than to call their own number early in the shot clock.

Miami’s offense was ugly at times–in fact, mostly, it was ugly–but there was an effort to improve things. Hopefully the trend continues and they can build on it as they head to Toronto for Game 5.

4. Starters vs Bench

With Whiteside and Jonas Valancuinas out, both lineups went through dramatic changes. Bismack Biyombo started at center for Toronto, with Stoudemire getting the start for Miami. After that, everything went to s–t.

Both coaches played with different lineups and groupings to try to jig something up that would lead to sustainable offense. Neither coach really found something, despite the small sample of success Miami had going super small.

The interesting this is that Miami’s starters out-scored Toronto’s 75-52, while the Raptors bench out-scored the Heat’s 35-19.

5. That was close

Just how close was this game? Take a look at the box score for both teams:

Toronto: 33-84 FGM, 6-20 3PT, 15-19 FT, 39 REB, 12 AST, 8 STL, 2 BLK, 14 TO

Miami: 36-80 FGM, 1-15 3PT, 21-25 FT, 39 REB, 15 AST, 9 STL, 5 BLK, 12 TO

One of Wade’s final shots, which could have been the dagger, basically sums up how close this game–and this series–has been:

Game 5 is Wednesday in Toronto and will be broadcast on TNT.