5 notes from the Miami Heat’s Game 5 loss to the Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors take a 3-2 lead over the Miami Heat with the series going back to South Florida for Game 6.

The Miami Heat rallied back from down 20 to make it a one-point game with just seconds remaining, but a pair of clutch buckets from Kyle Lowry gave the Toronto Raptors the Game 5 win and a 3-2 lead in the series.

Here are some notes from the game:

1. Lowry and DeRozan got going… finally

It was only a matter of time before Toronto’s All-Star backcourt got it going, right? Lowry and DeMar DeRozan combined for the team’s first nine points and maintained its re-found potency for the rest of the game. Lowry finished with 25 points and DeRozan finished with 34 and were a combined 20-of-47 shooting. Yep, the Raptors backcourt is back and outscored the Heat’s tandem of Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic, who finished with just 26 combined points. That was the biggest difference in the game.

2. The injuries pile up

With Hassan Whiteside and Jonas Valanciunas already out, both the Heat and Raptors lost a forward tonight. Miami’s Luol Deng and Toronto’s DeMarre Carroll left the game in the second half and did not return. While initial reports of x-rays were inconclusive, I’m sure we’ll be getting updates on their respective status tomorrow.

3. Super-small ball

It’s been five games now and the Heat have yet to figure anything out on offense. The ball movement was once again bad, with Miami finishing with just 12 assists, but it did sort of get better as the game went on.

Sort of.

Why? Well, Miami went to its super-small, sans big man lineup early and often, with Deng and then Winslow (after Deng got hurt) at center.

It was ugly at first, with bodies and limps all over the place and not in a particularly helpful way… not unlike a children’s soccer game.

Eventually, with more time together, it looked like they found a rhythm and even held their own on the defensive end and on the boards against the Raptors, who kept Bismack Biyombo in against Miami’s all-wing group.

4. When, Whiteside?

Just like the question of when Toronto’s backcourt would get going, the Hassan Whiteside question still lingers for the Heat. If he returns to the team by Friday’s Game 6, he could dramatically shift this series.

Without the threat of Valanciunas in the post, Whiteside can focus more on the offensive end and becoming a source of easy baskets in the pick-and-roll. Biyombo has been strong for the Raptors, but Whiteside can be dominant.

5. Half full

The Heat are down 3-2 now, and must win the next two games to win this series. That’s a tough spot to be in, especially with Game 7 on the road in Toronto. Remember, however, that Miami was also down 3-2 to the Hornets in Round 1 and closed out the series to move on. Also remember that the Heat have already beaten the Raptors in Toronto, and this game was there for the taking as well. This series, for however ugly and inconsistent it has been, is not over.