The Miami Heat would come into their Sunday evening matchup with the Toronto Raptors off of a win on Saturday night over the Chicago Bulls.
Made known earlier in the day, they would be without several key pieces in the matchup, including Dewayne Dedmon, Gabe Vincent, P.J. Tucker, and most importantly, Coach Spoelstra and Jimmy Butler.
P.J. Tucker (knee) also will out tonight for Heat. Erik Spoelstra is out (health and safety protocols). Chris Quinn will coach. So no Butler, Spoelstra, Tucker, Dedmon, Vincent. Caleb Martin is available.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) April 3, 2022
Though it seemed as if it would get the better of the Miami Heat in the first half of the game in Toronto on what was deemed Kyle Lowry Day, his first appearance there since leaving this season, Lowry would get some help from his new teammates in the second half to make his first return matchup a success for him.
Coming out in the third period, the Miami Heat would find themselves down by 10, 55-45. By the end of the third period though and on the back of a huge 14 point quarter from one of their resident snipers, this time Max Strus, they would take a one point lead into the fourth.
Max Strus loads up with 14 second-period points, with Heat taking 79-78 lead into fourth in Toronto.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) April 4, 2022
It was then on the Miami Heat to do what the Miami Heat do.
The Miami Heat made it a great ‘Kyle Lowry Day’ for Kyle Lowry. For the Toronto Raptors team though, it wasn’t that great for them.
That is to outwork, outhustle, be more gritty, and to be tougher than the opposition is.
On this day, they were able to muster up enough to beat the Raptors and the referees too, as they would call some wanky ones coming down the stretch. Along the way to the win, you got some great showings from Tyler Herro, the aforementioned Max Strus, Kyle Lowry, and Bam Adebayo.
That was, sort of, expected in this one though, especially without all of the guys going that didn’t go. However, Victor Oladipo and Markieff Morris also made cases about their standings in the rotation as well.
Keef would finish with 10 points, three rebounds, and four assists on 4-10 from the field and 2-6 from three in 26 minutes. Dipo would shine even brighter, finishing with 21 points, three rebounds, and four assists of his own on 7-11 shooting from the field and 6-9 from deep.
There may some real interesting questions in the coming days. Either way, those are questions you don’t mind answering because they all speak to just how deep this Miami Heat team really is.
As far as Kyle Lowry Day though, it was a resounding success. The Miami Heat beat another team they’ve had trouble with this year, on their home floor, and all without their best player going.
Needless to say, it was a pretty good weekend for the Miami Heat.