(Miami) Jimmy Butler had 24 points as the Miami Heat beat the Toronto Raptors 112-109 on Saturday.
Posted yesterday at 11:00 p.m.
Not starting but at work for 36 minutes, Max Strus supported him with 20 points. The Heat also benefited from 17 points from Kyle Lowry, 14 from Tyler Herro and 10 from Bam Adebayo.
Strus and Lowry each hit three of seven times for three-point shots.
Pascal Siakam and Gary Trent were the Raptors’ most productive, totaling 23 points apiece. Precious Achiuwa (18), OG Anunoby (13) and Scottie Barnes (11) also hit double digits at this level.
Barnes played just 11 minutes with a sprained right ankle.
Fred VanVleet had just seven points (all in the second half), going 1-for-6 on three-pointers. He did, however, contribute with 10 assists and three steals. Note that he was already at five fouls at the start of the third quarter.
Anunoby had a three-point shot approaching his side at 111-108, with 13 seconds left. But after a free throw from Butler, it was too little too late for Toronto.
Otto Porter and Montreal’s Chris Boucher have not recovered from injuries to the back of their left thigh.
Star player in 2018 and 2019, Victor Oladipo was again on the sidelines for the Heat, bored with the left knee.
Toronto will play Miami again on Monday night.
Miami begins the season with four straight home games, a first in team history.