Gameday: Heat vs Raptors, February 1

I feel like we've seen this team recently.

I feel like we’ve seen this team recently. If you missed the best game of the season on Saturday (Erik Spolestra agrees), I have you covered here.

The Heat (32-19, 2nd in East) and Raptors (25-23, 8th in East) meet for the second time in four nights, this time north of the border and both teams are playing the second leg of a back to back. Miami is coming off a 30 point blowout loss in Boston on Monday, but Jimmy Butler and P.J. Tucker didn’t play. Kyle Lowry also remains out, with no recent update. Miami is now percentage points behind the Chicago for top spot in the East with their two game slide. This is game two of a six game road trip for the Heat.

You have to wonder if a rest game is around the corner for Pascal Siakam. He’s coming off the best month of his career, helping the Raptors to a 10-6 record in January. Siakam played in all 16 contests, averaging a league-leading 40.4 minutes per game. Of course Fred VanVleet would be second (40), but he did miss two games. Keep all this in mind when you consider the lines below below where there’s tasty stuff from providers including others on Betminded.com.

Siakam was asked after the Hawks game about seeing Miami again so soon.

“It’s a tough stretch. But I think that it’s going to build character and it’s good that we are in these situations. We have to go out there and stay together, win together, go through tough times together. That builds chemistry, having those games against really good teams. So we’re looking forward to it. It’s tough, but I think we’re made for it and we have the team for it,” Siakam said.

Toronto’s bench had only nine of the 124 points in the last matchup as Spolestra’s zone really befuddled reserve lineups, forcing Nurse to play his starters the rest of the game after a small fourth quarter stint. Not sure how that changes for this one. At least there is Gary Trent Jr to help break the zone like he did on Saturday. Trent has made 29 threes in his last five games. Fred VanVleet also has a 17-game streak with at least three made treys.

Player to Watch for

Tyler Herro shot 5-18 in Boston after going 5-22 against the Raptors. That’s 10-40. He also had three chances to give Miami the lead in triple overtime. Herro is arguably having an all-star season off the bench. He’s gotta be due for something better than that.

Game Info

Tip-Off: 7:30pm EST | TV: Sportsnet | Radio: Sportsnet 590

Toronto Raptors Results, Lineups & Injuries

Previous Results

@ Hawks W 106-100
@ Heat W 124-120
@ Bulls L 111-105
vs Hornets W 125-113
vs Trail Blazers L 114-105

Probable Lineup

PF: P. Siakam, C. Boucher, P. Achiuwa
SF: O. Anunoby, J. Champagnie, Y. Watanabe
C: S. Barnes
PG: G. Trent Jr., D. Banton, M. Flynn
SG: F. VanVleet, S. Mykhailiuk

Injuries

Khem Birch, COut moreBirch is expected to be out for 10-14 days after recently undergoing nose surgery, Blake Murphy of The Athletic reports.
Goran Dragic, PGOut moreDragic (personal) remains out for Monday’s game in Miami, Blake Murphy of The Athletic reports.

Miami Heat Results, Lineups & Injuries

Previous Results

@ Celtics L 122-92
vs Raptors L 124-120
vs Clippers W 121-114
vs Knicks W 110-96
vs Lakers W 113-107

Probable Lineup

PF: M. Strus, U. Haslem, C. Silva, P.J. Tucker
SF: C. Martin
C: B. Adebayo, D. Dedmon
PG: G. Vincent, T. Herro
SG: D. Robinson, K. Guy

Injuries

P.J. Tucker, PFOut moreTucker has been ruled out for Monday’s contest against the Celtics due to left knee irritation.
Jimmy Butler, SFOut moreButler (ankle) has been ruled out for Monday’s contest against the Celtics.
Markieff Morris, PFOut moreMorris (conditioning) has been ruled out for Monday’s contest against Boston, Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press reports.
KZ Okpala, SFOut moreOkpala (wrist) has been ruled out for Monday’s game against the Celtics.
Kyle Lowry, PGOut moreLowry (personal) won’t play Monday against the Celtics, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports.
Omer Yurtseven, COut moreYurtseven was placed in the NBA’s health and safety protocols Sunday, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports.
Victor Oladipo, SGOut moreOladipo (knee) is listed as out for Sunday’s game against the Lakers.

Betting Lines

My over/under prediction (10-7 this season): Miami and Toronto combined for 203 points in the first meeting, and 200 before going to overtime on Saturday. Both have been grinders. Taking the under.

miator
+3Spread-3.0
+130Money Line-150
Over/Under
211.5