NBA 2018-19: 3 Takeaways from Toronto Raptors' 125-115 win over Miami Heat
The Toronto Raptors, on Sunday night, won for the 17th time this season. This time it was the Miami Heat who were brushed aside by the Raptors 125-115. One Miami Heat player namely Dwayne Wade, who is in the twilight of his career, didn’t make the Raptors victory easy but he didn’t have much help.
The Raptors, on the other hand, are a deep team consistently playing at least ten men a night. Everyone on the Raptors side received at least 13 minutes and Kawhi Leonard played the most at 36 minutes. Leonard also had a double-double at 29 points and 10 rebounds while Pascal Siakam contributed 21 points and 6 rebounds.
In all, the Raptors had seven players, with double-digit scoring, and also got a double-double from center Jonas Valanciunas at 17 points and 10 rebounds. In 24 minutes Valanciunas frustrated Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside who recorded just 2 points.
Dwayne Wade, the three-time NBA champion and soon to be retired future hall of fame inductee, came up with a classic 'Flash' game. With 35 points in 34 minutes. He literally scored more than a point per every minute he was on the floor. However, the loss leaves Miami at 7-12 in the season.
The key takeaways from this contest are.
#1 Miami Heat starters didn't show up
As mentioned already, center Hassan Whiteside scored two points in just 12 minutes. He was not the only under performing Heat starter. The other four combined for 42 points and the whole starting unit only shot 31.9%. In stark contrast, mostly thanks to Dwayne Wade’s 35 points, Miami’s second unit showed up and produced 77 points.
For Miami to turn around their substandard start to the season, the starters will need to show up every game and produce. What may be hurting Miami is the fact that usual starter Goran Dragic is currently out of the line up and starting shooting guard Dion Waiters has not played yet due to ankle surgery from earlier this year.