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Game Thread: Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat

It’s a holiday Monday in August and it’s the middle of the afternoon. What better thing to do than watch basketball, right?

By John Gaudes
Toronto Raptors v Miami Heat Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

When I got in my car to go to the gym this morning, the temperature was a beautiful 17 degrees, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and the streets were empty with everyone at the lake. It’s the beginning of August, and we’re not supposed to have sports to fall back on (except for grinding baseball games). Knowing I was coming home to write about a basketball game was really weird.

Still, weirdness aside, the Toronto Raptors forge on with their scrimmage season. The Raps are coming off a statement win over the Lakers in their opener on Saturday — today, they’ll face the Miami Heat in a mega early 1:30 start. Miami is coming off a rout of the Denver Nuggets in the early start on Saturday, a 125-105 win that showed again that they’ll be no slouch heading into the post-season (and that they can handle a nooner quite nicely).

Today, despite some chatter after he missed practice on Sunday, Heat guard Jimmy Butler is expected to play. He was not on the required injury report from yesterday, so it could’ve just been some weekend maintenance amidst a tight schedule.

Miami’s other blossoming superstar, Bam Adebayo, will also play after being a game-time decision. He’s listed as probable with quadriceps tightness. Butler and Adebayo combined for 44 points in the Heat’s seeding opener, and are focus points for a Toronto defence that played excellently against the Lakers.

For the Raptors, the injury report stays consistent with both Oshae Brissett and Patrick McCaw out with separate knee injuries. Beyond that, it should be an exciting matchup — and with the Heat just two games behind the Celtics for third — one that could come up again in the playoffs.

Here’s the game info. Let’s watch.

Where to Watch

Sportsnet One, 1:30 PM ET

Lineups

Toronto — Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol

Miami — Kendrick Nunn, Duncan Robinson, Jimmy Butler, Jae Crowder, Bam Adebayo

Injuries

Toronto — Patrick McCaw (knee - out)

Miami — Goran Dragic (back - probable), Bam Adebayo (quadriceps - probable)

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