Game Thread: Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat

It brings me no joy to inform you that the Raptors are playing the Miami Heat again tonight.

Dating back as many years as I can remember, these two teams have been set on playing some downright ugly basketball when matched up. On Wednesday, that history repeated itself — the Raptors were never able to get their offence dialled in to where they needed it to be, as the shorthanded Heat were able to come away with a nine-point win.

Fast forward a couple days and the Florida teams will meet again, but the two casts have changed. Toronto will be without Kyle Lowry, who was questionable coming in with a toe infection. Nick Nurse confirmed the news in pre-game availability and said he was hopeful that his point guard would be able to return to the lineup on Sunday against Indiana.

With Powell in the starting unit, Nurse is also bumping Malachi Flynn higher in the pecking order tonight. Expect him to play some backup point guard minutes in the second and fourth quarters as Toronto goes to their transition lineups.

In better news for the 5-9 Raptors, Pascal Siakam will play through some groin soreness after tweaking an injury in the first half Wednesday. He was questionable coming in, but was deemed good to go hours before the game.

On Miami’s side, they’re no better off than they were on Wednesday. Jimmy Butler, Meyers Leonard and Avery Bradley are still out, with Tyler Herro joining them due to neck soreness.

They also have Goran Dragic and Gabe Vincent playing through injury. All the missing bodies didn’t seem to matter in the first game of this series, though, and the Raptors will have to tune up their execution if they’re going to come away with a win tonight.

For a better preview than this, check out Daniel Reynolds’ work from this morning. Here are the game details.

Where to Watch

TSN, 7:30 PM ET

Lineups

Toronto — Fred VanVleet, Norman Powell, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Aron Baynes

Miami — Gabe Vincent, Goran Dragic, Duncan Robinson, Bam Adebayo, Kelly Olynyk

Injuries

Toronto — Kyle Lowry (out - foot), Patrick McCaw (out - knee)

Miami — Jimmy Butler (out - health and safety), Avery Bradley (out), Tyler Herro (out - neck soreness), Meyers Leonard (out - shoulder),