Heat’s 41-point first quarter sets tone in 129-105 win over Raptors

The first punch landed early and hard

Toronto scored the game’s first basket on RJ Barrett’s running layup, and briefly led again at 4-3 after Jakob Poeltl finished inside. That was as good as it got for the Raptors in the opening minutes. Miami answered with a sharp burst of shot-making and playmaking, moving in front on Bam Adebayo’s free throws and then stretching the floor with Andrew Wiggins threes at 10:54 and 8:54. Giannis Antetokounmpo added a layup, a three-point play and a mid-range jumper, while Adebayo and Davion Mitchell each connected from deep as the Heat opened a 20-12 lead by the 5:49 mark of the first quarter.

The separation only grew from there. Pelle Larsson attacked for a layup, Tim Hardaway Jr. scored from mid-range and then from 27 feet, and Nikola Jovic chipped in from the line before drilling a three with 1:07 left in the period. Bobby Portis hit from 28 feet with 37 seconds remaining, and Larsson closed the quarter with a layup plus the free throw at 7.4 seconds. By the break in the action, Miami had 41 points and a 41-23 lead.

That first-quarter number defined the night. Toronto did not disappear offensively after that, but it was forced to chase a margin that had already reached 18 points. Miami’s early balance mattered as much as the total: the scoring came from Antetokounmpo, Wiggins, Adebayo, Hardaway, Jovic, Portis and Larsson, and the ball kept moving from one side of the floor to the other.

Every Raptors push met a Heat answer

Toronto’s best work before halftime came when it trimmed the deficit in stages rather than in one rush. Barrett opened the second quarter with two free throws, Scottie Barnes scored twice, and Barrett’s 24-foot jumper with 9:34 left cut the score to 44-32. Miami answered immediately. Antetokounmpo completed another three-point play at 9:25, and Wiggins buried another three 31 seconds later for a 50-32 lead. The Raptors later got within 57-45 on Chucky Hepburn’s three and to 62-51 on Immanuel Quickley’s three, but the Heat finished the half with the cleaner closing run. Larsson kept producing at the line, Jovic scored at the rim, Hardaway hit again from long range, and Simone Fontecchio added a late layup as Miami took a 76-55 lead into halftime.

The third quarter offered Toronto its clearest route back into the game. Jamal Shead and Barrett scored from the line, Poeltl finished inside, and Ja’Kobe Walter’s three helped cut the deficit to 80-69 with 6:20 left in the quarter. That was the closest Toronto had been since the second minute of the first. Miami stayed calm from there. Jovic made both free throws at 5:35, Bez Mbeng scored inside, Tre Donaldson hit from the line and later from mid-range, Ian Schieffelin finished at the rim, and J’Vonne Hadley dunked to keep the Heat comfortably in front. The quarter ended with Miami up 95-80.

Any hope of a tense finish faded in the first 72 seconds of the fourth. Schieffelin made two free throws, then knocked down a three from 24 feet, and Mbeng followed with another basket for a 102-80 lead. Toronto still found perimeter scoring from Tyreke Key, Jaden Bradley and Hepburn, but each answer was met by another Miami basket. Vladislav Goldin scored twice in close, Myron Gardner hit a 30-foot three, and Mbeng added a late three of his own. The Heat’s largest lead reached 24, which matched the final margin.

Our take: Miami’s depth travelled; Toronto’s misses and fouls did not

Miami’s night was not perfect, and the turnover total makes that plain. The Heat gave the ball away 25 times, a number that will bother any staff even after a 24-point win. But nearly everything else worked well enough to cover it. Miami shot 48.8 per cent from the field, made 14 threes, went 31-for-36 at the foul line and collected 55 rebounds. The scoring spread was especially notable. Hardaway finished with 14 points without a miss, going 4-for-4 from the field, 3-for-3 from deep and 3-for-3 at the line. Larsson added 13 points and hit all seven of his free throws. Wiggins scored 12 and made four threes, while Jovic filled the stat sheet with 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Mbeng and Schieffelin also scored 11 apiece, and Antetokounmpo had nine points and seven assists in 14 minutes.

Toronto’s numbers tell a more frustrating story because some of the ingredients were useful. The Raptors grabbed 13 offensive rebounds, scored 50 points in the paint and came up with 17 steals. Barrett and Key led them with 15 points each, Barnes and Hepburn added 11 each, and Poeltl was efficient with nine points on 3-for-3 shooting. Shead handed out eight assists. Yet the possession-creating work never became enough reliable offence. Toronto shot 39.4 per cent overall, went 12-for-41 from three-point range and left 11 points at the line by shooting 19-for-30 on free throws.

If there is a simple divide between the teams, it sits there. Miami still won comfortably despite the turnovers because it finished plays far better and took advantage of its trips to the stripe. Toronto, meanwhile, gave itself a chance to be more competitive through extra effort plays, but the missed jumpers, missed free throws and 30 personal fouls kept restoring Miami’s cushion. For the Heat, cleaning up the ball security is the obvious next step. For the Raptors, a tighter game likely starts with sharper shooting and fewer free points handed away at the line.

Scoring moments

1. 1st Quarter · 11:29

   RJ Barrett makes running layup

2. 1st Quarter · 10:54

   Andrew Wiggins makes 26-foot three point jumper (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists)

3. 1st Quarter · 10:30

   Jakob Poeltl makes 1-foot layup (Scottie Barnes assists)

4. 1st Quarter · 10:16

   Bam Adebayo makes free throw 1 of 2

5. 1st Quarter · 10:16

   Bam Adebayo makes free throw 2 of 2

6. 1st Quarter · 9:15

   Giannis Antetokounmpo makes layup (Davion Mitchell assists)

7. 1st Quarter · 9:15

   Giannis Antetokounmpo makes free throw 1 of 1

8. 1st Quarter · 8:54

   Andrew Wiggins makes 23-foot three point jumper (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists)

9. 1st Quarter · 8:32

   RJ Barrett makes free throw 1 of 2

10. 1st Quarter · 8:32

    RJ Barrett makes free throw 2 of 2

11. 1st Quarter · 7:51

    RJ Barrett makes free throw 1 of 2

12. 1st Quarter · 7:51

    RJ Barrett makes free throw 2 of 2

13. 1st Quarter · 7:39

    Giannis Antetokounmpo makes 14-foot fade away jump shot (Davion Mitchell assists)

14. 1st Quarter · 7:25

    Jakob Poeltl makes 4-foot hook shot (Jamal Shead assists)

15. 1st Quarter · 7:16

    Bam Adebayo makes 26-foot three point jumper (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists)

16. 1st Quarter · 6:56

    Collin Murray-Boyles makes driving layup (Jakob Poeltl assists)

17. 1st Quarter · 6:15

    Bam Adebayo makes free throw 2 of 2

18. 1st Quarter · 5:49

    Davion Mitchell makes 23-foot three point step back jumpshot (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists)

19. 1st Quarter · 5:22

    Collin Murray-Boyles makes running layup (Nimari Burnett assists)

20. 1st Quarter · 5:10

    Pelle Larsson makes driving layup (Bobby Portis assists)

21. 1st Quarter · 4:41

    Tim Hardaway Jr. makes 18-foot pullup jump shot

22. 1st Quarter · 3:52

    Nikola Jovic makes free throw 1 of 2

23. 1st Quarter · 3:52

    Nikola Jovic makes free throw 2 of 2

24. 1st Quarter · 3:30

    Tim Hardaway Jr. makes 27-foot running jump shot (Nikola Jovic assists)

25. 1st Quarter · 3:09

    Scottie Barnes makes running layup (Nimari Burnett assists)

26. 1st Quarter · 2:48

    Scottie Barnes makes running layup

27. 1st Quarter · 2:14

    Tim Hardaway Jr. makes free throw 1 of 3

28. 1st Quarter · 2:14

    Tim Hardaway Jr. makes free throw 2 of 3

29. 1st Quarter · 2:14

    Tim Hardaway Jr. makes free throw 3 of 3

30. 1st Quarter · 1:25

    Nimari Burnett makes 23-foot three point jumper (Chucky Hepburn assists)

31. 1st Quarter · 1:07

    Nikola Jovic makes 22-foot three point jumper (Pelle Larsson assists)

32. 1st Quarter · 46.4

    Scottie Barnes makes 1-foot driving dunk (Nimari Burnett assists)

33. 1st Quarter · 37.0

    Bobby Portis makes 28-foot three point jumper (Pelle Larsson assists)

34. 1st Quarter · 7.4

    Pelle Larsson makes driving layup

35. 1st Quarter · 7.4

    Pelle Larsson makes free throw 1 of 1

36. 2nd Quarter · 11:45

    RJ Barrett makes free throw 1 of 2

37. 2nd Quarter · 11:45

    RJ Barrett makes free throw 2 of 2

38. 2nd Quarter · 10:52

    Scottie Barnes makes running layup

39. 2nd Quarter · 10:43

    Bam Adebayo makes free throw 1 of 2

40. 2nd Quarter · 10:43

    Bam Adebayo makes free throw 2 of 2

41. 2nd Quarter · 10:07

    Scottie Barnes makes two point shot

42. 2nd Quarter · 9:40

    Giannis Antetokounmpo makes free throw 1 of 2

43. 2nd Quarter · 9:34

    RJ Barrett makes 24-foot running jump shot (Jamal Shead assists)

44. 2nd Quarter · 9:25

    Giannis Antetokounmpo makes driving layup (Davion Mitchell assists)

45. 2nd Quarter · 9:25

    Giannis Antetokounmpo makes free throw 1 of 1

46. 2nd Quarter · 8:54

    Andrew Wiggins makes 24-foot three point jumper (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists)

47. 2nd Quarter · 8:44

    Ja'Kobe Walter makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jamal Shead assists)

48. 2nd Quarter · 7:38

    Bam Adebayo makes driving dunk (Davion Mitchell assists)

49. 2nd Quarter · 7:05

    Immanuel Quickley makes 5-foot running pullup jump shot (Ja'Kobe Walter assists)

50. 2nd Quarter · 6:44

    Andrew Wiggins makes 23-foot three point jumper (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists)

51. 2nd Quarter · 6:28

    RJ Barrett makes 23-foot three point jumper (Immanuel Quickley assists)

52. 2nd Quarter · 5:31

    Collin Murray-Boyles makes 3-foot layup (Immanuel Quickley assists)

53. 2nd Quarter · 5:12

    Pelle Larsson makes free throw 1 of 2

54. 2nd Quarter · 5:12

    Pelle Larsson makes free throw 2 of 2

55. 2nd Quarter · 5:00

    Chucky Hepburn makes 25-foot three point jumper (Immanuel Quickley assists)

56. 2nd Quarter · 4:33

    Tim Hardaway Jr. makes 23-foot three point step back jumpshot (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists)

57. 2nd Quarter · 4:15

    Malachi Smith makes driving layup (Collin Murray-Boyles assists)

58. 2nd Quarter · 3:58

    Nimari Burnett makes free throw 1 of 2

59. 2nd Quarter · 3:52

    Pelle Larsson makes free throw 1 of 2

60. 2nd Quarter · 3:52

    Pelle Larsson makes free throw 2 of 2

61. 2nd Quarter · 3:44

    Immanuel Quickley makes 25-foot three pointer

62. 2nd Quarter · 3:28

    Simone Fontecchio makes 4-foot two point shot (Nikola Jovic assists)

63. 2nd Quarter · 3:09

    Malachi Smith makes free throw 2 of 2

64. 2nd Quarter · 2:50

    Pelle Larsson makes 6-foot two point shot (Simone Fontecchio assists)

65. 2nd Quarter · 2:16

    Bobby Portis makes free throw 1 of 2

66. 2nd Quarter · 1:33

    Nimari Burnett makes 1-foot dunk (Scottie Barnes assists)

67. 2nd Quarter · 1:26

    Pelle Larsson makes free throw 1 of 2

68. 2nd Quarter · 1:26

    Pelle Larsson makes free throw 2 of 2

69. 2nd Quarter · 1:09

    Nikola Jovic makes layup (Bobby Portis assists)

70. 2nd Quarter · 53.2

    Tim Hardaway Jr. makes 26-foot running jump shot (Nikola Jovic assists)

71. 2nd Quarter · 36.9

    Simone Fontecchio makes running layup

72. 2nd Quarter · 7.7

    Scottie Barnes makes free throw 2 of 2

73. 3rd Quarter · 11:19

    Jamal Shead makes free throw 2 of 2

74. 3rd Quarter · 10:50

    RJ Barrett makes free throw 1 of 2

75. 3rd Quarter · 10:33

    Jakob Poeltl makes layup (Jamal Shead assists)

76. 3rd Quarter · 9:48

    Ryan Conwell makes 18-foot running pullup jump shot

77. 3rd Quarter · 9:31

    Ja'Kobe Walter makes 6-foot driving floating jump shot

78. 3rd Quarter · 9:18

    Nikola Jovic makes layup (Tre Donaldson assists)

79. 3rd Quarter · 7:39

    Jakob Poeltl makes free throw 2 of 2

80. 3rd Quarter · 7:02

    Ja'Kobe Walter makes 23-foot three point jumper (RJ Barrett assists)

81. 3rd Quarter · 6:24

    Jakob Poeltl makes free throw 1 of 2

82. 3rd Quarter · 6:24

    Jakob Poeltl makes free throw 2 of 2

83. 3rd Quarter · 6:20

    Chucky Hepburn makes free throw 1 of 2

84. 3rd Quarter · 6:20

    Chucky Hepburn makes free throw 2 of 2

85. 3rd Quarter · 5:35

    Nikola Jovic makes free throw 1 of 2

86. 3rd Quarter · 5:35

    Nikola Jovic makes free throw 2 of 2

87. 3rd Quarter · 4:54

    Bez Mbeng makes 2-foot two point shot (Nikola Jovic assists)

88. 3rd Quarter · 4:05

    Malachi Smith makes running layup (Jaden Bradley assists)

89. 3rd Quarter · 3:52

    Tre Donaldson makes free throw 1 of 2

90. 3rd Quarter · 3:52

    Tre Donaldson makes free throw 2 of 2

91. 3rd Quarter · 3:36

    Jaden Bradley makes free throw 1 of 2

92. 3rd Quarter · 3:36

    Jaden Bradley makes free throw 2 of 2

93. 3rd Quarter · 3:18

    Ian Schieffelin makes 1-foot layup (Tre Donaldson assists)

94. 3rd Quarter · 3:09

    Jamal Shead makes 11-foot driving floating jump shot (Jaden Bradley assists)

95. 3rd Quarter · 2:55

    J'Vonne Hadley makes 2-foot dunk (Ian Schieffelin assists)

96. 3rd Quarter · 2:01

    Tre Donaldson makes 18-foot pullup jump shot

97. 3rd Quarter · 1:48

    Tyreke Key makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jamal Shead assists)

98. 3rd Quarter · 1:21

    Bez Mbeng makes running layup

99. 3rd Quarter · 57.4

    Malachi Smith makes 5-foot two point shot

100. 3rd Quarter · 40.2

     Tre Donaldson makes free throw 1 of 2

101. 4th Quarter · 11:39

     Ian Schieffelin makes free throw 1 of 2

102. 4th Quarter · 11:39

     Ian Schieffelin makes free throw 2 of 2

103. 4th Quarter · 11:18

     Ian Schieffelin makes 24-foot three point jumper (Bez Mbeng assists)

104. 4th Quarter · 10:48

     Bez Mbeng makes two point shot (Ryan Conwell assists)

105. 4th Quarter · 9:57

     Tyreke Key makes 23-foot three point jumper (Malachi Smith assists)

106. 4th Quarter · 9:25

     Chucky Hepburn makes 2-foot two point shot

107. 4th Quarter · 8:57

     Vladislav Goldin makes 1-foot two point shot

108. 4th Quarter · 8:44

     Vladislav Goldin makes 1-foot reverse layup (Myron Gardner assists)

109. 4th Quarter · 8:31

     Chucky Hepburn makes driving layup

110. 4th Quarter · 7:37

     Ryan Conwell makes 13-foot two point shot

111. 4th Quarter · 7:19

     Bez Mbeng makes two point shot (Myron Gardner assists)

112. 4th Quarter · 7:03

     Tyreke Key makes 25-foot three point jumper (Malachi Smith assists)

113. 4th Quarter · 6:30

     Myron Gardner makes 30-foot three point jumper (Bez Mbeng assists)

114. 4th Quarter · 6:03

     Jaden Bradley makes 23-foot three point step back jumpshot (Chucky Hepburn assists)

115. 4th Quarter · 5:54

     Myron Gardner makes free throw 1 of 2

116. 4th Quarter · 5:54

     Myron Gardner makes free throw 2 of 2

117. 4th Quarter · 5:44

     Tyreke Key makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jamal Shead assists)

118. 4th Quarter · 4:19

     Vladislav Goldin makes 2-foot layup (Tre Donaldson assists)

119. 4th Quarter · 3:43

     Chucky Hepburn makes two point shot

120. 4th Quarter · 3:16

     Tyreke Key makes free throw 2 of 2

121. 4th Quarter · 3:09

     Tre Donaldson makes free throw 2 of 2

122. 4th Quarter · 2:38

     Jaden Bradley makes two point shot (Jamal Shead assists)

123. 4th Quarter · 2:18

     Ian Schieffelin makes running dunk (Bez Mbeng assists)

124. 4th Quarter · 1:52

     Bez Mbeng makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot (Ryan Conwell assists)

125. 4th Quarter · 1:38

     Tyreke Key makes 1-foot layup (Jamal Shead assists)

126. 4th Quarter · 1:31

     Ryan Conwell makes 2-foot two point shot (Tre Donaldson assists)

127. 4th Quarter · 1:10

     Ian Schieffelin makes two point shot

128. 4th Quarter · 30.5

     Jaden Bradley makes 1-foot two point shot

129. 4th Quarter · 17.3

     Myron Gardner makes 9-foot two point shot (Tre Donaldson assists)