DeRozan paces Raptors to 3-2 lead over Heat
Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) celebrates his team’s victory over the Indiana Pacers with teammates Bismack Biyombo, left, and Kyle Lowry (7). AP
TORONTO — Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan matched a playoff high with 34 points as the Raptors beat Miami 99-91 on Wednesday (Thursday Manila time) to take a 3-2 lead in their NBA Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Kyle Lowry had 25 and Bismack Biyombo had 10 points for the Raptors, who can clinch their first conference finals berth with a win in Game 6 in Miami on Friday (Saturday Manila time).
It was DeRozan’s franchise-best 13th 20-point game in the playoffs and his sixth this postseason.
Dwyane Wade scored 20 for Miami, Goran Dragic and Josh Richardson each had 13 and Joe Johnson 11.
Toronto led by 20 in the first half and by 13 to start the fourth quarter before its lead shrunk to 88-87 when Wade made a pair of free throws with 1:54 left. DeRozan made a pair of free throws and, after a Miami turnover, Lowry made a long 3-pointer to put Toronto up 93-87 with 52 seconds left.
DeRozan sealed it by going 4 for 4 on his free throws in the final 21 seconds.
DeRozan jammed his sore right thumb while fouling Miami’s Tyler Johnson with 8:19 remaining in the fourth. He headed to the locker room for treatment but returned four minutes later.
Lowry and DeRozan scored 19 between them in the first quarter as the Raptors raced out to a 28-18 lead. Wade was the only Miami starter to make a field goal in the first as the Heat had more fouls (eight) than made baskets (six).
Biyombo had eight points in the second, electrifying the crowd by sandwiching a pair of dunks around a huge block on Wade. Toronto led 55-35 with 3:39 left but Dragic scored eight points as the Heat used a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to 55-45 at halftime.
Miami’s Luol Deng left midway through the third with a sore left wrist and did not return. The Heat said X-rays were inconclusive. Deng scored four points and missed all eight of his field goal attempts.
Shortly after, Toronto’s DeMarre Carroll injured his left wrist after being called for a charge, ending his night. The Raptors said X-rays were negative.
Wade scored seven in the third but DeRozan had 11 as the Raptors took a 75-62 lead into the fourth.
