Minus new Papa Chris Bosh, the Miami Heat beat the Toronto Raptors 104-95 in Toronto Wednesday night. LeBron James led the Heat with a season high 35 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, while Dwyane Wade looked the best he has all season, notching 20 points, six rebounds, and five assists in the win.
Bosh stayed back in Miami after the birth of his newest child, Dylan Skye Bosh. Shane Battier started, finishing with eight points in 20 minutes . Michael "Johnny Buckets" Beasley saw his first action of the season, and promptly banged down his first two shots, both three pointers from the right wing. Possibly most encouraging, Beasley added a nice block on the defensive end, and all in all showed signs that he could be a very capable scorer off the bench this season. Then again, it was just four minutes, so we'll label this one "to be continued."
The Raptors were led by DeMar DeRozan who scored De-20Points in De-40 minutes of action. For all the warnings prior to the game as to how super duper scary the Raptors rebounding could be, they finished with just two more, 40-38. The Raptors had just one block in the game as well, added proof the Heat's size disadvantage in this game was overblown, MYTH BUSTED.
Miami started off the first quarter in the same fashion as it has all season, terribly, falling down 17-8. But eventually the team wore down the larger Raptors with their speed and defense, finally pulling ahead by two on a Mario Chalmers three with one tenth of a second remaining before intermission. The Heat pulled away in the second half, stretching the lead to 12, before the Raptors made a late push to cut it to within six with under two minutes remaining. LeBron followed the late rally with a clutch three point play, then Ray Allen put it in the Raptors for good, drilling a corner three to push the lead back to 12, sealing the win.
Next stop on the "Three-Heat Tour" is a Thursday match-up with the L.A. Clippers, marking the Heat's first game versus the Doc Rivers led squad.
Congratulations to Boshy Q. Bear on the new addition!!!!!
I feel like I'm 10 ft. Tall right now! Very happy to welcome another child to the world!
#BoshFamily http://t.co/107KkKX946
— Chris Bosh (@chrisbosh) November 5, 2013
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