MIAMI (AP) – The centers are hobbled and sidelined. The starting point guards have seen their faces bloodied. Both teams have key forwards dealing with wrist injuries, and Toronto’s leading scorer needs his super-tender thumb wrapped in something resembling a shoelace so he can play.
Someone will win this Toronto-Miami series.
Or more accurately, someone will survive this series.
The Raptors are leading 3-2 and therefore have two chances to be the ones who emerge, the first coming in Game 6 at Miami on Friday night. The Raptors know they’re playing Sunday afternoon – either in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals in Cleveland, or back in Toronto for Game 7 of this East semifinal matchup.
“It’s a seven-game series and these kind of series are very competitive,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Thursday. “They’re built to push you and stress you and put you in uncomfortable situations. And that’s what this series is doing right now. It’s a competitive series. Guys are embracing the competition. And we have a job to do tomorrow. We’re just focused on tomorrow.”