NBA Playoff Schedule 2016: TV Info, Livestream, Predictions for Friday Matchup
The Toronto Raptors are one victory away from reaching their first-ever Eastern Conference Finals in franchise history.
Ever since 24-year-old Vince Carter led them to the second round in 2001, the Raptors have received swift first-round ejections in their past five playoff appearances. They finally exorcised those demons by booting the Indiana Pacers in seven games in the first round, but the No. 2 seed now has its sights set a step further.
Despite lukewarm offensive production from their star guards, the Raptors can advance to the conference finals by beating the Miami Heat in Game 6 on Friday night. If they can't wrap up the physical, low-scoring series in South Beach, they'll return to Canada for a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday.
As long as each side can assemble enough healthy players, this hotly contested series is in store for another intense showdown.
Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat (Toronto Leads 3-2)
Date: Friday, May 13
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Livestream: WatchESPN
Tickets: ScoreBig
Game 6 Preview
As the healthy Cleveland Cavaliers kick back and enjoy a week off, both of their potential opponents limp into AmericanAirlines Arena.
On Wednesday night, the Raptors and Heat both played without their starting centers. Toronto big man Jonas Valanciunas will miss the remainder of the series with a sprained right ankle.
Heat rim protector Hassan Whiteside, who didn't travel with the team for Game 5, will also miss the next game. The Miami Herald's Barry Jackson delivered the news from Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra on Thursday:
And if the teams weren't already beat up enough, Toronto's DeMarre Carroll and Miami's Luol Deng both exited early Wednesday with wrist injuries. On Thursday afternoon, the Raptors updated their small forward's status:
Per TSN Sports' Josh Lewenberg, Carroll does not want to take the cautious route:
Deng is also a possibility to suit up. According to The Vertical's Shams Charania, the veteran avoided the worst-case scenario:
After averaging 19.0 points per game in the opening round, Deng has taken a back seat against Toronto, scoring 17 points combined over the last three bouts. While Carroll isn't on the court for offense, his 21 points fueled the Raptors' Game 2 victory.
Both small forwards are particularly valuable on the defensive end, and the victor of this series is in trouble if its premier perimeter stopper can't guard LeBron James in the conference finals. As for Friday, rookies Josh Richardson (Heat) and Norman Powell (Raptors) could be forced into larger roles.
These injuries put more impetus on the marquee names to step up. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan have labored throughout the postseason, netting field-goal percentages of 33.5 and 34.6, respectively. They finally heated up in Game 5, as Lowry produced 25 points and 10 rebounds, while DeRozan awoke from his shooting slumber to amass 34 points.
According to ESPN Stats & Info, it was the duo's best collective postseason showing:
As DeRozan said after the game, per USA Today's AJ Neuharth-Keusch, it was only a matter of time before the star guards snapped out of their funk.
"We just try to go out there and be aggressive," DeRozan said. "You know, we've been aggressive these past two series and shots just wasn't dropping for us. We just told ourselves we're just gonna continue to be aggressive and it was gonna come back around. We understand that from the get-go."
Even as they're on the cusp of advancing, the Raptors have not impressed in the process. Per NBA.com, they sport a minus-3.1 net rating while generating 97.1 points per 100 possessions. No active playoff participant fares worse on either front.
It's hard to find more of a stalemate. Toronto has outscored Miami by three points through five games, three of which went to overtime. Scoring is at a minimum, but the absence of top defensive contributors could cause more offense from the guards. During the prior two games in Miami, Dwyane Wade tallied a combined 68 points.
Potentially playing Game 6 without three starters (Whiteside, Deng and Chris Bosh), the Heat will need Wade to carry them to Game 7. The 34-year-old star has turned back time throughout the series, averaging 25.8 points on a 48.5 field-goal percentage. Considering the Raptors aren't much healthier, look for the Heat to extend the series in another close, ugly battle.
Prediction: Heat 93, Raptors 91
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