NBA Playoffs 2016: TV Info, Predictions for Heat vs. Raptors Game 7
The Miami Heat lived to fight another day after their 103-91 Game 6 victory on Friday night against the Toronto Raptors.
With a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals against the defending conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers on the line, the series shifts back to Toronto one last time for Game 7 and all the marbles.
| Sunday, May 15 | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
Prediction
Raptors Will Move On to Eastern Conference Finals
When it comes to Game 7s, the Heat have seen more and have had more success. Miami has played in nine prior seventh games, going 6-3, including one in the first round against the Charlotte Hornets:
The Raptors won their first ever in the first round against the Indiana Pacers this year. They are 1-2 all time:
With home-court advantage, the Raptors have a leg up in Game 7 before things even tip off, as they're 5-2 at home this postseason.
The Heat, though, have the momentum and far less pressure. After all, they are the underdogs in this series and were down 3-2 before Friday night.
Point guard Goran Dragic has had a fantastic series complementing Dwyane Wade, averaging 19.3 points per game against the Raptors.
But Miami has only recorded three road wins against playoff teams since February 19, per Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. It will also be without key big man Hassan Whiteside, who will miss his second straight game with a sprained MCL, via SportsCenter.
Without him under the basket, the Raptors could feed off of their home crowd and have star guards Kyle Lowry and Demar Derozan drive to the basket to open up holes in Miami's Whiteside-less defense.
If Toronto can execute that kind of game plan, expect the two of them and center Bismack Biyombo to have a big game in Whiteside's absence.
Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com.
