NBA Playoff Schedule 2016: TV Info, Predictions for Raptors vs. Heat Game 7
Nothing beats a Game 7.
Sure, the Eastern Conference Semifinals series between the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat has lacked some of the magic from its Western Conference counterparts, but Sunday’s finale could be special.
The storylines are abundant. Can DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry continue to unseat the notion that they always come up short? Will Dwyane Wade meet his old pal LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers?
Before we talk about that, here are the basics:
Key Info
| Sunday, May 15 | Air Canada Centre | 3:30 p.m. ET | ABC | 790 The Ticket, WRTO Mix 98.3 FM |
The game can be streamed online here.
Predictions
Kyle Lowry cools off
In Miami’s Game 6 home victory on Friday, Lowry erupted for a game-high 36 points while shooting 12-of-27 from the field to go along with four rebounds and three assists.
He seemed to have some extra motivation:
No matter whose name he writes on his shoes, don’t expect such a mammoth performance on Sunday.
Lowry has been all over the place throughout these playoffs. While he’s certainly had his strong moments (like Friday), the 30-year-old point guard had shot 35.6 percent from the field entering Game 6, and nearly crumbled under the pressure of Toronto’s first-round series against the Indiana Pacers.
Game 7 will be the most pressure he’s seen all year. And that doesn’t bode well for the Raptors.
As noted by Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, “Toronto is now 2-6 in series closeout opportunities,” and 1-5 on the road. Sunday’s game will take place at Air Canada Centre, so perhaps he’ll be given a jolt by the always-rocking crowd.
That global ambassador better show up, too:
Regardless of who’s in the stands, Lowry will be trying to lead his team against one of the most cold-blooded assassins in the league.
The Raptors have had a good run. It should end on Sunday, thanks to one person in particular.
Vintage D-Wade shows up
That person is Dwyane Tyrone Wade Jr.
In Game 6, Flash did what he’s been doing all his career—come up big:
He scored eight of his team’s final 21 points in the fourth quarter as Toronto tried to claw its way into the Eastern Conference Finals. This is nothing new, as noted by ESPN Stats & Info:
Perhaps even more impressive, per ESPN, Wade has won 10 postseason series after falling behind and owns a 22-12 record in playoff games when trailing.
This is just what the dude does. He’ll tell you about it, too, per Reynolds:
Game 6 wasn’t a must-win for the Raptors, but it sure felt like one. Allowing the Heat to maintain their pulse puts the No. 2 seed in a tough spot.
Before Friday’s game, Wade fielded questions wearing a hat that had “Father Prime” written in handwriting similar to the one found on Drake’s If You're Reading This It's Too Late album:
Whether by design or not, this was extremely appropriate. The fact that we’re even talking about Game 7 means it’s too late for the Raptors.
Even without Hassan Whiteside and Chris Bosh, simply having a locked-in D-Wade should be enough to earn the Heat a date with the Cavaliers for the conference crown.
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