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11/02/2024 11:25:39 am

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NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals: Toronto Raptors Versus Miami Heat Game 1 Preview

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(Photo : gettyimages.com) Toronto Raptors will be hosting Miami Heat for Game one of their Eastern Conference Semifinals best-of-seven series.

After surviving the gallant George Paul-led Indiana Pacers, the Toronto Raptors play host to the visiting Miami Heat in Game one of their Eastern Conference semifinal showdown at the Air Canada Centre on Tuesday.

The second-seeded Raptors are coming fresh from a nail-biting Game seven win over the mighty Herbert Simon-owned basketball squad. Toronto will be playing in the second round of the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2001.

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The three-time Atlantic Division champions finally ended their decade-and-a-half postseason victory dry spell by winning in the opening round of the league playoffs. Their victory in Toronto was the Raptors first Game seven triumph in the franchise's history.

"I don't want them to be relaxed," Raptors head coach Dwane Casey said. "We're not done. We have a tough Miami team coming in."

The Heat, who went 2-3 down in their best-of-seven first round series against Charlotte, won their last two games and closed out the series on a high note as Miami crushed the Hornets with a 106-73 victory - the fifth-largest margin in Game seven history.

The third-seeded Miami leads the all-time series matchup over the Raptors, winning 49 of the 75 games they have played against each other. However, the Raptors have won five of their last six encounters, holding the Mickey Arison-owned team to 47 percent shooting or less in each of those contests.

The playoff matchup would be the first between the Raptors and the Heat, and each team's active All-Stars are expected to play on a high-level of intensity and game performance.

Toronto's DeMar DeRozan is currently averaging 17.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while his backcourt tandem Kyle Lowry averaged 13.9 points, 7.6 dimes and 4.1 boards per outing this postseason.

Dwyane Wade has averaged 19.0 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.1 rebounds in the playoffs and is expected to get some much-needed help from the 14-year veteran Joe Johnson.

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