DeRozan scores 38 in Raptors' win over Heat
TORONTO - DeMar DeRozan scored 38 points and the Toronto Raptors held off the Miami Heat for a 96-94 victory on Friday night.
The Raptors led by as many as 18 points in the first half before taking a five-point lead into the fourth quarter. Miami tied the game with less than five minutes to play.
The Raptors had a six-point lead with under two minutes left, and after DeRozan blocked a shot by Hassan Whiteside, DeRozan then made two free throws to give Toronto an eight-point lead.
Wayne Ellington's 3-pointer cut the lead to three points with five seconds to play, but DeRozan then made two free throws to put the game away.
Cory Joseph added 14 points off the bench for Toronto (49-31). Kyle Lowry had 12 points and Serge Ibaka added 11 points and nine rebounds before fouling out late in the game. Jonas Valanciunas scored nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Raptors.
James Johnson scored 22 points with 10 rebounds for Miami (38-41). Goran Dragic had 18 points, Whiteside scored 12 points and nabbed 10 rebounds and Ellington scored 12 points off the bench.
The Heat, who are out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, dropped one game behind both the Chicago Bulls and the Indiana Pacers, who occupy the final two playoff berths.
The Raptors are third, a half-game ahead of the Washington Wizards.
DeRozan scored 16 points in the first quarter and the Raptors led 26-19. The Heat shot 23 percent from the field in the first quarter.
DeRozan made a 19-foot pull-up jumper and converted the free throw to give Toronto an 18-point lead with 5:45 to play in the first half.
The Heat went on an 8-0 run to trim the lead to 10.
The Raptors led 53-43 at the intermission. DeRozan had 25 points in the first half. Dragic led the Heat with 13 first-half points.
The Raptors took a 16-point lead with 7:19 to play in the third quarter when DeMarre Carroll made one of two free throws.
Josh Richardson scored five straight points to cut the lead to four with 1:38 to play in the quarter.
The Raptors led 70-65 after the third quarter.
Johnson made one of two free throws to cut the lead to one point with 6:45 to play.
Patrick Patterson responded with a 3-pointer for Toronto and the lead was 82-78.
Whiteside's dunk with 4:49 to play tied the game with 4:49 to play. Ibaka came back with a 3-pointer.
DeRozan made one of two free throws to give Toronto a two-point lead with 3:32 left. After a missed shot by Whiteside, Lowry made a running layup. DeRozan made a driving layup with 1:52 to play and the lead was six.
NOTES: Heat F Luke Babbitt (right hip flexor) did not play for the second straight game. ... F James Johnson, usually a reserve, started for the second game in a row. ...Miami G Dion Waiters (sprained left ankle) missed his 10th consecutive game and G Josh Richardson started in his place. ...The Raptors had all of their players available for only the third time this season. ...The Heat will play the Washington Wizards Saturday night at the Verizon Centre. ...The Raptors take on the New York Knicks Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.