TORONTO, ON – The Toronto Raptors, led by Gary Trent Jr.’s season-high 28 points and RJ Barrett’s 26 points, secured an impressive 121-97 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night. The Raptors’ commanding performance saw them lead by as many as 37 points, despite the absence of forward Pascal Siakam.
Siakam, a two-time All-NBA selection and All-Star, is reportedly being traded to the Indiana Pacers, adding a significant shift to the Raptors’ roster dynamics. Nonetheless, the team didn’t let this impact their on-court performance.
Scottie Barnes added 20 points for Toronto, while Immanuel Quickley had a notable all-around game with 17 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. Trent Jr.’s return to the lineup after missing a game due to flu-like symptoms was marked by a blistering display of shooting, making a season-high eight 3-pointers on nine attempts.
For Miami, Jimmy Butler led the scoring with 16 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome their largest halftime deficit in team history. The Heat struggled from the 3-point line, making just six of their 28 attempts, a season-low for the team. Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo also scored 16 points each, with Duncan Robinson contributing 14 points.
The Raptors’ shooting was a stark contrast to their previous game, setting a season-high with 20 made 3-pointers against the Heat. This impressive shooting display included 7 of 10 from long range in the first quarter alone, helping them build a 41-18 lead.
Toronto’s head coach Darko Rajakovic dedicated the win to fellow Serbian Dejan Milojević, a Golden State Warriors assistant coach who passed away on Wednesday. Rajakovic revealed that the play run on Toronto’s first possession, leading to Trent’s 3-pointer, was one he learned from Milojević.
In the reported trade involving Siakam, Toronto is expected to receive three future first-round draft picks along with guard Bruce Brown and forward Jordan Nwora, both NBA champions. Additionally, the New Orleans Pelicans are said to be involved in the trade, sending Kira Lewis to Toronto.
The Heat, grappling with injuries, missed forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kevin Love. The Raptors were also without center Jakob Poeltl due to injury.
Looking ahead, the Heat will host Atlanta on Friday night, while the Raptors are set to face Chicago on Thursday night. As the season progresses, both teams will aim to build on their performances and adjust to any roster changes.
