Even though the Raptors were playing without All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said it was going to require a great effort for his team to win at the Air Canada Centre.
He got it from his shorthanded squad – and it was just enough to beat the team with the best home record in the league.
Wayne Ellington’s layup with 0.3 seconds to go propelled the Heat to a thrilling 90-89 victory on a night Miami lost another starter to injury in Tyler Johnson and then another key rotation player in James Johnson, who was ejected with 7:50 to go in the third quarter after he and Raptors forward Serge Ibaka came to blows.