This series has been built narrow, hard-fought, back-and-forth victories, and Game 3 was no different. Though this was the first game of the series that did not go into overtime, the Toronto Raptors overcame a late fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Miami Heat 95-91.
Neither team was able to gain much of an advantage throughout most of the first half, but the Raptors surged ahead with a 12-2 run in the second quarter to take a 49-40 halftime lead.
Toronto was able to build that lead up to 13 points early in the third quarter, then center Jonas Valanciunas was forced to leave the game with an ankle injury. That totally changed the game for the Heat, who immediately reeled off a 32-13 run of their own to take a six point lead at the start of the fourth.
It looked like the Raptors were done, but they were most definitely not. They went on a 16-8 run after that to take a five-point lead with 1:30 left. Not to be outdone, Miami cut the lead to one, but Kyle Lowry hit a jumper with 30 seconds left and DeMar DeRozan hit five free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
Dwyane Wade turned back the clock with 38 huge points to lead the Heat, spearheading that big second-half run. Goran Dragic also chipped in 12 points, but only one other player scored in double figures for Miami.
Lowry broke out of his slump to lead Toronto with 33 points, and Valanciunas finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds before he left with that ankle injury. DeRozan had 19 points.
Game 4 in Miami is scheduled for Monday at 8:00 pm ET on TNT.
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