By the end of the first half he was 5 of 7 from the field and 4 of 4 from the 3-point line, with the Lakers briefly moving to a six-point lead in the second period before the Heat went into the intermission up 50-49. The 6-foot-2 starting point guard for the Hawks was a step too fast for all the Heat guards to contain as he finished with a game-high 26 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds to lead the Hawks to a 98-92 win in Miami.
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“This is one of our stinkers of the year”, said coach Dwane Casey, who last week became the Raptors career leader in wins. We will have to watch and see tonight; check out our keys to the game for the Knicks when they take on the Raptors later tonight.
Yes, Carroll’s cutting to the basket was missed as was his floor spacing but Johnson contributed on both ends of the floor with seven points, seven rebounds and two assists.
With Green out and Chalmers consistently subjected to trade rumors, Johnson has been heavily relied on in the rotation, but even with both players making their returns, Coach Erik Spoelstra might not have another choice but to keep playing Johnson based on defensive tenacity and the fact he can score at will from nearly anywhere on the court.
“We started fouling”, DeRozan said of the difference in the second half.
In games where Toronto gives up at least 100 points, the Raptors are undefeated (1-0). The Raptors took a 24-22 lead out of the first quarter, a stretch that’s haunted them often this season and in Friday’s loss to Orlando in particular. “Their aggression in the third quarter change the game”.
Bosh said his team’s effort was lacking in the first half.
“You can still play with two big guys”, Bosh said when it was over”. On Sunday, as desperation set in on a game that was quickly slipping out of their grasp, the Raps went a little three-crazy, a decision that only served to dig them a deeper hole.
The Heat eventually moved to a 14-point lead in the third quarter before going into the fourth up 74-63. “They came out with more aggressiveness”.
Early in the fourth quarter, Toronto cut its deficit to seven points, but Miami responded with a 10-0 run to put the game away.
As for Patrick Patterson, it is not going well for him either, as he has been struggling the past few games, only scoring two points, adding two assists, and grabbing one rebound.
Johnson closed with 10 points, Winslow nine and McRoberts five.
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One area that remains still very much in the shop is Toronto’s offence and that was apparent again on Sunday as they were held to just 29 points in the second half, the first time since 2012 they failed to break the 30-point barrier in a half.
