Toronto Raptors vs Miami Heat Prediction: Heat aims at the top-six spot, Raptors look play-in bound

The NBA Regular Season has entered its most crucial phase and we are a few days away from the window where the Postseason will begin. The rules are simple, the top-six teams in Each Conference make it to the First Round of the Playoffs automatically while the sixth to tenth-ranked teams fight for the two remaining playoff spots during the Play-in tournament. Two teams that are Postseason-bound, the Toronto Raptors and the Miami Heat are going to meet here.

The Raptors enter the game after defeating the Wizards 114:104 on the heels of a 29 points performance by OG Anunoby. The Raps have won five of their last seven games and 14 of their 22 games, but due to slow progress till midseason, they have 38 losses and 37 wins. They are in the ninth position and are heading to the Play-in tournament. They will be a tough match-up during the Play-in period but this has been an underwhelming season except for Pascal Siakam who has put in career-high numbers. He has received support from his teammates in the second half of the season and the latest play has been a mirror of how they did last season, timely buckets and tough defense. 

The Heat comes into this game after losing 100:129 against the Nets despite a 23 points performance by Max Strus. Had they won this game, they’d overtaken the Nets for the sixth spot which means automatic qualification for the first round of the Playoffs. The Heat has 40 wins and 35 losses which is a rather underwhelming return for a team that finished at the top of the Eastern Conference last season. The team’s defense hasn’t been exactly terrible but anywhere near the last season whereas their offense has underperformed for most parts. Jimmy Butler has led the way whereas Adebayo and Tyler Herro have averaged over 20 points too. However, the team has lacked depth in other areas, where inconsistency has prevailed.

• Raptors: OUT: Otto Porter Jr, Joe Wisekamp, Dalano Banton. DOUBTFUL: Will Barton. QUESTIONABLE: Gary Trent Jr;
• Heat: OUT: Nivola Jovic. Game-Time Decision: Kyle Lowry.

• Expected Leading Scorers: Jimmy Butler(27+ Points), Pascal Siakam(26+ Points);
• Expected Leading Rebounders: Jakob Poeltl(10-12 Rebounds), Bam Adebayo(8-11 Rebounds);
• Expected Leading Playmakers: Fred Van Vleet(9-11 Assists), Jimmy Butler(6-8 Assists).

The Heat has been desperate to notch the sixth spot but their inability to pull off a big winning streak has hinged their progress. The Raptors' defense has been getting it done and if the Heat comes up with a so-so offensive effort again, they will be in dire straits. Anyway, I expect this to be a close game and predict a scoreline of 111:108 either way.