The Miami Heat beat the Toronto Raptors 94-87 in overtime on Monday to even up the Eastern Conference semifinals.
This marked the third game of the series already that went into extra minutes. Neither team scored for over a minute of OT before Justise Winslow put Miami up by two. Joe Johnson would soon double the lead to four with a jumper which led to a Raptors timeout. With a two-point lead and 22 seconds to go, Goran Dragic hit a lay-up and a free throw. Dwyane Wade would then steal the in-bounds and dunk it home for two more to seal the win.
Miami did a good job in the first half of protecting its home-court. The Heat jumped out to a four-point lead after one quarter, and a nine-point lead going into the half. In what was a needed win for Miami, the team did all it could to avoid falling into a 3-1 hole in the series.
The third quarter did not start off as well as the first half ended for Miami. The Raptors would capture the lead by outscoring the Heat by 11 in the quarter. Miami would trail by two entering the final quarter. Toronto had held a five-point advantage with under two minutes to go in the third.
A big fourth quarter for Miami potentially saved its season. Trailing for the entire quarter at the time, the Heat would go on a big run with roughly five minutes to go. Fueling the run was none other than Dwyane Wade who posted 30 points overall in the game. Wade hit a game tying lay-up with 12 seconds to go. After Atlanta missed a shot at the buzzer, the game was sent to overtime.
The Heat were without Hassan Whiteside who has a MCL sprain. Whiteside is expected to miss at least one more game and could potentially miss the remainder of the series. Without Whiteside, the Heat started Amar'e Stoudemire at center. The veteran ended up with six points in 12 minutes.
The series will return to Toronto on Wednesday all tied up at 2-2. The scheduled starting time is 8 p.m.
