🔊Will Miami be able to handle their Canadian opponent once again? On November 30, the Heat comfortably defeated Toronto at home, surpassing the 120-point mark (121-111). However, the upcoming game will not only start with a score of 0-0 but will also take place on Toronto’s home court, which could influence the game’s dynamics. We’ll attempt to analyze all the details to provide you with the most optimal prediction.

Head-to-Head

Recently, Toronto hasn’t posed serious problems for Miami. The Heat achieved the desired result in the last 4 head-to-head encounters, winning convincingly in each case. Therefore, the outcome of the last meeting (121-111) was not a big surprise.

Toronto Raptors

Comparing Toronto’s play from the start of the season, progress is evident. The team has improved both defensively and offensively, but in the last game against Miami (111-121), they regressed to their initial form. The Raptors displayed very weak basketball, allowing their opponent to score 38 points in both the second and third quarters. The number of unforced turnovers is also concerning. Toronto gave away the ball to Miami 19 times (compared to 10). The only highlight was Barnes’ triple-double (24 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists).

Miami Heat

Miami continues to gain momentum. The team secured its fourth victory in a stretch of five games and broke into the top 5 of the Eastern Conference. Regarding the matchup with Toronto, the Heat showcased exemplary play. Yes, the team started slowly (scoring only 20 points in the first quarter), but played very effectively in the subsequent 36 minutes. Three-point shots were also executed with high accuracy – 21 hits out of 54 attempts (38.4% conversion rate). As for individual performances, Butler stood out with 26 points, 2 rebounds, and 6 assists, receiving high praise from many reputable sources.

Editorial Prediction

Sportsbooks favor Miami in the upcoming matchup. Our editorial team agrees with them. The previous meeting highlighted a significant class difference between these teams. Miami consists of true professionals who should compete for the highest positions. For Toronto, reaching the playoffs would be a great achievement, but they are currently far from even the top-10 in their conference. We doubt that the Raptors can challenge the Heat even with home crowd support. Our bet option – Miami win.