DeMar DeRozan, Raptors send Heat to brink of elimination

DeMar DeRozan, Raptors send Heat to brink of elimination

DeRozan matched a playoff high with 34 points, Lowry had 25 and the Raptors beat the Miami Heat 99-91 on Wednesday night to take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

[...] in Game 5, Toronto’s All-Stars combined for 19 points in the first quarter alone, even with DeRozan dealing with an injured thumb that took another hard hit in the second half.

DeRozan then made two free-throw tries and, after a Miami turnover, Lowry drained a long three-pointer to put Toronto up 93-87 with 52 seconds left.

“It felt like a blowtorch on my hand,” said DeRozan, who headed to the locker room for treatment but returned four minutes later.

Back in Miami, injured center Hassan Whiteside continues to rest and receive therapy on his right knee, according to head coach Eric Spoelstra, but he would not say whether Whiteside is any closer to returning.