Raptors’ All-Star guards Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan had an impressive 59 points on 48 shots on Friday night.
The Heat’s guards Goran Dragic and Dwyane Wade countered that with 52 points on 42 shots.
Miami won the game, and the difference was that Dragic and Wade got help — Joe Johnson had 13 points, Justise Winslow a dozen, and even Josh McRoberts added 10. No other Raptor player broke double digits.
That success sets up a Game 7 showdown Sunday where the same rules apply: Whichever team’s guards get the most help will advance to face the Cavaliers in the next round.
Good luck predicting who that will be in this up-and-down series.
Miami’s most successful lineups in Game 6 were small — either Luol Deng or McRoberts were the tallest players. Small ball worked at home — in part because guards Wade and Josh Richardson combined for five blocks — and has had some success on the road. Toronto had no lineups that matched it Friday night.
Toronto’s best lineups the last couple games have had Bismack Biyombo at the heart of them — he doesn’t provide much offense (although he had a nice Game 5), but his defense keeps those driving Heat guards from getting to the rim with impunity. He was making plays like this on Friday night:
Nice left handed block Biyombo. Contains ball ball handler, and contests shot. https://t.co/L0O3P4uocL
— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) May 14, 2016
It just wasn’t enough.
This hasn’t been the prettiest basketball series, but it has been the closest of these playoffs, and it is headed to a Game 7. One that feels relatively unpredictable given the injuries and the up-and-down nature of both teams.
But if one team’s stars are getting plenty of help come Sunday, put your money on them.