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Raptors blow out Heat in game 7 to reach Conference Finals for first time

Xinhua, May 16, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Toronto Raptors overwhelmed the Miami Heat 116-89 in the seventh and final game of their Eastern Conference semifinals series on Sunday afternoon and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history.

In front of a sold-out Air Canada Centre crowd, Toronto dominated on both ends of the floor. The 116 points scored and 27-point margin of victory are both franchise records for a post-season game.

"The effort, the intensity and the focus was what we wanted on both ends of the floor," said Raptors head coach Dwane Casey in Toronto following the game. "I thought we started off shaky defensively, but I thought as the game went on we got locked in, did a much better job of guarding the basketball."

After allowing Miami to score 78 points on 49.2% shooting in the first three quarters, Toronto's defence limited Miami to 11 points and 23.1% shooting in the final frame.

On the offensive end, All-Stars Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan combined to score 63 points, the most they have combined for in a postseason game this year.

"We never doubted Kyle and DeMar. They're our guys. They're all All-Stars and I thought they played like it tonight," Casey added.

DeRozan had 28 points while Lowry logged a game-high 42 minutes and also had game-highs in points (35), free throws made (8), assists (9), and steals (4).

"Kyle led us. If he didn't get into foul trouble the other night he was going to play 40-plus minutes. Tonight he did," said Casey.

With the win, Raptors improve to 8-7 all-time when facing elimination. Toronto will now face Cleveland Cavaliers in their first ever berth in the Conference Finals.

"To the franchise, I think it's another step," said Casey.

In five seasons as head coach of Raptors, Casey has improved the team's regular season win total each season. The team has gone from a 23-43 lottery-bound team to a 56-26 three-time Atlantic division champions.

"You can just see the growth of the players, the confidence in they have in what we've been doing and the buy-in over the last four years has been good to see. We're not a finished product yet."

The Eastern Conference Finals begins in Cleveland for games one on Tuesday evening. Endit