It’s safe to say Friday wasn’t the Toronto Raptors‘ night.
Playing in their fourth game of the Las Vegas Summer League, the Raptors were thoroughly outclassed by the Miami Heat, who improved to 4-0 with a 109-73 win over Toronto.
The result of the game wasn’t ever in question, as the Heat opened up a near-30-point cushion in the opening quarter, breaking out to a 32-7 lead after the first frame.
From there, the Raptors couldn’t really get into a groove until the second half, but things were well decided after their 24-point first half.
Playing without Gradey Dick and Jonathan Mogbo for the second straight game, Toronto falls to 2-2 with the loss.
Even in the defeat, 2024 first-round pick Ja’Kobe Walter led the way for the Raptors, scoring 16 points and knocking down three three-pointers as part of a 5-for-11 shooting night from the field.
Branden Carlson also scored in double-digits for Toronto, as the centre finished the night with 12 points while picking a pair of blocks inside.
The Raptors’ 45th overall pick, Jamal Shead, received a Flagrant 2 and was ejected for his closeout on Cole Swider as the Heat forward shot a three-pointer. Shead hit Swider below the belt as he passed by during the shot attempt.
Swider ended as Miami’s leading scorer, pouring in 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including a 50 per cent mark from deep.
The Heat also had double-digit efforts from Kel’el Ware, Josh Christopher, Pelle Larsson and Alondes Williams.
Ware finished with a double-double, totalling 17 points and 10 rebounds while stuffing the stat sheet, adding in two assists, four steals and one block in over 23 minutes of time on the court.
With the loss, the Raptors’ Summer League round-robin play comes to a close. They won’t be advancing to the playoffs as only the top four teams in Las Vegas will advance to the semifinals. However, Toronto will get one more game as all 26 teams that do not advance get a fifth game.
The Raptors will play the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.