The Toronto Raptors road trip down to South Beach continued on Sunday afternoon, with a late lunch date with the Miami Heat in a game with no playoff ramifications. The Raptors booked their place in the playoffs following the Charlotte Hornets defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks the night before.
Therefore, there was no need for the presence of Kawhi Leonard, who was out due to load management once again. That meant Patrick McCaw would get the start, his first as a member of the Toronto Raptors. McCaw has rightfully earned his place in the rotation since his arrival, a string of gritty and aggressive performances have provided rave reviews.