Raptors vs. Heat 2016 results: Miami forces Game 7 with 103-91 win

The Miami Heat returned home and forced a Game 7 on Friday, beating the Toronto Raptors 103-91 in a must-win game to keep their season alive.

Both teams have lost on their home court, but with the series tied at three games each, home-court advantage has returned to prominence. Even though the actual basketball played throughout this series has been lacking, both teams have gutted through injuries to their starting centers. You can’t deny that either of them refuse to go down easily, after both had chances to do so.

Miami led most of the game, ending the first quarter with a 21-20 lead that they slowly built into a nine-point advantage by halftime. Justise Winslow started the game for the Heat, with Hassan Whiteside likely out for the playoffs, and he filled in admirably after not even playing in Game 3. Playing center in an extremely small ball look, Winslow scored 12 points and helped make sure the rebounding battle stayed just about even between the two teams.

Several times, Toronto made mini-runs in the fourth quarter that hinted that they might get back into the game, but each time the Heat snuffed out their chances. Dwyane Wade was huge down the stretch, just as he has been most of this series, although his performance paled when compared to his backcourt mate. (We’re getting to that.)

Game 7 will be played on Sunday in Toronto, with one of the teams advancing to face the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Either team would be considered massive, massive underdogs -- but hey, it’s better to be there than watch it on television.

The Heat’s success this postseason despite the absence of Chris Bosh and now Whiteside has come in huge part thanks to Dragic’s killer tear. His 26-point Game 1 performance set the tone for how he planned to play this series, and he really hasn’t let up since. On Friday, he was flames, pouring in 30 points on 12-of-21 shooting with seven rebounds and four assists.

Dragic’s fit in Miami has been convoluted since he arrived a couple trade deadlines ago, but he looks as comfortable as he has ever been in this series. His jumper is going and his trademarked finishes around the rim, often contorted and creative, are giving the Heat a consistent source of offense outside of Wade, something they’ve desperately needed as players like Joe Johnson and Luol Deng slump.

If there’s a bright side for Game 6 for the Raptors, it’s Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. The two stars have basically struggled the entire postseason, but they played their best combined games Friday. The two leading scorers for Toronto have both had moments, but usually not in the same playoff game. Lowry ended up with 36 points and DeRozan dropped 23, on a combined 41.6 percent shooting (an improvement over the prior numbers). If Toronto can keep that going, you must feel good for them on their home court Sunday.

We’ve watched Toronto and Miami battle in a series that frequently didn’t resemble the sport of basketball, especially when contrasted with the high quality play of the Cavaliers and the two Western Conference series. The games have been entertaining, but in a bumbling trainwreck sort of way, where we just couldn’t look away. Both teams are gutted with injuries and many of their role players have been completely ineffective, it’s true. But now we’re looking at a Game 7, and hopefully that’s every bit as good as a Game 7 should be.