KYLE LOWRY SCORED 35 points as the Toronto Raptors clinched a playoff series victory over the Miami Heat, sending the Canadian franchise to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in their history.
Lowry and teammate DeMar DeRozan stole the show as Toronto completed a 116-89 victory to win the best-of-seven series 4-3 and set up a conference championship showdown with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Lowry had nine assists and seven rebounds while DeRozan finished with 28 points and eight rebounds as Toronto pulled clear of Miami convincingly after a close-fought first half.
Congolese center Bismack Biyomobo also had a big game for Toronto, scoring 17 points, snaffling 16 rebounds and blocking to shots to delight the home crowd at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre.
The Raptors had led 25-24 after an even first quarter, with DeRozan scoring 11 points. Toronto built a 53-47 lead at half-time but the real damage was done in a dominant run in the third quarter.
The Raptors poured on the points in a 12-2 burst, stretching their lead to 75-58.
Miami rallied to get within six points as the seconds wound down in the third, but a two-pointer on the buzzer by DeRozan restored Toronto to an eight-point lead heading into the final quarter.
With a first-ever place in the Eastern Conference finals beckoning, the Raptors turned the screw and quickly extended their lead with both Lowry and DeRozan outstanding.
Two Biyombo free throws powered Toronto into a 106-86 lead with just under five minutes left, leaving no way back for Miami.
Game one of the Eastern Conference Finals takes place in Cleveland on Tuesday.
