Raptors' win streak snapped

If there’s a silver lining to the Toronto Raptors' sluggish 111102 loss to Miami on Wednesday, it’s that they’ll get another crack at the Heat on Friday.

Fred VanVleet had 24 points and nine assists to top the Raptors (5-9), whose threegame winning streak came to an abrupt halt on a lacklustre night.

To limit travel and exposure in a season overshadowed by COVID-19, the NBA has scheduled two-game series, and so the Raptors host Miami again on Friday.

Nick Nurse is hoping for a far better performance.

“Hopefully we’re going to be pretty determined the next time the ball goes up,” the coach said. “You take one on the chin, you dig in . . . hopefully we’re ready to get out and move a little faster, push the ball a little harder, snap the passes and cover for each other a little bit better defensively. That’s part of when you see a team twice in a row, a big part of it.”

Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby had 18 points apiece. Terence Davis scored 16 points off the bench.

Kendrick Nunn scored 28 points to top the short-handed Heat (6-7), who were missing Tyler Herro (neck spasms) and Jimmy Butler and Avery

Bradley due to health and safety protocols around COVID-19.

Canadian Kelly Olynyk added 15 points for Miami.

The Raptors were coming off a 116-93 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. But on Wednesday, they shot 32.7 per cent from three-point range, and just 3for-12 from the field in the fourth quarter.