NBA PLAYOFFS

116-109 win means Heat face the 76ers first.

MIAMI — It was a harrowing ride Wednesday night, which could just as well sum up the Miami Heat’s season, but, in the closing night ended with the preferred results, courtesy of a 116-109 overtime over the Toronto Raptors at American-Airlines Arena. A 44-38 final record. The No. 6 Eastern Conference playoff seed.

A first-round matchup against the playoff neophyte Philadelphia 76ers.

Another Southeast Division title.

All because Wayne Ellington decided that he was going to set the Heat single-season record for 3-pointers, closing with eight — and breaking Damon Jones’ record.

With his seventh 3-pointer, Ellington broke Damon Jones’ record for Heat 3-pointers in a season. He didn’t stop there, closing with eight in a 32-point performance.

With Justise Winslow and Bam Adebayo also stepping up off the bench, ther Heat ultiend, mately met all of Wednesday’s goals — and avoided a firstround matchup with the topseeded Raptors.

The Heat, with a typically

balanced scoring attack, also got 12 rebounds from center Hassan Whiteside.

It was a wild night of scoreboard watching and in-person suffering, as the Heat struggled to get a grasp on the Raptors.

By the end of the first period, it became clear that the Milwaukee Bucks would be offering no resistance in their road game against the 76ers, leaving the No. 6 seed and a firstround matchup with the 76ers there for the taking for the Heat.

Then, with the Washington Wizards struggling in a road loss against the Orlando Magic, it became possible that the Heat at worst would win their division and secure the No. 7 seed without a victory. Instead, they got it all. Kyle Lowry led the Raptors with 28 points, with DeMar DeRozan adding 19 for Toronto.

The Heat had to shuffle their starting lineup, with point guard Goran Dragic given the night off to rest a sore right knee. That had Tyler Johnson shifting from shooting guard and Rodney McGruder inserted into the first five.

The Heat’s starting lineup was rounded out by Whiteside, James Johnson and Josh Richardson.

The Raptors went with their regular starting group and projected playoff-opening lineup of Jonas Valanciunas at center, Serge Ibaka and OG Anunoby at forward, and DeRozan and Lowry at guard. That group also opened the second half for Toronto.

The Heat moved to a 110-105 lead at the start over overtime on an Adebayo 3-pointer and a Richardson steal and score. After the Raptors then closed back within one, the Heat got three points from Winslow and a layup from Ellington for a 115-109 lead with 1:53 to play, holding on from there.

The Heat appeared to score the go-ahead basket with 18.8 seconds to play in regulation on Ellington’s eighth 3-pointer for a 105-103 lead.

But with 8.4 seconds to play in regulation, the Raptors got a tip-in off a missed 3-pointer to tie it 105-105.

The Heat then went to James Johnson, who was off just before the regulation buzzer.

The competition proved fiercer than expected, with a Lowry 3-pointer and a Lowry free throw putting Toronto up 95-93 with 3:54 to play in the fourth.

But that’s when Ellington stepped up with his fifth 3-pointer with 3:38 to play in regulation to put the Heat up 96-95.

Another Ellington 3-pointer, with 3:14 to play, put the Heat up 99-95. But baskets by Lowry and DeRozan forged a 99-99 tie with 2:34 to play.

And that’s when Ellington stepped up with a 3-pointer with 2 minutes to play for a 102-99 Heat lead.

But, again Lowy stepped into and converted a 3-pointer, with 1:51 to play, to tie it 102-102.

After Toronto got a stop, DeRozan then worked his way to the foul line with 1:26 to play, making on the second free throw, for a 103-102 Raptors lead. Ellington’s eighth 3-pointer then set up the closing minute-dramatics.

The Raptors pushed to a 70-59 lead midway through the third period. But with Dwyane Wade providing a spark and Adebayo inserted to add energy, the Heat moved within 78-71 at the end of the third quarter.

With DeRozan beating the second-quarter buzzer, the Raptors took a 53-47 lead into halftime.

The game concluded the three-game season series, the Raptors’ lone visit of the season. The Heat won the first meeting 90-89 Jan. 9 on a driving Ellington basket just before the final buzzer. The Raptors then won 115-112 Feb. 13 at Air Canada Centre.

MICHAEL LAUGHLIN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Tyler Johnson of the Heat scores in the first half of Wednesday’s game against the Toronto Raptors at BB&T Center.

MICHAEL LAUGHLIN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER The Heat’s Josh Richardson runs past the Raptors’ Delon Wright during the first half of Wednesday’s game at BB&T Center.