RIVALRY HEATING UP

When the Heat came to town in early January, punches were thrown, players thrown out of the game, players eventually fined and Miami scored a late bucket on a defensive breakdown that led to a win.

It was a wild night at the ACC, triggered by a third-quarter incident involving Serge Ibaka and James Johnson, each given a one-game suspension by the league for throwing punches at one another.

In addition, DeRozan was hit with a $25,000 fine and Goran Dragic forced to fork over $10,000 for a separate altercation at the end of the game when DeRozan attempted to forcefully shove Dragic with an open hand.

The teams haven’t hooked up since that Jan. 9 melee.

One never knows, but it’s possible the Heat and Raptors might meet in

the playoffs.

“A lot of talented guys,’’ Miles said of the Heat, a franchise that brought Dwyane Wade back in a trade deadline deal with Chicago. “They play extremely hard. D-Wade coming back has given them even more a spark, a veteran guy who makes plays.

“Those guys proved last year who they turned their season hard. They

play extremely hard, are tight knit, Wayne Ellington (who produced the game winner on a baseline drive when Miami last came to town) is shooting the ball extremely well. They’ve added his element to the offence along with a lot of playmaker and athleticism.”