MIAMI (Interstat) — The Toronto Raptors used a decisive fourth-quarter run to defeat the Miami Heat 106-96 on Monday night at FTX Arena. After trailing by six at halftime, the Raptors outscored the Heat 60-44 in the second half, including a 32-point fourth quarter. Toronto’s surge overcame a 52-point first half from Miami and a game-high 30 points from the Heat’s Norman Powell. Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes led a balanced Raptors attack that secured the road victory before an announced crowd of 19,600. The win improved Toronto to 16-11, while Miami fell to 14-12. The teams will meet again in Miami next Tuesday.

MIAMI (Interstat) — Brandon Ingram scored 28 points and the Toronto Raptors closed the game on a decisive 10-0 run to snap a four-game losing streak with a 106-96 victory over the Miami Heat on Monday night at FTX Arena. In a game defined by sloppy play and poor shooting, the Raptors overcame 19 turnovers and a significant free-throw disparity by dominating the final five minutes. Tied at 91 with 3:35 remaining, Toronto held Miami scoreless on its next seven possessions, a stretch that included three turnovers and four missed shots, while Ingram and Scottie Barnes provided the necessary offense to pull away. The most important sequence came with just over a minute to play and Toronto leading 98-96. After a Miami timeout, Norman Powell’s inbound pass sailed out of bounds for a turnover. On the ensuing possession, Jamal Shead missed a three-pointer, but Barnes secured the offensive rebound and was fouled on the putback attempt. He made the basket and, though he missed the subsequent free throw, the putback extended the lead to four points with 35.8 seconds left, forcing another Miami timeout. The Heat then missed three shots on their next trip, effectively sealing their fate. Ingram, the Raptors’ top star who had struggled in recent outings, found his rhythm, adding five rebounds and five assists in 38 minutes. Barnes recorded a double-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, and his defensive presence was pivotal late, including a key block on Dru Smith with just over two minutes remaining. The game was an offensive struggle for long stretches. Both teams combined for 37 turnovers and shot under 43% from the field. The Heat’s offense was particularly stagnant down the stretch, managing only two field goals in the final six minutes. Miami finished 9 for 31 from three-point range and, despite attempting 14 more free throws than Toronto, could not capitalize consistently. Bam Adebayo led Miami with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Norman Powell also scored 20, but his late turnover and missed three-pointer in the final minute were costly. Rookie center Kel’el Ware grabbed 13 rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench. Toronto led 23-22 after a disjointed first quarter but found itself down 52-46 at halftime after Miami’s 30-point second period. The Raptors responded with a 28-point third quarter to take a slim 74-77 lead into the final frame, setting the stage for the gritty finish. The Raptors improved to 16-11 with the win, while the Heat fell to 14-12. The result defied pregame expectations, as Miami had been a 5.5-point favorite and was projected by analytics systems to have a nearly 73% chance of victory. Toronto’s defense was the ultimate difference, holding Miami to an offensive rating of 95.1 points per 100 possessions. The Raptors also won the battle on the glass, outrebounding the Heat 52-46, with Sandro Mamukelashvili providing a significant boost off the bench with 11 points and seven rebounds. The teams will meet again in Miami next Tuesday, Dec. 23. Before that, the Raptors travel to face the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, while the Heat begin a three-game road trip at Brooklyn on Thursday.

Heat, Raptors Meet in Key Eastern Conference Matchup MIAMI (Interstat) — Two teams looking to halt recent slides will meet when the Miami Heat host the Toronto Raptors on Monday night at FTX Arena. Both clubs have lost three of their last four games. The Raptors (15-11) are coming off a 117-101 home loss to the New York Knicks on Tuesday. The Heat (14-11) fell 117-108 to the Orlando Magic the same night. The matchup features two of the East’s premier forwards in Toronto’s Brandon Ingram and Miami’s Bam Adebayo. Ingram is averaging 22.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game, coming off a 31-point, six-rebound, six-assist performance against New York. Adebayo, a defensive anchor for Miami, averages 18.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. He had 19 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in the loss to Orlando. Toronto’s recent struggles include a four-game losing streak from Dec. 2-7, though they snapped it with a win over Portland before the loss to New York. Their offense has been inconsistent, scoring 86 and 94 points in two of the losses. Miami’s defense, typically a strength, has allowed an average of 119.3 points during its 1-3 stretch over the past week. The Heat will need to contain Ingram and generate more consistent offense beyond Adebayo. Guards Norman Powell and Tyler Herro, who combined for 41 points last game, will be key. This game is the first of two meetings between the teams in eight days; they will play again in Miami on Dec. 23. The outcome could prove important in a tightly packed Eastern Conference standings race. For Toronto, the contest begins a challenging three-game road trip that includes Milwaukee and Brooklyn. Miami embarks on a three-game road trip of its own after this game, facing the Nets, Celtics and Knicks. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST.