Gary Trent Jr. scored 18 points, including a three-point shot that gave the Raptors a six-point lead with 22.6 seconds left. Precious Achiuwa grabbed 22 rebounds for the Raptors, a record for a Team Canada bench player.
Quebec’s Chris Boucher, who was playing his first game this season after recovering from a hamstring injury, scored 10 points in 12 minutes of play.
The Raptors outshot the Heat 27-14 in the final quarter, thanks to five 3-pointers in the final 12 minutes. The Raptors outscored the Heat 42-24 in total points earned on shots from downtown.
Jimmy Butler scored 26 points for the Heat, who also got 22 points and 15 rebounds from Tyler Herro. Bam Adebayo scored 14 points and Duncan Robinson added 12 for the hosts.
The Raptors’ first four games of the season: a three-point win, a four-point loss, a three-point loss and now an eight-point win. All of those games were played against teams that expect to be Eastern Conference title contenders — the Cleveland Cavaliers, Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat. The Raptors will start a two-game series against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Overall, the Raptors scored four more points than they conceded.
The East is not for cowards
Raptors coach Nick Nurse said.
The Raptors were without NBA Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes, who was benched with a sprained right ankle.
