With their season on the line Sunday, Kyle Lowry (35 points) and DeMar DeRozan (28 points) came up big for the Raptors, leading Toronto past the Miami Heat and into the Eastern Conference Finals.
Bismack Biyombo added 17 points and 16 rebounds in Toronto’s 116-89 victory in Game 7.
The Raptors now travel to Cleveland for a date with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Game 1 of the ECF is Tuesday night.
Per the AP:
“It’s great to hear the home crowd,” DeRozan said. “This organization deserves it, this country deserves it, to see them get to the next step, somewhere they haven’t been. But we’re not done yet.”
After struggling for much of the playoffs, Lowry and DeRozan were in top form for Game 7. Lowry made 11 of 20 shots, including five of seven from 3-point range, and DeRozan connected on 12 of 29 attempts. Lowry had nine assists and seven rebounds, DeRozan had eight rebounds. […] “We never doubted Kyle and DeMar,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. “They’re our All Stars and they both played like it tonight. They both stepped up and carried us.”
Now the Raptors get ready for the Cavaliers, who swept Detroit in the first round and have been resting since May 8, when they capped a second-round sweep of Atlanta. […] “I think this group is hungry,” Casey said about his team. “Never say never.”
