Heat, Blazers head home stung by Game 2 disappointments
MIAMI - Game 2 became a big missed opportunity for Miami. Same goes for Portland, which now has minimal room for error.
Going home could help ease their disappointments.
Either the Toronto Raptors or Miami Heat will move within two wins of a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday, when the Heat host Game 3 of their knotted-up series. And Golden State will be aiming for a 3-0 lead over Portland, when the defending NBA champions visit the Trail Blazers in another Game 3 later Saturday night.
''We'll have bounce,'' Portland coach Terry Stotts said. ''We came back after 0-2 against the Clippers (in the first round) and came with a lot of energy in Game 3. We know how important Game 3 is.''
Toronto got a split in its two home games to start the second round despite ongoing struggles from Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, an All-Star backcourt that has shot a combined 35 percent from the field and 45 percent from the foul line so far against the Heat. Even though the postseason issues for Toronto's backcourt have been well-chronicled, the Heat cannot expect Lowry and DeRozan to keep missing at this rate.
A look at Saturday's matchups:
Raptors at Heat
Series tied 1-1. 5 p.m., ESPN
The Heat have held Charlotte and Toronto under 100 points in seven consecutive games now, which would seem to be a strong sign given that Miami has topped 100 points in 18 of its last 19 home games.
Then again, neither the Heat nor the Raptors put on anything that would resemble an offensive showcase in Games 1 or 2.
''If we don't turn the ball over 20-some times, we'll be fine,'' Heat guard Dwyane Wade said. ''Offense is fine. We can't keep giving up 20 turnovers a game. That limits us a lot.''
At some point, fatigue will likely start being a factor - if it isn't one already. Saturday's game will be the fifth in nine days for the Raptors, the eighth in 15 days for the Heat. Lowry has played 89 minutes in the first two games of this series, DeRozan has played 84. For the Heat, Joe Johnson has played 83 and Luol Deng has logged 81.
Warriors at Trail Blazers
Golden State leads series 2-0. 8:30 p.m., ABC
So much for any chance of Golden State looking ahead to the West finals or seeming vulnerable with Curry limited on game nights to a cheerleading role on the bench.
Even without their MVP, the champs are in control.
Klay Thompson has averaged 32 points for the Warriors so far in the series, but what may be overlooked is that Golden State outrebounded Portland in Games 1 and 2 by a combined 103-79.
''You're talking about a championship team,'' Portland guard Damian Lillard said. ''They didn't win a championship off luck. They do a lot of really good things offensively. They do a lot of really good things defensively. When you have letups and you have slipups, they take advantage of it. ... They see slippage and they go after it.''
That all said, Portland locked down defensively in Game 3 to turn around its first-round series against the Clippers. The challenge only is bigger now.