DeRozan vows to shoot better despite thumb issue

Thumb injury or not, DeMar DeRozan knows he must improve his shooting if the Toronto Raptors are going to win their second-round matchup with the Miami Heat.

DeRozan told reporters following Monday's night defeat that while his thumb is "uncomfortable," he's not in the business of making excuses for his 4-of-17 performance in Game 4.

"You can't let frustration get to you at all," DeRozan said. "You can't listen to what the outsiders have to say. You just can't get caught up in that. You just have to stay positive. Like I said, it's 2-2 and we have a great opportunity to go home and do what we know we can do. In the next two days hopefully it will feel better then."

DeRozan hurt his thumb back in Game 1 after fighting with the Heat's Dwyane Wade for a loose ball. The injury has appeared to affect all aspects of his shooting, as he's also gone just 10-of-20 from the line over the last three contests.

After failing to reach triple digits in any of the first four games of the series, the Raptors are in desperate need of an offensive boost, and could use a better shooting display from DeRozan to propel them past the Heat.