+34
The Toronto Raptors fell 129-105 to the Miami Heat at Centre Vidéotron in the first NBA game ever played in Quebec City, with Kawhi Leonard and Jakob Poeltl sitting out due to injury.
The Toronto Raptors lost 129-105 to the Miami Heat on Saturday at Centre Vidéotron in the first NBA game ever played in Quebec City. The sellout crowd of 18,474 watched the Raptors' six-game winning streak in Quebec come to an end in the pre-season contest.
NBA Canada Series Moves to Vancouver
The game was part of the NBA Canada Series, which continues with a second game in Vancouver on Oct. 10. The Raptors will meet the Los Angeles Clippers in that matchup. Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic did not dress star forward Kawhi Leonard and will not play him in Vancouver either. Leonard is still nursing an injury, and Rajakovic said he will not rush the two-time NBA Finals MVP.
Jakob Poeltl also sat out, as shown in training camp photos from Quebec City. For the Heat, head coach Erik Spoelstra started star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks. Antetokounmpo scored nine points Saturday night. Both coaches had their lone Canadians as starters.
Raptors Coaches Rest Key Players
RJ Barrett started for Toronto, and Andrew Wiggins started for the Heat. Barrett and Tyreke Key led the Raptors with 15 points each. Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Heat in scoring with 14 points. Rajakovic said a lack of experience showed with many of his players competing in their first professional game.
He was still pleased with some details of the performance. Defensively, we forced the Heat to 25 turnovers, which was a good job by our team, but in some instances, we lacked discipline when we had to get back on defence, Rajakovic said. He added that the team must work on getting more defensive rebounds, as Miami grabbed 13 offensive rebounds. Rajakovic was not impressed with the offence.
We did not shoot the ball well tonight, and even though we took more three-point shots, we only shot 29 per cent from the three-point line, he said. The Raptors will continue their training camp in Toronto this week. They will then head to the West Coast next Thursday. The NBA Canada Series game in Quebec City marked a historic moment for the league and for the province.
Toronto Struggles With Offensive Efficiency
The Raptors had won six straight games in Quebec before Saturday's loss. Toronto's roster featured several players getting their first taste of professional basketball, which Rajakovic said contributed to the uneven performance. The team's defence forced 25 Miami turnovers, but the offence struggled from beyond the arc. Miami's 13 offensive rebounds gave the Heat extra possessions, an area Rajakovic identified as a priority for improvement.
The Heat also capitalized on Toronto's defensive lapses in transition. Antetokounmpo's nine points came in his first appearance for Miami after the trade from Milwaukee. Wiggins, the Canadian star, started for the Heat and faced his national team teammate Barrett, who started for Toronto. Barrett and Key each scored 15 points to pace the Raptors.
Hardaway Jr. scored 14 points to lead Miami. The game drew a full house at Centre Vidéotron, the home of the Quebec Remparts junior hockey team. The Raptors now turn their attention to training camp in Toronto before travelling to the West Coast. The Oct. 10 game in Vancouver against the Clippers will be the second stop on the NBA Canada Series.
globeandmail 
CTVToronto:Kawhi Leonard held out of Raptors' pre-season game against Heat in Quebec CityThis story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Canada News Breaking News Video Canadian Breaking News Breaking News Globe And Mail Breaking News Globe And Mail Canada News Photos World News Local News National News Us News Foreign News Sports News Arts News Life News Lifestyle Canada Traffic Canada Weather Trudeau Government Federal Government Canada Sports Canada Sports News Politics Politics News Political News Political Opinion Environment Economy Technology Education Travel Canada Alberta Bc British Columbia Manitoba Ontario Quebec Nova Scotia Pei New Brunswick Newfoundland And Labrador Nunavut Northwest Territories Yukon Globe And Mail Toronto Raptors Miami Heat NBA Canada Series Quebec City Kawhi Leonard
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Raptors coach Rajakovic may play Kawhi Leonard in first NBA game in Quebec CityToronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic says he will consider playing Kawhi Leonard in Saturday's sold-out pre-season opener against the Miami Heat in Quebec City. The Raptors are taking a cautious approach with the often-injured Leonard.
Read more »
105 Book Nooks That Turn A Few Inches Of Shelf Space Into Entire Little Worlds (New Pics)A house is not a home without a bookshelf bursting with good reads. But it can house more than simply novels and memoirs. It can also be the perfect place to house a whimsical little book nook. Here’s a list featuring photos of the cutest miniature book nooks avid readers have shared online.
Read more »
Miami Heat Snap Toronto Raptors' Win Streak in First-Ever NBA Game in QuebecThe Miami Heat defeated the Toronto Raptors 129-105 in front of a sellout crowd at Centre Vidéotron, ending Toronto's six-game winning streak during the NBA Canada Series. Despite leading scorers RJ Barrett and Tim Hardaway Jr., the Raptors struggled with shooting and defensive rebounds, while star Kawhi Leonard remained sidelined with an injury.
Read more »