Heat vs. Raptors 2016 final score: Toronto tops Miami in Game 7 to advance to Eastern Conference Finals

For the first time in franchise history, the Toronto Raptors are heading to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Raptors beat the Miami Heat, 116-89, behind a masterful performance from Kyle Lowry in Game 7 of their second round series on Sunday.

Lowry had 35 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and four steals to lead the way for the Raptors, who got a huge boost from Bismack Biyombo's 17 points and 16 rebounds as the Raptors dominated the boards. Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic had 16 points apiece in the loss.

There won't be much time to celebrate in Toronto; the Raptors will take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday.

The Raptors led 25-24 after one quarter as both teams continued to struggle from the field. DeRozan took 12 of the 19 Raptors shots, making five as he scored 11 to keep the Raptors in it. The Heat lost Wade to foul trouble midway through the quarter but managed to stay in the game even with him on the bench, outscoring the Raptors 13-9 while he sat.

Lowry played well in the second, scoring 12 points as the Raptors took a 53-47 lead into the half. The Raptors shot only 41.5 percent from the field but got to the free throw line 21 times to hold the lead. Wade and Dragic led a balanced attack for the Heat, who were able to stay close despite the foul trouble.

The Raptors came out firing in the third quarter, with Lowry and Biyombo leading a 15-4 run that gave the Raptors a 17-point lead midway through the third. The Heat wouldn't wilt, though, and chipped away at the deficit to go into the fourth down 86-78.

The Heat needed to come out firing in the fourth, but instead the Raptors unloaded. They opened the quarter on a 16-4 run to take a 20-point lead, and they never looked back en route to a 27-point win.

Here are four things we learned:

Kyle Lowry shows up when it counts

DeMar DeRozan cannot buy a bucket in the postseason -- he was 12-of-29 from the field -- but, fortunately for the Toronto Raptors, Lowry found his stroke on Sunday. He was 11-for-20 from the field, and he put the team on his back as he led the Raptors to the promised land. DeRozan did have a few moments -- he had 28 points -- but this game belonged to Lowry, who kickstarted the third-quarter run that gave the Raptors a lead they would never relinquish. Not only did Lowry shoot better than he has throughout the postseason, he was running the offense to perfection and hitting clutch shots. The Raptors haven't quite lived up to expectations this postseason, but Lowry brought them back to the mean in Game 7. The Raptors don't run a brilliant offense, but when Lowry performs the way he did out of simple pick-and-rolls like he did on Sunday, their offense can get going. If the Raptors are going to have any chance at upsetting the Cavaliers, Lowry is going to have to play like he did on Sunday -- maybe even better.

Bismack Biyombo was the big man the Raptors needed

Injuries ravaged this series, but they did allow Biyombo to enter the spotlight. As the Heat went small, Biyombo did his best to take over as the only big man on the court for stretches. He was 6-for-8 from the field and had two blocks in Game 7 and was superb in the third quarter when the Raptors made a run. He controlled the paint on both ends of the court, whether he was protecting the rim or working the pick-and-roll with Lowry and Cory Joseph.


The status of Jonas Valanciunas remains uncertain, but at least the Raptors have Biyombo. In a series that was forced to go small, he was able to give the Raptors an edge they desperately needed.

Justise Winslow had himself a game, even in the loss

The Heat put Winslow in the starting lineup as the center for the second straight game, and he was once again critical for the Heat. He didn't throw up some huge stat line -- he had 14 points and eight rebounds -- but he did plenty of little things for Miami, grabbing tough rebounds and diving after every loose ball. Winslow needs to work on his shot, but he proved to be a gamer and one phenomenal defender throughout this series. While much has been made of DeRozan's shooting struggles, Winslow did a phenomenal job sticking on DeRozan and getting a hand in his face. The Heat came up short, but they do have a bright future with Winslow.

The Raptors have to play whom in the Eastern Conference Finals?

Unfortunately for Toronto, they get a well-rested Cleveland team in the conference finals -- and the Cavaliers have looked sublime in the postseason thus far. Taking even a game or two from Cleveland would be a surprise, but the Raptors should be happy they made it this far. For the Raptors, it's their first trip to the conference finals in franchise history. They fought through injury and stretches of extremely poor play from their All-Stars and still did something they had never done. No matter what happens against the Cavaliers, the Raptors have to consider this season a success.

This doesn't mean they should fold, though. The Raptors played the Cavaliers tough in the regular season, taking two games. Lowry will have an opportunity to go at the sometimes-shaky defense of Kyrie Irving, and the Raptors can throw DeMarre Carroll at LeBron James on defense. The Cavaliers will be heavy favorites -- and rightfully so -- but the Raptors have the tools to make things interesting.