The Miami Heat will keep their playoff hopes alive with a never ending win over the Toronto Raptors

MIAMI (AP) — When the final whistle blows Sunday in Miami, the Heat could be in the playoffs. They may also return to the game tournament.

As long as they're clicking, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra likes their chances.

Nikola Jovic scored 22 points, Jaime Jaquez Jr. had 20 points and nine assists, and the Heat kept their hopes of avoiding the playoffs alive with a 125-103 win over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.

Bam Adebayo scored 19 points, Tyler Herro scored 18 points, Jimmy Butler and Kevin Love scored 14 points (45-36). Miami can still win Sunday's matchup against the Raptors, get some help, and get out of the game.

“I'm focused on my team. All I'm focused on is that we can get to a place where we can connect and play for each other and play a spirited game that matches who we are,” Spoelstra said. “I'm excited about it now because when we get there we feel like we can beat anybody, anywhere, anytime.”

This is the 14th time in Heat history that a team has won 45 games in a season; all 13 previous teams made the playoffs.

RJ Barrett had 35 points and a season-high 11 rebounds for the Raptors, who lost for the 18th time in their last 20 games. For Toronto, Immanuel Quickley had 15 points, Bruce Brown 14 and Kelly Olympic 11 rebounds.

“They are a good team. They were moving the ball. Our first and second attempts were good,” Barrett said. “They went all the way down the shot clock and somehow found an open 3.”

The Heat made 17 3s on Friday and will now have to wait until Sunday to find out their playoff or playoff fate.

Orlando, Indiana, Philadelphia, and Miami finish #5, #6, #7, and #8 in the Eastern Conference, in that order. The Magic, Pacers and 76ers are all 46-35; The Heat lead Sunday's finale 45-36.

Before the Heat-Raptors matchup on Friday, there were other results that affected Miami's playoff chances. Philadelphia won its seventh game with a win over Orlando, but remains seventh in the East. Indiana lost to Cleveland, a game that gave the Cavaliers the fourth seed in the East.

The Heat never trailed, taking an 11-point lead after one quarter and extending it to 19 before taking a 66-50 halftime lead. The lead eventually ballooned to 25, and none of the Heat's players played more than 32 minutes.

“It's important … to rest, really recover, get extra treatment, get extra healthy and still support your team,” Adebayo said.

Regardless of what happens in Sunday's finale in Miami, the loss ensured Toronto (25-56) finished the season with the fifth-worst record in franchise history.

It would be Toronto's worst season since going 22-60 in 2010-11.

NEXT UP

The teams meet again on Sunday in Miami to close out the regular season.

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