While it obviously won’t be the circus that it was when LeBron James returned to Cleveland for the first time, expect a not very nice reception on Wednesday night when the Miami Heat play in Toronto. It’s the Heat’s first visit there this season, marking the return of Chris Bosh to the city he started his NBA career with before bolting for Miami. The Heat are 9-point favorites on Bodog’s NBA odds.
Bosh no doubt will be plenty motivated, especially after Raptors president Bryan Colangelo accused him of having “checked out” after the All-Star break on the team amid a spate of injuries last season. That included the last six games, when Bosh was medically cleared to play after taking a blow to the face at a game in Cleveland, but did not suit up as the Raptors were fighting for a playoff spot. Toronto’s fourth-overall draft pick in 2003, Bosh is averaging 18.3 points and 8.1 rebounds this season.
It’s the final game before the break and of a four-game road trip for Miami, which beat Indiana 110-103 on Tuesday night behind a combined 90 points from the Big 3 of LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Bosh. That was the second-highest total of the season for the trio. Wade led the way with 41 points – a franchise-record 31 in the first half – and 12 rebounds. The 29 shot attempts by Wade were the most field goal attempts by a LeBron teammate in his career. The Heat won’t have sharpshooter Mike Miller tonight. He was elbowed in the eye by Pacers power forward Jeff Foster in the third quarter and didn’t return. Miller didn’t travel with the team and might have a concussion.
The Raptors are one of the worst teams in the NBA at 15-40 and among the worst defensive clubs in allowing 104.5 points per game. They do enter off a 98-93 win over the Clippers on Sunday but that was just their second win in 18 games. Toronto traveled to Miami on Nov. 13 and lost 109-100. Bosh finished with 12 points in just under 22 minutes, his night marred by foul trouble.