Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey is relishing his side’s decisive encounter with Miami Heat on Sunday, as they bid reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time.
The two teams have won three matches apiece in the seven-game series, with the winner of Sunday’s encounter at the Air Canada Centre progressing through to the Conference Finals where they will face the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Toronto have never made it through to the Conference Finals in their 21-year history, but they have already shown their fighting spirit in this year’s playoffs, as they won a decisive seventh game against the Indiana Pacers in the first round.
Casey is hopeful that the Raptors experience in a do-or-die match will stand them in good stead against the Heat and he is relishing the prospect of being part of such a huge occasion in the team’s history.
He said: “Games 7s are fun. I think this Game 7 will be different than the last Game 7.
I think our guys understand that. Going through the Indiana series helped them tremendously as far as getting through that.”
The 59-year-old believes the home crowd were crucial as they advanced through against the Pacers and he is hopeful that they will create a similar atmosphere on Sunday.
He added: “There’s nothing like having your fans behind you in a Game 7, when things kind of get down, they push you through, you know that they’re cheering for you through thick and thin.”
Toronto are available 1.44 to secure a victory on Sunday, while Miami are on offer at 2.70.
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