Miami finished the job against Charlotte and qualified for the semifinals of the Eastern Conference. They won by 106-73 and established the definitive 4-3. Charlotte missed both times they had a chance to remove the Heat when they were spearing the series by 2-3.
Goran Dragic with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, was the most prominent in the decisive match. Deng and Gerald Green were second in attack and Wade added 12 points. The basis of the Hornets, Kemba Walker, was very unfortunate in the shooting and, with 3 out of 16, finished with only 9 points. The classification is a success for Miami since several weeks ago they lost one of their stars, Chris Bosh.
Toronto qualified for the conference semifinals for the second time in history. The team succeeded after beating Indiana in the seventh game 89-84. The Raptors had passed the first round only in 2001. Since then were eliminated at the first hurdle on five occasions played the playoffs (2002, 2007, 2008, 2014 and 2015).
That time, in 2001, when the team had, Vince Carter, Charles Oakley and Antonio Davis, exceeded in the first round to New York Knicks and lost in the conference semifinal against Philadelphia 76ers. The executioners in the last two seasons were Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards.
DeRozan with 30 points, Powell, Patterson and Valanciunas were the mainstays of the Raptors in the decider. Paul George, with 26 points and 12 rebounds, was the best in the Pacers, although it was more to less. George Hill and Monta Ellis seconded him, but the Raptors were clearly better especially in rebounding (49-38) and did not commit many turnovers. Pacers in the Eastern Conference finalists in 2013 and 2014, the last season were out of the playoffs and this time have fallen in the first round.
With five minutes remaining in the decisive match, the Raptors opened up a gap of 12 points (85-73). From there, the match was agony. Two triples from Solomon Hill and Monta Ellis narrowed the score (85-82). The Raptors only scored a throw in the last stretch from Lowry. George again left a stone throw his team when there were 52 seconds left (87-84), but the Raptors DeRozan no longer spared and, after missing a triple, eventually sealed the win from the free throw line.
