TORONTO -- Kyle Lowry bounced back into all-star form to lift the Toronto Raptors to a 96-92 overtime victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday, evening their second-round playoff series at one win apiece.
Lowry had 18 points, including two clutch baskets in the final minute of regulation, just two nights after what had to be one of the worst games of his career.
DeMarre Carroll scored 21 points, Jonas Valanciunas had 15 points and 12 rebounds, DeMar DeRozan chipped in with 20 points, and Terrence Ross added 10.
The Raptors roared out to a 14-point lead, and looked poised to romp to a relatively easy victory over Miami, but the Heat had all the momentum in a horrible third quarter for Toronto and took a 65-63 lead into the fourth.
Luol Deng capped an 8-0 Heat run with a three-pointer to give Miami a seven-point lead with six minutes to play. But the Raptors clawed their way back over a thrilling final few minutes of regulation, and a long jump shot by Lowry with 45 seconds left gave Toronto a four-point lead.
After Wade drilled a three-pointer, Lowry fired back with a basket, but Dragic, who played the second half with eight stitches in his lip, sunk a heartbreaking three with 10.5 seconds left to send the game into overtime tied 86-86.
Toronto dominated in OT, virtually the reverse of Tuesday's game. Miami missed its first five shots, and the Raptors had baskets from DeRozan and Valanciunas, who was huge down the stretch. A Deng dunk made it a four-point game, but free throws in the dying seconds from Cory Joseph, DeRozan and Lowry iced the victory for Toronto.
Dragic was left bloodied after taking a DeRozan elbow to the face. Dragic was looking for a charge on the play, but was called for the foul instead.
The Raptors were outshot by Miami 49 per cent to 42, outrebounded 45-39. But Toronto's turned the Heat's 21 turnovers into 24 points, while turning the ball over just 10 times themselves.
Lowry was limited to just seven points in a horrible performance in Game 1, and stayed on the court until 1:15 a.m. shooting alone. He said the next day the Raptors can't win the series without him playing well.
The two-time all-star had a solid first half and looked like his post-season slump might be behind him. He scored early on a mid-range jump shot then following it up with a beautiful pass to Carroll for a three-pointer, and when he tossed up a three-pointer late in the first quarter, the Air Canada Centre crowd went nuts.
The series now shifts to Miami for Game 3 on Saturday and Game 4 on Monday.
The Raptors won five of their last six regular-season matchups with Miami, but the Heat claimed the series opener 102-96 on Tuesday, ruining a thrilling comeback by Toronto to force overtime on a half-court Lowry buzzer-beater.
The Air Canada Centre was painted in black and white T-shirts that spelled out "6IX," the Drake-inspired nickname for Toronto. Maple Leaf Square outside drew a packed crowd of T-shirt waving fans.
The Heat raced out to an early-six point lead but the Raptors found their rhythm with a 17-3 run, and took a 29-19 advantage into the second quarter.
Miami cleaned up its turnovers in the second, giving up just one, and pulled to within five points before a Carroll basket sent the Raptors into the halftime break up 48-41.
The Raptors shot just 6-for-20 in the third quarter, and the Heat ended the frame on a 13-2 run to take their first lead since early in the first.
