In May 2016 the Miami Heat played the Toronto Raptors to a Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The paths of the franchises could not have been more divergent since. Or even Sunday night at Scotiabank Arena.
Continuing to maraud through the Eastern Conference, the Raptors pushed to a 26-point lead and then held off the Heat 125-115 to improve to 17-4 and drop Erik Spoelstra's team to 7-12.
"We just couldn't get over that last hump," said Spoelstra, whose team got as close as eight late.
About the only similarity between that 2016 playoff series and Sunday's thrashing was as throwback moment by Dwyane Wade, who scored 35 points, his high since returning to the team at last February's trading deadline and the most ever by a reserve in the Heat's 31 seasons.
"It's a shame," Spoelstra said," that that kind of game is wasted on a loss."
Wade left the Heat in free agency after that 2016 playoff series against the Raptors, with Hassan Whiteside and Tyler Johnson signing oversized contracts that summer. It has been uphill for the Heat since.
The Raptors went through a rough patch of their own after that series -- a rough patch that went by the name of LeBron James.
But now, with James playing in the Western Conference for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Raptors arguably have the best player in the Eastern Conference with their offseason acquisition of Kawhi Leonard (although Giannis Antetokounmpo might disagree).
Leonard wasn't called on to do it all Sunday, which also speaks volumes of this Raptors remix under first-year coach Nick Nurse, closing with 29 points. He was supported Sunday by the 17-point, 10-rebound double-double of center Jonas Valanciunas and a 12-point, 10-assist double-double from point guard Kyle Lowry.
For the Heat? Just another reminder of how much of a climb remains, as they worked their way back through immigration and customs for the start of a four-game homestand that opens Tuesday against the Atlanta Hawks at AmericanAirlines Arena.
"We got down early in the third quarter by too many points to try to come back on the road versus the best team in the Eastern Conference," Wade said.
Five degrees of Heat from Sunday's game:
1. Throwback night: At 36, Wade turned back the clock to some of the best of his Heat times.
Two nights earlier, Spoelstra spoke of how he opted not to go with Wade during closing time in the victory over the Chicago Bulls because of how important it was for his younger players to learn what it takes.
This time, Spoelstra essentially turned to Wade for salvation. Wade's previous high this season was 21 points. His high since his return last season was 27 last February against the Philadelphia 76ers.
"I was just trying to be aggressive," Wade said. "I could tell we needed it a little bit from an offensive standpoint, especially with this team scoring the ball at a high rate early on and getting out in transition. So instead of letting the game go, I just decided to be a little aggressive. I had a couple matchups early where I could be aggressive and the ball kept finding me."
If not for Wade, it would have been far worse than a 63-54 halftime deficit.
Wade's scoring came on a mix of old-school pump fakery and step-back jumpers, but now also working in a newfound 3-point stroke, closing 4 of 7 from beyond the arc.
Wade added six assists and five rebounds.
"When you’re scoring the basketball, that's when it's easier to get guys involved," Wade said. "You get to make different sprays now that you're scoring."
2. Better Bam: With Whiteside enduring another of those nights that only add to the questions, second-year Bam Adebayo stepped into the power void and closed with a career-high 21 rebounds, along with 16 points.
"You just feel his energy," Spoelstra said. "He asked to come out a couple of times tonight and we couldn't afford to take him out. He was making too many things happen. That's what you want to do as a player. But that force is something we can definitely build on."
Adebayo now has consecutive double-doubles after going without one in his first 17 appearances of the season. He closed Friday's victory over the Bulls with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
"My teammates want me to be aggressive," he said, "and that's what I'm doing.”
Whiteside, by contrast, closed 1 of 5 for two points, with five-rebounds in his 12 foul-filled minutes.
3. As advertised: Leonard proved too much of a challenge for Rodney McGruder at the outset, with James Johnson taking over the defensive assignment early in the first quarter.
Acquired in the offseason at the cost of DeMar DeRozan, Leonard not only had 16 points by the intermission but was part of the deterrence that had the Heat at .373 from the field in the first half.
"They have a lot of speed, a lot of length, athleticism and Lowry and Kawhi create a lot of opportunities for their team," Spoelstra understated going in.
4. Clean break: The Heat cleaned up at least one of their issues, going the entire first half without a turnover, the first time the Heat had done it in any half in their 31 seasons.
The shutout ended on an offensive foul by Whiteside with 9:50 left in the third quarter. The Heat closed with seven. The franchise low for a game is four.
The problem lately is that the opposition instead has been patiently waiting for the Heat to miss, which happened early and often Sunday. The Heat closed at .411 from the field.
It is why the Heat need Goran Dragic back, having now missed the past four games with a sore right knee. And why Dion Waiters might remain the only true hope for a turnaround.
5. Steps behind: The approach by the Raptors was clear from the outset, to literally attempt to run the Heat off the court.
The Raptors not only outscored the Heat 11-0 on fast-break points in the first half, but further built on their transition advantage off the secondary break. At one stage, the Raptors' edge on fast-break scoring stood at 16-0 and the way to a closing 20-5.
"I think it was awesome," Raptors coach Nick Nurse said, "and I think it brought a little excitement to the game, the way we got it up the floor."
iwinderman@sunsentinel.com. Follow him at twitter.com/iraheatbeat or facebook.com/ira.winderman
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