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Heat down Raptors in season finale

Apr 14, 2011 - 6:59 AM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Eddie House made seven three-pointers and finished with a career-high 35 points to lead the Miami Heat to a 97-79 victory over the Toronto Raptors in the regular season finale for both teams.

With the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference secured, Miami rested its three superstars -- Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James.

House shined in their absence, hitting 14-of-27 overall, while Juwan Howard chipped in 18 points for the Heat, whose four-game winning streak gave them a 58-24 record, their best mark since 2004-05.

Miami opens the postseason at home against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (et).

The post-Bosh Raptors ended the season with a 22-60 record, the second worst mark in the East. Jerryd Bayless scored a team-high 21 points on Wednesday.

"We had a lot of ups and downs," said Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan, who netted 18 points. "I had a lot of fun being around these guys and going through the tough times and the good times with them."

House was unconscious in the first quarter, hitting 8-of-9 from the field for 18 points as the Heat jumped out to a 29-20 lead.

He missed all five of his attempts in the second, allowing the Raptors back in the game. Toronto took a 51-50 lead into the break on Julian Wright's late hook shot.

House drained a three-pointer in the final minute of the third for a 70-69 edge, then capped a 7-0 run to start the fourth with another make from long range.

Two more deep makes from House near the midway point pushed the margin to 85-71, and the visitors cruised from there.

"I wanted to go out there and get in a rhythm for the playoffs," House said. "You never know what can happen."

Game Notes

Miami swept the season series for the first time since the 2002-03 campaign...The Heat went 28-13 on the road, while Toronto finished 16-25 at Air Canada Centre.