Toronto big man Bismack Biyombo gets crowd going in Raptors win over Miami | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Toronto big man Bismack Biyombo gets crowd going in Raptors win over Miami

Toronto Raptors centre Bismack Biyombo (8) reacts after dunking the ball past the Miami Heat during first half round two NBA basketball playoff action in Toronto on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Biyombo channelled Usain Bolt and then some.The big man from the Democratic Republic of Congo had a second quarter to remember in the Toronto Raptors' 99-91 win Wednesday over the Miami Heat. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Original Publication Date May 11, 2016 - 10:00 PM

TORONTO - Bismack Biyombo channelled Usain Bolt and then some.

The big man from the Democratic Republic of Congo had a second quarter to remember in the Toronto Raptors' 99-91 win Wednesday over the Miami Heat.

Starting once again for the injured Jonas Valanciunas, Biyombo had just two points in the first quarter but went on a rampage in the second and finished the half with 10 points, twice as many as Dwyane Wade had at the time.

Biyombo went 4 of 4 in the quarter with his line reading ally-oop dunk, reverse layup, tip dunk and running dunk.

He brought out his Usain Bolt lightning bolt pose with the first bucket of the quarter.

"I don't know where it came from," Biyombo said with a smile. "I was just excited with the action. Then after the dunk, it came out of nowhere. Even myself, I was a little surprised. It got my teammates excited. I guess they were asking me if it was a new celebration."

It looked good. Then again, it's hard to look bad when you're six foot nine, 245 pounds and come across like you've just stepped off a Milan fashion runway. Biyombo lived up to that after the game, slipping into an elegant grey suit.

During the game, he dug deep into his bag of tricks during the second quarter. He celebrated another bucket by high-stepping up the court and urged the crowd for applause following another two-pointer.

Biyombo got the arena going. He knows big plays can get both the fans and his teammates get involved.

"Once there is a positive energy going on, just everything starts falling," he said.

One dunk excited teammate Terrence Ross so much on the bench, that a towel went flying into the stratosphere. The sellout crowd of 20,155 was equally pumped.

"I think it speaks for itself, the energy that he brings on both ends is amazing," said Toronto all-star DeMar DeRozan. "Especially when he did the Usain Bolt. That type of thing gets us going, honestly, when Bismack is out there just being himself, showing his charisma. That kind of gets us going."

At the other end of the court, the Raptors big man also turned heads, wagging his finger in denial at Wade when the Heat star went down after a Biyombo block.

He says he enjoys making plays at both ends.

"I'm always trying to get out there and have fun," he said. "This is just a game and I'm blessed to be in this situation. But at the same time being in front of our fans is the best thing you can have. Our fans are great, for either a block or a dunk."

It was a roller-coaster quarter for Biyombo, who also had two turnovers. But he whipped the crowd into a frenzy.

It wasn't all wine and roses. A Biyombo attempted pass on a fast break in the third quarter was aimed at a teammate's feet and bounced out. And Gerald Green faked out the big man under the basket to get a Miami bucket.

The 23-year-old Biyombo finished with 10 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots. He was also trending on Twitter both nationally and in Toronto during the game.

Raptors coach Dwane Casey praised Biyombo for being decisive and setting good screens.

"He was using his athletic ability, his speed and quickness. He wasn't hesitating, he was very decisive and that's the way he has to play."

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News from © The Canadian Press, 2016
The Canadian Press

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