DeMar DeRozan’s struggles stick out like a sore thumb in Game 4 loss

2:26 AM ET

MIAMI — Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan lost the ball at the end of Game 1 of Round 2.

In the ensuing scramble for it with Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade, he lost his ability to shoot.

DeRozan injured his right thumb on the play — it bent awkwardly as the two fought for possession on the floor — and he had been bothered by it ever since.

In Game 2, DeRozan missed six free throws. In Game 3, he went 6-for-17 from the field.

And in Game 4 on Monday night, he air-balled his first jumper, hit two of his final 14 shots and sat from the 3:09 mark of the third quarter until the 1:38 mark of the fourth quarter.

DeMar DeRozan found himself searching for answers Monday after another poor shooting performance. Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images

With DeRozan struggling and Kyle Lowry fouling out late in regulation, the Raptors imploded, blowing a nine-point fourth-quarter lead before succumbing to the Heat in overtime 94-87 on Monday night at American Airlines Arena.

The best-of-seven Eastern Conference second-round playoff series is tied 2-2. Game 5 is Wednesday night at Air Canada Centre.

“I mean, it’s the feeling of being uncomfortable and not doing the things that you normally do with gripping the ball and everything,” said DeRozan, who finished with nine points on 4-for-17 shooting and went 1-for-4 from the free throw line. “It’s nothing I’ll ever make an excuse about, but like I said, I know for sure I’m not going to shoot like I did tonight [in our] next game. I know that for a fact. It’s just something I’m going to have to deal with and push through.”

Since Game 1, DeRozan is shooting 32.3 percent from the field and 50 percent from the free throw line in the series. During the regular season, he shot 44.6 percent from the field and 85 percent from the free …

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