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TORONTO, April 15 (Ticker) -- Rasual Butler made sure Pat Riley's most frustrating season would end on a high note.

Butler scored the go-ahead basket and hit two key free throws as the Miami Heat edged the undermanned Toronto Raptors, 103-99, and swept their season series.

Toronto, which dressed the league-minimum eight players and used only seven, outplayed Miami for much of the contest and held a 77-69 lead entering the fourth quarter.

But the Raptors did not hold off the deeper Heat, who took the lead for good, 98-96, on a jumper by Butler with 1:53 left. After Morris Peterson got Toronto within 101-99 on a layup and free throw with 11 seconds left, Butler capped the scoring with a pair of free throws one second later.

"I got fouled and I had to hit the shots for us to win," Butler said. "It was still a close game so I had to concentrate - they were big shots. We leave on a high note and hopefully we can carry it to the summer and into next year."

"It feels like we finished on a high note," Riley said. "Why not? We got a 'W' and some of the guys felt pretty good about it, so I'm happy for them."

Butler, a rookie, scored 19 points and Mike James added 15 for the 25-57 Heat, who swept Toronto for the third time in six seasons.

"It's been a rough season for us and it feels good to at least get that one victory that leads into the offseason," James said.

Riley, the second-winningest coach in NBA history, will miss the postseason for a second straight season after making the playoffs in his first 19 years.

"The season obviously was long and arduous for us but now it's about the evaluation process and meeting with the players and getting on to the future," Riley said. "You know, we have the draft and you have free agency, and I'm sort of excited about that possibility."

Peterson scored a career-high 33 points, Rafer Alston added 19 and Jerome Williams 10 and 17 rebounds for the Raptors, who lost their seventh straight game.

"It's bittersweet that I played well and we lost," Peterson said. "But we played well as a team but we got a little tired."

Toronto concludes its season at league-worst Cleveland on Wednesday.

"It's been a tough year," said Raptors coach Lenny Wilkens, who may have coached his last home game. "We had lots of injuries and I thought the fans were terrific, they supported the team, they came out every night and that's what you want, but you know there's nothing you can do to change the injuries that we had this year."

"We'd love to win tomorrow night in Cleveland and finish on a strong note," Peterson said. "I think for the seven guys out there it's a good experience to go out there and stick together and come away with some positives."

Injured star Antonio Davis addressed the Air Canada Centre crowd after the game.

"As we go back this summer and do the things that it takes to get right and get back on top, to get stronger and to get healthy, we expect to see you here next year and we'll give you something to cheer about," Davis said.

QUICK HITS

The Raptors dressed eight players for the third straight game and had only seven players available to play for the second straight game … Miami had all 12 players play in tonight’s contest
Miami’s win broke the Raptors streak of four consecutive victories in home finales … The
Raptors record in home finales is now 4-4.
The win also gave Miami a sweep of the season series vs. Raptors (4-0) … It was the third time in franchise history the Heat have swept the Raptors. Morris Peterson scored 14 of his career-high 33 points in the first quarter. (old:31, at Boston, Nov. 29, 2003).
Jerome Williams grabbed nine rebounds in the first quarter one off the franchise individual record of 10 … He finished the game with 17 rebounds including nine of the offensive variety to match a team season high (Bradley, March 28 vs. New Orleans … He also recorded his team leading 20th double-double with 10 points.

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Quotes

PLAYER OF THE GAME

MORRIS PETERSON

Peterson scored his career-high in points with 33 topping his 31 scored November 29 at Boston.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Toronto played hard. I was really proud of how hard they played for Lenny. I mean they gave us a tough game. They made shots. I really think Toronto probably played the better basketball game tonight. That’s just how this game goes,” George Karl, head coach, Bucks.

KEY STAT

The big key stat was once again, that the Raptors had only seven healthy players. The Raptors couldn’t keep up in the fourth, getting outscored 34-22.

LINE OF THE GAME

Rafer Alston::19 points on 7-16 shooting, eight rebounds and eight assists.

TOP HIGHLIGHT

In the fourth, Morris Peterson sent a high entry pass into Michael Bradley in the post. Bradley had to jump and extend to reach it with one hand and in one motion redirected it to a cutting Jerome Williams for the lay-in and the foul.

HUSTLE BOARD

Team	RB	ST	BLK	TOT
MIA	44	3	2	49
TOR	45	4	5	54

LEADERBOARD
TORONTO		MIAMI
R. Alston	Points: M. Peterson - 33 Rebounds: J. Williams -17 Assists: R. Alston - 8	R. Butler	Points: R. Butler - 19 Rebounds: K. Johnson - 10 Assists: M. James - 7