Grunwald: 'We will not stand for this any longer'

TORONTO (AP) -- Lenny Wilkens got a frank appraisal of his team's performance from his general manager after the Toronto Raptors' latest defeat.

Following the 103-99 loss to the Miami Heat on Tuesday night, Raptors GM Glen Grunwald grabbed a microphone and told the crowd, "We will not stand for this any longer."

Wilkens, who holds the NBA coaching record for both wins and losses, is expected to be fired after the season. The Raptors play their final game in Cleveland on Wednesday night.

Wilkens was booed during pregame introductions. Asked if it was his last home game, he said: "I don't know, we'll find out, we're going to talk when I get back and we'll see."

Rasual Butler scored 19 points and Mike James added 15 for the Heat, who ended the season 25-57.

Morris Peterson scored a career-high 33 points for the injury-riddled Raptors, who have lost seven straight. They played just seven players against Miami.

"It's been very difficult, because I've never experienced so many injuries. I've never been out of the playoffs so early," Wilkens said. "I don't think they quit."

Butler said they didn't try to lose on purpose so they could improve their odds in the draft lottery.

"We are not worried about what people think we should do in order for us to get a better draft choice. We're professional basketball players," Butler said.

It didn't seem like Heat coach Pat Riley wanted to win that badly, though. After Vladimir Stephania scored eight straight points in the first three minutes of the fourth, Riley benched him.

Rookie of the year candidate Caron Butler didn't play in the fourth quarter and Brian Grant played just seven minutes in the entire game.

"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.

Riley said he didn't think Wilkens should be fired.

"Lenny's a great coach. He's got more experience than anybody in this league," Riley said. "He's probably had the most bad luck of any coach this year. I don't think you can discount that. Whatever happens to Lenny, he's going to end up in this game. I have so much respect for him that it's very difficult to talk about that possibility. I think that would be foolish."

James made two free throws to give the Heat a 96-93 lead with 2:29 left, but Toronto's Rafer Alston made a 3-pointer to tie it with 2:05 remaining. Butler followed with a jumper and Sean Lampley made one of two free throws, giving the Heat a 99-96 lead with 44.2 seconds left.

After Toronto's Chris Jefferies missed a 3-pointer, LaPhonso Ellis made a driving layup to give Miami a five-point lead with 20 seconds left.

Peterson followed with a three-point play to cut it to two with 11.4 seconds remaining, but Butler made two free throws with 10.3 seconds remaining. Alston missed a 3-pointer with 5 seconds left.

Game notes
Peterson had 22 points in the first half to give Toronto a 51-48 lead. ... Official Tommy Nunez worked the second-to-last game of his 30-year career. The diminutive Nunez is retiring. "I remember when he was taller. He started at 6-5. He took all of those years of coaches yelling and screaming at him too personal," Riley joked. ... The Heat swept the season series 4-0.