The Raptors end their “journey” with a victory over the Pacers

Last stop on a five-game road trip east for the Raptors who traveled to Indianapolis to challenge a struggling Pacers team that was coming off heavy defeat conceded against Phoenix last thursday.

Unlike the last game against the Suns, the Pacers didn’t miss a start and relied on their 3-point prowess to take a ten-point lead midway through the first quarter after a 3-point stepback. d’Andrew Nembhard (22 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists). A short-lived lead from Toronto raises the tone on defense and forces Indiana to increase turnovers while Colin Murray-Boyles manages to equalize for the Canadians (27-27). Then, in a counter attack, Immanuel Quickley (12 points, 7 assists) takes responsibility for finishing in the circle and gives Toronto the first advantage in this meeting.

In the second quarter, the two teams traded baskets for several minutes before the visitors went on a 13-0 run to take a ten-point lead (53-43). If Indiana can get back to within four lengths thanks to Andrew Nembhard’s double – Pascal Sakak (30 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists), the Raptors responded with a long shot RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley’s breakthrough to a 62-53 lead when he arrived in the locker room.

The Raptors go ahead in the second half

In the third quarter, where the Raptors succeeded with almost 60% of their shots, Darko Rajaković’s team managed to increase the deficit and had a 16-point advantage before entering the final act (101-85). Indiana can’t find a way to get back into this matchup, and Toronto takes advantage of numerous mistakes made by Rick Carlisle’s players to make a series of free throws and put it away once and for all.

Thus, at the end of the second half controlled from beginning to end, the Raptors won 129:111 and achieved their third consecutive success, while the Pacers received their seventh failure in a row and have not won a single match since the victory. against the Warriors from November 1.

WHAT TO REMEMBER

– One sided second half. If Indiana managed to tie it in the first half, the Raptors sank them as soon as they came back from the locker room. Toronto started its second period with a 9-0 run that put the Pacers under water, but Rick Carlisle’s men initially counted on Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhardt to stay in the game before giving up in the fourth quarter. In this final act, Indiana missed eight of its first nine shots and was unable to contain a Toronto offense that was able to build a twenty-point lead.

– The interior dominance of the Raptors. The Canadiens couldn’t rely on their 3-point prowess to win, as they finished 7/30 from distance, but they dominated the game. Jakob Poeltl is a symbol of this dominance in the paint as the Raptors interior finishes with 22 points and 9 rebounds on 8/9 shooting. Thanks to this aggressiveness, the Canadians were able to get numerous fouls and increase the number of free throws. In this meeting, they hit 42, which is their record this season.

– Seventh straight loss for the Pacers. The nights are back to back and similar for the Pacers who continue to pile up the losses. If the start of the match was successful and the tandem Siakam – Nembhard collected 52 of Indiana’s 111 points, it did not follow behind them as no other player exceeded ten points in this match. The Indianapolis franchise therefore has its seventh straight loss, a streak during which it has lost by an average of 19.4 points.

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Difference of points when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.