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All of the arduous work, all of the lengthy stretches of arduous and gritty play lastly paid off, a simply reward for a resilient Raptors staff that has but to string that successful needle.
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From begin to end, exterior of some lapses, that are to be anticipated from such a depleted roster, the Raptors not solely set the tempo in opposition to the Indiana Pacers, however they might outpace the guests to earn a well-deserved 130-119 win, solely Toronto’s third victory of the season, all three at residence.
A seven-game shedding streak that includes some shut misses has a approach of mounting and maybe spiralling uncontrolled, however the Raptors held courtroom at Scotiabank Area.
When the inevitable Pacers run was cast, the Raptors responded.
The Raptors started the evening with goal and poise, forcing the Pacers to name an early timeout.
It was clear from the opening faucet the Raptors had regrouped from Saturday’s time beyond regulation heartache in Boston the place Jayson Tatum’s buzzer-beating three mustn’t have counted following an additional step the sport officers didn’t see.
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The NBA’s two-minute report did embody the missed name, however that’s neither right here nor there as a result of nothing will be finished to overturn the end result.
Both approach, there have been no lingering results in opposition to Indy because the Raptors performed with a double-digit lead for many the opening half, which might see them take a 69-57 lead into the break, sparked by Toronto’s 57% capturing and talent to manage the glass.
Toronto elevated its result in 17 factors two minutes into the third quarter, prompting the Pacers to name a timeout.
A Damion Mitchell three in transition would bump the result in 20.
It might improve to 22 factors as Indy’s spirits started to sink.
A second to have a good time the Argos’ Gray Cup win would then be held that includes, amongst others, Dejon Brissett, Sunday’s most excellent Canadian, who held aloft the coveted trophy.
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His brother Oshae Brissett, who as soon as suited up for the Raptors, earned an NBA title final season with the Celtics.
Neither the present iteration of the Raptors nor the Pacers are nowhere close to championship-calibre.
Credit score the Raptors for as soon as once more bringing that aggressive struggle into the evening.
Very similar to in Boston, the 2 gamers who elevated their video games for the Raptors had been RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl.
Saturday, it was Barrett recording his first-career triple-double, whereas Poeltl poured in a career-high 35 factors in Toronto’s 126-123 loss.
Indy was with out its huge man in Myles Turner, who also can prolong his offence, liberating up Poeltl to pounce on the Pacers.
The turnover-prone Raptors had been as much as their previous tips, permitting the Pacers to get again into the sport.
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Toronto’s two main turnover culprits had been Barrett and Poeltl, who mixed for 11 of the Raptors’ 23 turnovers.
The tandem additionally mixed to attain 69 factors.
INJURY UPDATES
Scottie Barnes made an look within the hours main as much as tip by collaborating in some basketball actions on the courtroom.
He continues to sport a protecting masks following that unintentional elbow Denver’s huge man Nikola Jokic to Barnes’ face that led to an orbital fracture.
Barnes is scheduled to be re-evaluated Tuesday.
He not too long ago visited with a specialist when it was decided no surgical procedure could be required.
Monday marked the eleventh sport Barnes has missed since his inadvertent encounter with the Joker.
He was carrying a cowboy hat on the bench, a glance Bruce Brown has been recognized to sport this season, which might proceed Monday evening.
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Toronto did enter the evening having misplaced 71 man video games to harm.
The one staff with extra video games misplaced to harm is Memphis (73), a staff that includes Toronto’s personal Zach Edey, whom the Grizzlies took ninth total on this yr’s draft.
The 7-foot-4 Edey sprained his ankle this previous Sunday in a house win over Denver.
Toronto’s rising harm record meant the staff had 10 gamers obtainable in opposition to the Pacers.
It was decreased to 9 when Jamal Shead headed to the locker room within the second half with an undisclosed difficulty.
The tough-as-nails child pulled his jersey over his face in apparent ache.
SPICY HOMECOMING
Pascal Siakam, whom the Raptors drafted and nurtured, was again in the home.
Through the pre-game warmups, he took time to reconnect with followers by posing for photos.
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Through the pre-game participant introductions, he was roundly cheered.
This isn’t Spicy P’s first time again in Toronto, however the trademark smile on Siakam’s face glows a bit brighter when he returns to his first hoops residence.
“He’s an excellent individual and he’s actually taken on a management function,’’ mentioned Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle. “He’s immersed himself in our staff, he’s develop into an enormous a part of our tradition and we actually love having him.”
Indy entered the evening coming off a two-game cut up in opposition to the Miami Warmth, two video games that noticed Siakam go 15-for-25 from the sector.
When he drew a foul that despatched him to the road 5 minutes into Monday’s tip, Siakam missed his first free throw, eliciting a cheer from the gang.
He buried his second free throw.
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Throughout a timeout halfway via the second quarter, the Raptors counted down the staff’s 5 largest draft-day steals because the membership celebrates its milestone thirtieth anniversary.
At No. 1 was Siakam, the twenty seventh total choose in 2016.
When Siakam was proven sitting on the Pacers bench as soon as the draft roll name had been accomplished, followers cheered.
Siakam then acknowledged the ovation.
He ended the evening by scoring 25 factors.
WOE CANADA
On Canada Basketball evening, Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin was acknowledged.
Sadly, he was greeted by muted applause, which is sort of unhappy as a result of the child has sport and figures to play a distinguished function with the nationwide males’s staff as his sport develops.
He scored a team-high 28 factors in Indy’s loss.
Andrew Nembhard (knee) represented Canada at this previous summer time’s Paris Olympics, however he was unavailable in opposition to the Raptors.
Kelly Olynyk (again) continues to be sidelined for the Raptors.
Not less than Barrett and Chris Boucher had been capable of present some Canadian content material on Canada Basketball evening from a Raptors perspective.
fzicarelli@postmedia.com
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