The Toronto Raptors humiliated Indiana Pacers last night at the Scotiabank Arena, posting the biggest win of the season, 127-81. It was a superb night for the champions who were fantastic in all aspects of the match, and were in the mood for some serious destruction.
“Flying and executing the coverages, ball was poppin’, and every single guy that went in there was on, ready to go,” Nick Nurse said about the last night’s performance of his players.
The hosts were shooting 51.1% from the field, they poured 17 threes in 44 attempts, and had 57 boards compared to 39 of the guests. In the meantime, the Pacers had 32.6% from the field, 24.2% for three, 8 of 33.
When Matt Thomas made a three-pointer for the Raptors with 43.7 seconds, the champs had a 49-point lead, 127-78.
But truth to be told, everything was obvious at the end of the first. After leading 15-1, and 32-6, the hosts closed that part of the event at 34-12. It continued like this in the second, and the Raptors were up 63-32 at the halftime. Nurse’s machinery was hurting the guests from all sorts of weapons, and annihilation like this was bound to happen.
Toronto’s head coach gave a chance to all of the players, and Paul Watson was the only one who couldn’t score any points. Pascal Siakam had the team-high with 21, Matt Thomas 17 in 15 minutes, with five threes from seven attempts. Serge Ibaka had 15 points and rebounds each, Terence Davis 13, while Stanley Johnson posted 12.
Kyle Lowry posted another double-double, his six straight. He ended the night with 16 points, 11 assists and 7 boards. This is the longest streak for the Raptors’ All-Star point guard, who averages 19.3 points and 10.8 assists during this stretch.
“He plays smart, he knows the coverages, he knows the opponents, he studies film, he gives his body up, right?” said Nurse about Lowry.
On the other side, on top of all that Indiana survived tonight, Pacers’ guard Jeremy Lamb injured his knee and had to go out. He would get the X-rays done immediately afterward, and they came back negative.
They were without Victor Oladipo, who missed this match due to back spasm, and having in mind all the circumstances, this huge loss is not so surprising.
The Pacers missed 19 shots in the first period, which pretty much killed their morale.
Domantas Sabonis had 14 points and 11 boards, Aaron Holiday the same number of buckets, with 6 assists, and Justin Holiday 12 points, all threes. Malcolm Brogdon added 9, shooting 4-for-15.
TJ Warren had 7, same as Myles Turner.
“That team is playing for something big and they showed us what February, March, April, if you can get into May and June, what it’s going to look like, and what you’ve got to play against,” said Nate McMillan, Indiana’s head coach.
Indiana (33-24) snapped a two-game winning streak, but has the chance to erase this loss with wins over the next two games. Both of them are at home, and the rivals are the Hornets and the Trail Blazers.
On the other side, the Raptors (42-15) meet with the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.
