With both the Raptors and Pacers off their games, the outcome was in doubt all night. In extra time, Toronto came up big.
On a night when the Toronto Raptors’ shooting was dismal, Bismack Biyombo owned the glass. He set a team record with 25 rebounds, and kept the visitors close in a game they would ultimately win.
First Half
The Raptors frequently stumble against opponents in the NBA’s Central Division, and the first half against the Indiana Pacers was another example. Toronto started well enough, and a 14-2 run pushed them in front by 8. The margin was two at quarter-end.
The second quarter was excruciating; I suspect the first words out of DeMar DeRozan’s mouth when he got to the dressing room were: “We sucked”. They certainly did; this Q resembled those horrible 12 minutes against Brooklyn during the home stand. The Raptors managed four baskets, with as many turnovers. Despite four bench players receiving significant minutes, none could make a hoop. At least Jason Thompson made the scoresheet with four free throws.
The only positive was how feebly the Pacers were shooting. The two teams combined to go 11 of 43, or barely 25%. As a result, Biyombo had a lot of work to do on the boards, and was up to the task, pulling down 7 rebounds to total 13 at break.
Second Half
Both teams’ crummy shooting contained in Q3, with neither side able to make a run of any size. Thankfully, DeRozan started finding the range with his mid-range jumper despite tight defense. Biyombo continued his mastery of the glass, so the Pacers were one & done. The Raptors, behind by 3 at half, took the lead by that amount going to the (not) final 12 minutes.
To the relief of a quiet Indy crowd, their team found the range. Their three 3-balls were key to overcoming some fine Raptors defense, including a remarkable blocked 3-point attempt by DeRozan on the Pacers’ best player, Paul George. Meanwhile, Kyle Lowry’s dismal shooting night was stymieing Toronto’s attempts to pull ahead. He missed open looks he’d normally make with ease. He was not getting any relief handling the ball, being charged with eight turnovers on the night, against four assists.
The last turnover in regulation time was a foul that wasn’t called, and Monte Ellis had a chance to push the Pacers into the lead. Ball don’t lie – he made only his second free throw, DeRozan’s jumper at the buzzer wasn’t close, and we were off to extra time.
Overtime
The Raptors barely broke a sweat, taking the lead on a Lowry corner 3-ball (finally!) and never giving it up. George Hill tied the game with a 3, but after that, the Raptors were not to be denied. Several of their buckets were uncontested, much to my shock, with Patrick Patterson putting the game out of reach with a ball fake on the perimeter, then two dribbles to an emphatic slam dunk. The Raptors drained five of six free throws after forced fouls, and Dwane Casey’s 200th win as coach was on ice.
Wrap-up
Lowry and DeRozan, though needing a truckload of shots, split 56 points. Bismack was master of the glass, pulling down multiple boards while being arm-wrestled by Pacers. The rest of the team put on uniforms, and several defended with vigor.
I don’t know how much energy our All-Stars are going to be able to muster against the Boston Celtics tonight. We’ll soon find out.