The Raptors are finding ways to win despite Kyle Lowry on the sideline. Against the Pacers, long shots were finding the target.
The Toronto Raptors have won a bunch of games lately using a mixture of consistent scoring led by DeMar DeRozan and strong defensive play. After a disturbance in the force on Wednesday night, that formula was back and effective once more. Toronto shrugged off yet another sluggish start to overhaul the Indiana Pacers, then keep them at bay in the concluding quarter.
What was pleasantly different in this game was the return of the Raptors’ distance shooting. Six different players drained at least one 3-ball to total 14, with DeMarre Carroll’s 4 of 8 leading the way. DeRozan silenced his critics with 3 makes on 4 tries. His last was a buzzer-beating rainbow, a lengthy dagger which extended the Raps lead to 10 with less than a minute to play.
DeMar had the green light to shoot all night, and took advantage. The Pacers are an odd team in my eyes. They have their share of veterans, but they make rookie mistakes. DeMar was repeatedly able to get his defenders off their feet using his ball fakes, and went to the free-throw line 20 times, hitting 15. Ho-hum, another 40 point night.
Big men matter
Jonas Valanciunas appears to have found an extra gear (shhh! – you’ll jinx him). His defensive paint presence has been stellar, and he’s scoring in a variety of ways. JV crafted another double-double, and it wasn’t cheap; 16 points and 17 rebounds. He blocked a pair of shots, making 5 in 2 games.
Coach Dwane Casey still doesn’t trust our center to close games. Jakob Poeltl played more minutes in Q4 than JV, which borders on ridiculous. There was no garbage time, and we need all the wins we can muster.
Serge Ibaka helped nail down this win, scoring 10 of his 15 points in Q4 to keep the playoff-desperate Pacers (they should be, but they don’t give off the vibe) at bay. Ibaka also racked up 12 boards, as rebounding, which had been a team liability, has become a strength.
Delon Wright continues to work his way into the Raps’ rotation. He outscored starting point guard Cory Joseph 11-6, and matched his assists with 6. CoJo created two turnovers (dis)credited to JV with dubious passes in the lane. I’m sure he’ll get an earful today at film study about putting his big man in an impossible situation twice.
P.J. Tucker retained his role as coach’s most trusted defender late in games. He never got off the floor in the closing quarter, while Carroll, the putative starter, played less than a minute.
The Raps deserve credit for shaking off the Charlotte defeat and getting back on a winning path. They close out the 4-game home stand Sunday against the improving 76ers.
More from Raptors Rapture
- Scottie Barnes talks Raptors expectations after bumpy 2022-23
- Raptors’ Dennis Schroder completes Cinderella story, wins FIBA World Cup with Germany
- 3 players Raptors could replace OG Anunoby with at trade deadline
- NBA insider praises Raptors’ hiring of “star” Darko Rajakovic
- Raptors fans will love Markquis Nowell’s insane confidence on Instagram