Raptors extend win streak to nine with last-second shot

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The feel-good Raptors are keeping the good times rolling, overcoming a horrid start against the visiting Indiana Pacers Wednesday night before taking control against a very inferior opponent.

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On this night, Indy played well, though Toronto did take things for granted.

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As Brandon Ingram reinforced Monday, he has no Raptors equal when it comes to filling the net.

What Scottie Barnes underscored Wednesday, there’s no one on the roster capable of elevating their game on both ends of the floor.

The tandem brings all kinds of possibilities to this Raptors team, which has now won nine straight games following a thrilling 97-95 victory over the Pacers.

Toronto improved its record to 14-5, while Indiana dropped to 2-16.

With Detroit’s loss to Boston, the Raptors are the hottest team in the East.

The following are three takeaways on a night the Raptors emerged with a 4-0 record in the NBA Cup group play; the quarterfinals in the NBA’s in-season tournament will be played Dec. 9-10 with the winners advancing to Las Vegas; Toronto will be home for the quarters.

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Scottie B vs. Spicy P

At least Pascal Siakam got to play in his second NBA Finals and earned MVP of the Eastern Conference final last season.

The Pacers are a shell of their 2024-25 team and it’s beginning to wear on the former Raptor, who remains popular in Toronto and whose support of the city remains.

With 3.6 second remaining in the opening half, he picked up his fourth foul, matching the amount of field goals he made.

Earlier in the half, he was assessed a technical foul.

With Tyrese Haliburton out for the season following his Achilles tear, there’s no one to shoulder the load, leaving Siakam on a symbolic island.

When Barnes is having an off night, there’s always Ingram to lean on.

During Wednesday’s first half, the Pacers led by as many as 11 points.

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The Raptors were guilty of taking the two-win Pacers for granted, and it showed.

Indiana entered the night with an 0-9 road record, which dropped to 0-10 following the defeat.

Siakam’s potential game-winner was blocked.

Then came Ingram’s winner with 0.6 seconds left.

Ingram and Barnes combined for 50 points.

Grin and Barrett

For the second game in a row, the Raptors were without starting wing RJ Barrett (knee sprain).

In the hours leading up to Wednesday’s opening tip, the club announced Barrett will be out at least a week.

If there’s any good news, it’s that no structural damage was revealed after Barrett underwent an imaging test.

Against Cleveland on Monday night, the Raptors started second-year wing Ja’Kobe Walter.

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Against the Pacers, the Raptors went with rookie Collin Murray-Boyles, an undersized big, to give Toronto’s starting group a decidedly big look.

Barely two minutes into the game and CMB picked up his first personal foul when he was matched up against Siakam on the perimeter.

Without Barrett, the Raptors don’t have anyone capable of filling his shoes in the starting group.

Clearly, there are players who potentially can step up, but no one comes off screens like Barrett, no one cuts to the basket like Barrett, and no one handles the ball in the open floor like Barrett.

With 8:44 left in the opening quarter, CMB picked up his second foul.

Enter Walter.

Toronto’s start was very poor because the team’s play lacked energy, another dimension Barrett would often bring.

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The opening 12 minutes were arguably among the very worst Toronto has played this season.

Consider only one three-pointer was made, how only three assists were recorded, while five turnovers were committed.

Not surprisingly, the Raptors trailed the Pacers 25-21.

Indiana went on a 5-0 run to begin the second quarter before the Raptors called a timeout.

The second quarter ended with the Raptors going on a 12-0 run.

Walter was on the floor during that spurt and was rewarded by starting the second half for CMB.

November Reign

Wednesday’s home game brought an end to a very successful month for the Raptors.

November has been kind to the club, but in particular at Scotiabank Arena where the Raptors wrapped up an unbeaten run in front of their ardent fans.

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Six home games were played during the month with six wins produced.

The road has also proven fruitful with the Raptors losing only once, a 130-120 setback in Philly, a night when the Raptors played the back end of a back-to-back and were without starting centre Jakob Poeltl.

Two games remain on the Raptors’ schedule before the calendar flips to December.

To date, the Raptors have compiled a 12-1 record in November.

At the same time, the competition hasn’t exactly been good.

In fact, Toronto’s opponents have been bad to brutal.

Outside of the road loss to the Sixers, the only quality opponent Toronto has faced this month has been Cleveland.

Milwaukee entered its game playing well, but the Bucks did play the host Raptors on the second night of a back-to-back.

Franchise player Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out the entire fourth quarter in a 28-point blowout loss.

Up Next

A weekend of back-to-back tips await the Raptors, who will play the host Charlotte Hornets Saturday in the second meeting of the season before a Sunday date in Gotham sees Toronto play the New York Knicks for the first time in what could very well be a playoff preview, at least for those inclined to look that far into the future.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

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