Raptors extend win streak to nine with last-second shot

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The healthy Raptors continued their good times, overcoming a terrible start against the visiting Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night before taking control of a very weak opponent.

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Indy played well that night, although Toronto took everything for granted.

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With Brandon Ingram stepping up on Monday, he has no peer on the Raptors when it comes to filling the net.

Scotty Barnes emphasized Wednesday that there is no one on the roster who can improve his game on both ends of the floor.

The tandem opens up all sorts of possibilities for this Raptors team, which has now won nine games in a row after a thrilling 97-95 win over the Pacers.

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

After Detroit's loss to Boston, the Raptors became the hottest team in the East.

Below are three takeaways from the night as the Raptors went 4-0 in NBA Cup group play; the quarterfinals of the NBA season tournament will be held on December 9-10, and the winners will go to Las Vegas; Toronto will be home to the quarterfinals.

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Scotty B vs Spicy P

At least Pascal Siakam played in his second NBA Finals and won MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals last season.

The Pacers are a shell of their 2024-25 team, and it's starting to wear thin against a former Raptor who remains popular in Toronto and whose city support remains.

With 3.6 seconds left in the first half, he committed his fourth foul, matching the number of field goals he had made.

He was given a technical foul early in the half.

With Tyrese Haliburton out for the season with a torn Achilles, there is no one to shoulder the burden, leaving Siakam on a symbolic island.

When Barnes has an off day, Ingram is always there to lean on.

The Pacers led by 11 points at halftime Wednesday.

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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 fell to 0-10 after the loss.

Potential game winner Siakam was blocked.

Then came Ingram's winner with 0.6 seconds remaining.

Ingram and Barnes combined for 50 points.

Green and Barrett

For the second straight game, the Raptors were without starting forward RJ Barrett (knee sprain).

Hours before Wednesday's first match, the club announced that Barrett would be out for at least a week.

If there's any good news, it's that after Barrett underwent imaging studies, no structural damage was found.

Against Cleveland on Monday night, the Raptors started sophomore forward Ja'Coby Walter.

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Against the Pacers, the Raptors selected rookie Collin Murray-Boyles, an undersized player, to give Toronto's starting group a noticeably larger look.

Less than two minutes into the game, CMB picked up his first personal foul when he was confronted by Siakam on the perimeter.

Without Barrett, the Raptors don't have anyone to replace him in their starting group.

Obviously, there are players who have the potential to step up, but no one comes out of defense like Barrett, no one cuts to the basket like Barrett, and no one drives the ball in open space like Barrett.

With 8:44 left in the first quarter, CMB picked up its second foul.

Walter enters.

Toronto's start was very poor because the team's play lacked energy and Barrett often added another dimension.

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The first 12 minutes may have been some of the worst Toronto has played this season.

Consider only one three-pointer, as only three assists were recorded, while five turnovers were committed.

Unsurprisingly, the Raptors lost to the Pacers 25-21.

Indiana started the second quarter on a 5-0 run before the Raptors called a timeout.

The second quarter ended with a score of 12-0.

Walter was on the floor during this spurt and was rewarded with CMB starting the second half.

November reign

Wednesday's home game capped a very successful month for the Raptors.

November was kind to the club, especially at Scotiabank Arena, where the Raptors ended their unbeaten streak in front of their rabid fans.

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During the month, six home games were played, in which six victories were achieved.

That route also proved fruitful, with the Raptors losing only once, a 130-120 setback in Philadelphia on a night in which the Raptors played back-to-back plays from the baseline and were without starting center Jakob Poeltl.

The Raptors have two more games left on their schedule before the calendar flips to December.

The Raptors now have a 12-1 record in November.

At the same time, the competition was not very good.

In fact, Toronto's opponents were brutal.

Aside from a road loss to the Sixers, the only quality opponent Toronto faced this month was Cleveland.

Milwaukee entered the game well, but the Bucks still played the host Raptors for the second night of a back-to-back.

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

Next

A weekend full of tips awaits the Raptors, who take on the host Charlotte Hornets on Saturday in their second meeting of the season before Toronto faces the New York Knicks for the first time on Sunday in Gotham in what could very well be a playoff preview, at least for those inclined to look that far into the future.

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