Pacers vs Raptors tonight as Toronto seeks 9th straight win
Brandon Ingram sank a 15-foot jumper with just 0.6 seconds remaining, securing a thrilling 97-95 victory for the Toronto Raptors over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.
The win guarantees Toronto a top-two seed and home-court advantage in the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals, after the Milwaukee Bucks fell 106-103 to the Miami Heat earlier in the night.
Raptors Ride Ingram’s Scoring Spree
Ingram finished with 26 points and eight rebounds, leading Toronto (14-5) to its ninth consecutive victory. The Raptors completed the in-season tournament’s group stage undefeated at 4-0.
Scottie Barnes recorded a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds, while Immanuel Quickley added 15 points, six assists, and five rebounds for a banged-up Toronto squad.
Pacers’ Effort Falls Short
Indiana (2-16) lost its third straight game, despite a strong performance from TJ McConnell, who posted 16 points, seven rebounds, and six assists off the bench.
Rookie Jarace Walker had 13 points and nearly notched a double-double. The Pacers’ all-Canadian backcourt, Bennedict Mathurin of Montreal and Andrew Nembhard of Aurora, contributed 15 and nine points, respectively.
Injury Woes Continue for Toronto
The Raptors faced injury challenges in Wednesday’s matchup. Backup forward Gradey Dick exited in the first quarter after a hard fall and did not return.
Earlier, Toronto confirmed that swingman RJ Barrett of Mississauga would miss at least another week due to a sprained knee.
Game Highlights
Indiana overcame an 11-point second-quarter deficit, briefly leading early in the fourth. Mathurin’s 26-foot three-pointer with 8:21 left gave the Pacers a two-point edge.
The final minutes were tense, with both teams trading baskets until Ingram’s clutch jumper sealed the win.
Raptors’ Strategic Adjustments
Head coach Darko Rajakovic deployed a bigger starting five, inserting six-foot-seven rookie forward Collin Murray-Boyles alongside seven-foot center Jakob Poeltl in Barrett’s absence.
Although Murray-Boyles played just eight minutes, Toronto still outrebounded Indiana 48-43 and outscored them 46-40 in the paint, showcasing effective inside play.
Key Momentum Shifts
A crucial 11-0 run to end the second quarter gave the Raptors a 50-49 halftime lead, capped by four points from Barnes.
Toronto extended the momentum in the third quarter with a 13-1 run, highlighted by a three-pointer from Ingram.
Shooting Struggles
Despite the win, Toronto struggled from three-point range, making only 5 of 26 attempts (19.2%), far below their season average of 37.8%, tied for sixth-best in the NBA.
Looking Ahead
The Raptors continue to ride a hot streak as they head into the quarterfinals. Indiana will aim to regroup after another tough loss.
Ingram’s late-game heroics and Toronto’s resilience under adversity highlight their depth and determination in the Emirates NBA Cup.
