The Toronto Raptors continue to struggle, falling short in close games, and will look to change that when they host the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.
A win would snap a seven-game losing streak, which was extended on Saturday night when the Raptors lost 126-123 in overtime to the Boston Celtics, thanks to a last-second 3-pointer by Jayson Tatum.
The Raptors will face former teammate Pascal Siakam, who was traded to the Pacers on January 17. Siakam scored 23 points in Indiana’s 119-110 win over the Miami Heat on Sunday, helping the Pacers avoid a two-game sweep. It was a milestone game for Siakam, who surpassed 10,000 career points.
Toronto, hit hard by injuries, suffered their 12th loss of the season despite standout performances from Jakob Poeltl and RJ Barrett.
Barrett recorded his first career triple-double with 25 points, 15 assists, and 10 rebounds, despite shooting 10-for-27 from the field. Poeltl had a career-high 35 points on 16-for-19 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds, marking his team-leading seventh double-double of the season.
“We know what we can do and who we are,” Barrett said. “Right now, we’re just trying to figure out how to get over the hump. We’ve been in so many close games, one overtime, against some good teams. So now it’s just how to get the win, how to close out the game.”
The Raptors dominated in the paint, outscoring Boston 76-42. Despite the loss, Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic praised his team’s effort.
“I thought we played a heck of a game,” Rajakovic said. “We played against the NBA champion on a back-to-back, came here and gave it our all. We played the right way, moved the ball. I’m really, really proud of the fight we had in this game. A little bit of luck at the end of the game and it could have been a different story.”
Toronto’s record in close games is poor, as they are 1-7 in games decided by six points or fewer and a league-worst 2-12 overall. They will be without Bruno Fernando, who sprained his right ankle on Saturday, for Monday’s game. The Raptors are also missing key players like Scottie Barnes (orbital fracture) and Immanuel Quickley (elbow).
Indiana is also dealing with injuries, as Aaron Nesmith (ankle) and Andrew Nembhard (knee) are out, and Ben Sheppard (oblique strain) left Sunday’s game in the third quarter after playing 26 minutes.
Myles Turner led the Pacers with a season-high 34 points and nine rebounds on Sunday, including five 3-pointers. Bennedict Mathurin contributed 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Tyrese Haliburton added 16 points and 13 assists.
Indiana bounced back from a tough 124-111 loss to Miami on Friday, and Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was pleased with the response.
“It was a great response,” Carlisle said. “We’re trying to grow as a team, grow as a young team, and learn that you don’t want to have to respond all the time. You want to be the ones hitting first. And for the most part, Sunday, we were. Miami’s a great comeback team. The flurry at the end of the game — they do this routinely. I just thought our guys kept their poise very, very well.”
Turner said the game was important for him personally, adding: “I just haven’t liked my attitude around here the past couple days. I feel like you’ve got to be an energy-giver. And just taking accountability, I feel like I’ve been an energy-sucker.”
