All the hard work, all the long stretches of hard and gritty play finally paid off, a just reward for a resilient Raptors team that has yet to thread that winning needle.
From start to finish, outside of a few lapses, which are to be expected from such a depleted roster, the Raptors not only set the pace against the Indiana Pacers, but they would outpace the visitors to earn a well-deserved 130-119 win, only Toronto’s third victory of the season, all three at home.
A seven-game losing streak featuring some close misses has a way of mounting and perhaps spiralling out of control, but the Raptors held court at Scotiabank Arena.
When the inevitable Pacers run was forged, the Raptors responded.
The Raptors began the night with purpose and poise, forcing the Pacers to call an early timeout.
It was clear from the opening tap the Raptors had regrouped from Saturday’s overtime heartache in Boston where Jayson Tatum’s buzzer-beating three should not have counted following an extra step the game officials did not see.
The NBA’s two-minute report did include the missed call, but that’s neither here nor there because nothing can be done to overturn the result.
Either way, there were no lingering effects against Indy as the Raptors played with a double-digit lead for most the opening half, which would see them take a 69-57 lead into the break, sparked by Toronto’s 57% shooting and ability to control the glass.
Toronto increased its lead to 17 points two minutes into the third quarter, prompting the Pacers to call a timeout.
A Damion Mitchell three in transition would bump the lead to 20.
It would increase to 22 points as Indy’s spirits began to sink.
A moment to celebrate the Argos’ Grey Cup win would then be held featuring, among others, Dejon Brissett, Sunday’s most outstanding Canadian, who held aloft the coveted trophy.
His brother Oshae Brissett, who once suited up for the Raptors, earned an NBA title last season with the Celtics.
Neither the current iteration of the Raptors nor the Pacers are nowhere near championship-calibre.
Credit the Raptors for once again bringing that competitive fight into the night.
Much like in Boston, the two players who elevated their games for the Raptors were RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl.
Saturday, it was Barrett recording his first-career triple-double, while Poeltl poured in a career-high 35 points in Toronto’s 126-123 loss.
Indy was without its big man in Myles Turner, who can also extend his offence, freeing up Poeltl to pounce on the Pacers.
The turnover-prone Raptors were up to their old tricks, allowing the Pacers to get back into the game.
Toronto’s two primary turnover culprits were Barrett and Poeltl, who combined for 11 of the Raptors’ 23 turnovers.
The tandem also combined to score 69 points.
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INJURY UPDATES
Scottie Barnes made an appearance in the hours leading up to tip by taking part in some basketball activities on the court.
He continues to sport a protective mask following that accidental elbow Denver’s big man Nikola Jokic to Barnes’ face that led to an orbital fracture.
Barnes is scheduled to be re-evaluated Tuesday.
He recently visited with a specialist when it was determined no surgery would be required.
Monday marked the 11th game Barnes has missed since his inadvertent encounter with the Joker.
He was wearing a cowboy hat on the bench, a look Bruce Brown has been known to sport this season, which would continue Monday night.
Toronto did enter the night having lost 71 man games to injury.
The only team with more games lost to injury is Memphis (73), a team featuring Toronto’s own Zach Edey, whom the Grizzlies took ninth overall in this year’s draft.
The 7-foot-4 Edey sprained his ankle this past Sunday in a home win over Denver.
Toronto’s growing injury list meant the team had 10 players available against the Pacers.
It was reduced to nine when Jamal Shead headed to the locker room in the second half with an undisclosed issue.
The tough-as-nails kid pulled his jersey over his face in obvious pain.
SPICY HOMECOMING
Pascal Siakam, whom the Raptors drafted and nurtured, was back in the house.
During the pre-game warmups, he took time to reconnect with fans by posing for pictures.
During the pre-game player introductions, he was roundly cheered.
This is not Spicy P’s first time back in Toronto, but the trademark smile on Siakam’s face glows a bit brighter when he returns to his first hoops home.
“He’s a great person and he’s really taken on a leadership role,’’ said Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle. “He’s immersed himself in our team, he’s become a big part of our culture and we really love having him.”
Indy entered the night coming off a two-game split against the Miami Heat, two games that saw Siakam go 15-for-25 from the field.
When he drew a foul that sent him to the line five minutes into Monday’s tip, Siakam missed his first free throw, eliciting a cheer from the crowd.
He buried his second free throw.
During a timeout midway through the second quarter, the Raptors counted down the team’s five biggest draft-day steals as the club celebrates its milestone 30th anniversary.
At No. 1 was Siakam, the 27th overall pick in 2016.
When Siakam was shown sitting on the Pacers bench once the draft roll call had been completed, fans cheered.
Siakam then acknowledged the ovation.
He ended the night by scoring 25 points.
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WOE CANADA
On Canada Basketball night, Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin was acknowledged.
Unfortunately, he was greeted by muted applause, which is quite sad because the kid has game and figures to play a prominent role with the national men’s team as his game develops.
He scored a team-high 28 points in Indy’s loss.
Andrew Nembhard (knee) represented Canada at this past summer’s Paris Olympics, but he was unavailable against the Raptors.
Kelly Olynyk (back) continues to be sidelined for the Raptors.
At least Barrett and Chris Boucher were able to provide some Canadian content on Canada Basketball night from a Raptors perspective.