Toronto, Oct. 28 (US): Fred Vanfleet and the Raptors plowed around the Indiana Pacers to claim a long-awaited home win.
VanVleet scored a season high with 26 points and 10 high rebounds, OG Anunoby scored a season high of 25 points and the Raptors won their first home run in 20 months, beating the Pacers 118-100 on Wednesday night.
“I thought we were definitely very physical tonight,” Vanfleet said. “OG set the tone in the paint quite aggressively. I thought all five players were on the same page defensively to start the match.”
Indiana was the opponent the last time Toronto beat the Scotiabank Arena, with a 127-81 victory on February 23, 2020. The departed Raptors star since then Serge Ibaka (15 rebounds) and Kyle Lowry (11 assists) were among the stat leaders in the Toronto at it. The match, the biggest lopsided win in team history, according to The Associated Press.
The Raptors lost their first three home games of the season. In the three seasons leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, Toronto moved to 89-25 at home. Pandemic-related travel restrictions forced the Raptors to play home games in Florida at the end of the 2019-20 season and throughout the 2020-21. They went 16-20 at their temporary home in Tampa last season.
On Wednesday, number one striker Scotty Barnes scored 18 points and seven assists, and fellow rookie Dalano Banton came off the bench to score 10.
“I think it’s good to build a foundation for a young team,” VanVleet said. “The team definitely looks different than a lot of the teams we’ve worked on since I’ve been here, but it’s just good to build that foundation.”
VanVleet fired 6-7 from a 3-point range and had six assists.
Banton made 4 out of 7 field shots, including 2 of 3 from outside the arc, and added three assists.
“When he’s moving in there, it’s hard to guard him,” Vanfleet said. “It was great for us tonight.”
Indiana’s Malcolm Brogdon scored 18 points in 22 minutes but injured his left hamstring early in the third quarter and did not return. Pacers forward Isaiah Jackson also lost to a left knee injury in the fourth. Jackson needed help walking to the locker room after being injured.
“I don’t know how serious or how exactly what happened,” coach Rick Carlsell said of Jackson’s injury. “It obviously doesn’t look good.”
Chris Duarte scored 14 points, Jeremy Lamb scored 12 and Miles Turner 10 for the Pacers who were 0-3 on the road.
Indiana went away 21-15 last season, the best Eastern Road record in the Eastern Conference.
Domantas Sabonis scored nine points and eight rebounds, but scored four of the Pacers’ 23 total moves. The Raptors scored 31 points from Indiana errors.
“They have quick corner guys,” Carlisle said of the raptors. “They were tearing up the ball all night and shooting a lot of balls. Give them credit, they’ve done well.”
Toronto led 57-48 in the first half. VanVleet made his three three-point attempts in the third quarter and Banton scored seven points as the Raptors led 87-71 for fourth.
Anonobi scored 16 points in the first quarter.
Hints
Pacers: Indiana has scored at least 100 points in all four games so far. … G Caris LeVert (pain in the lower back) missed his fifth game in a row. …Indiana has won its two previous meetings with Toronto. …T.J. McConnell had four transformations.
Raptors: Toronto’s 14 three-pointers were the season’s highest. … F Yuta Watanabe (left calf) is training with the Toronto G League this week and is expected to join the Raptors on their next trip. … VanVleet recorded highs in assists (17) and turnovers (8) in Monday’s home loss to Chicago.
on the level
VanVleet, who is listed at 6-foot-1, said he doesn’t expect to compete with taller players on rebounds.
“My rule is that if it goes below head level, it’s mine,” he said. “Anything there is at the edge, someone else has to get it.”
takes care
The Raptors hit their lowest level of the season with 12 spins. Toronto also scored 12 in last Saturday’s loss to Dallas.
the following
Pacers: Visit Brooklyn on a Friday night.
Raptors: Orlando hosts Friday night.