TAMPA, Fla. – The Indiana Pacers, who picked up the 9-seed in this week’s NBA play-in tournament, outscored the Toronto Raptors, 19-9, over the last half of the second quarter to take a 68-55 lead and coasted to a 125-113 win over the Raptors in Amalie Arena on Sunday.
It was the Raptors’ last game in Tampa Bay as they played the game with only six players dressed with the usual starting lineup on the sidelines.
Toronto was only 4-of-23 from three in that second quarter as the Raptors stayed in the game from the line where they made 14-of-17 in the second 12 minutes.
Indiana’s Oshae Brissett led all scorers with 31 points, while Domantas Sabonis checked in with 25 points and 16 rebounds.
Malachi Flynn led the Raptors with a career-high 27 points, while Stanley Johnson netted 24.
Brissette hit a three to give the Pacers a 96-74 lead late in the third quarter. Toronto kept chipping away to come as close as 110-101 on a pair of free throws by Johnson with 5:24 to play.
Three Stars of the game:
1 – Oshae Brissett (31/10/3) – The Syracuse product has turned into a solid role player for Indiana and unleashed a fierce and consistent offensive game on the Raptors on Sunday. He had 13 of his 31 points in the third quarter as his aggression at the basket was never stymied by Toronto. He also popped in five threes, showing peak versatility
2- Domantas Sabonis (25/16/5) – He joined Brissett in overpowering the Raptors in the paint as he had 13 of his 25 in the fourth quarter. Once the Raptors cut into Indiana’s advantage at 110-101, Sabonis had six quick points to put the game out of reach at 121-106.
3- Malachi Flynn (27/4/5) – He started 0-for-6, but finished 8-of-14 with five triples. Flynn scored eight late points in the third and eight in the fourth to keep Toronto in the game.
It was over when: Brissett scored seven points in a 14-7 Indiana run to end the first half and take the 68-55 halftime lead. Toronto had just closed the Pacers lead to 54-48 on a pair of free throws by Johnson and then Brissett then hit a three and scored on a slam in transition off a long rebound and a T.J. McConnell bounce pass on the outlet.
Setting the Pace: Indiana will have leading scorer Malcolm Brogdon back on Wednesday night when the Pacers host Charlotte in the NBA play-in tournament. The Pacers, who have been rumored to have locker room unrest around the lack of communication between coach Nate Bjorkgren and some of the players, are a long shot at best and could potentially lose to Charlotte if the Hornets have their full complement of players.
It’s a Rap’: Flynn was the NBA Rookie of the Month for April as he likely has nailed down a place in the rotation for next year. … Sunday was unfortunately the Raptors last game in Tampa Bay as the franchise will return to Toronto for the 2021-22 season, assuming the COVID-19 curve continues to flatten and there are no outlying complications in Toronto.
