Monday, Jan. 2 at 7:00 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Game Preview
If the last string of games are any indication, the Indiana Pacers are in for an exciting start to 2023.
Riding three straight wins, the Pacers (20-17) look to carry their positive momentum into the new year when they host the Toronto Raptors (16-20) on Monday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Last week, the Pacers topped the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers in Indianapolis. The Pacers, who have won five of their last six games -- with the only loss coming to the Western Conference-leading New Orleans Pelicans -- sit sixth in the Eastern Conference.
Each of the last three games, the Pacers have scored at least 129 points. During that stretch, they shot an outstanding 53.2 percent from the field and 44.2 percent from 3-point range.
Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton has been sensational as of late, scoring at least 23 points in each of the last three games -- while also scoring 43 points on Dec. 23 and 33 points on Dec. 21 -- on top of continuing to lead the league in assists (10.2 APG). In the fourth quarter against the Clippers, Haliburton came up clutch by scoring 18 points in the final frame.
Shooting guard Buddy Hield – the NBA leader in 3-pointers made (147) – has continued his hot shooting from deep, making at least five 3-pointers in three straight games, and center Myles Turner is coming off a 34-point performance against the Clippers.
It was a long December for the Raptors, as the team went 5-10 last month. The Raptors enter the game against the Pacers with a 113-104 win over the Phoenix Suns on Dec. 30.
Toronto has struggled on the road this year, with a record of 5-12, while the Pacers have a 12-7 record when playing at home.
Pascal Siakam, an All-NBA third team member last year and former All-Star, is the engine for the Raptors, leading his team in points (26.5), rebounds (8.3) and assists (6.7) this season.
Also of note, the Raptors’ O.G. Anunoby leads the NBA in steals with 2.2 per game while also putting up 18.6 points and collecting 5.8 rebounds per contest.
Toronto has been without some key players recently, as Fred VanVleet (18.5 points, 6.1 assists) and Precious Achiuwa (8.8 points, 7.0 rebounds) both missed time last week with injuries. VanVleet, a point guard, made the All-Star game last season.
Both teams should come out revved up, as the Pacers and Raptors are the top two teams in fastbreak points this season at 18.4 and 18.2 points per game, respectively.
The teams hustle on defense, as the Raptors have the most deflections per game (18.3) and the Pacers lead the NBA in loose balls recovered per game (5.5). The Raptors are also averaging the most steals per game (9.5).
Indiana and Toronto have already faced off once this season, with the Pacers posting a 118-104 victory at home on Nov. 12.
Both Siakim and VanVleet, members of the Raptors' 2019 championship team, weren’t able to play in the previous game due to injury/illness.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Andrew Nembhard, F - Buddy Hield, F - Aaron Nesmith, C - Myles Turner
Raptors: G - Gary Trent Jr., G - Scottie Barnes, F - O.G. Anunoby, F - Pascal Siakam, C - Christian Koloko
Injury Report
Pacers: Daniel Theis - out (right knee surgery), Kendall Brown - out (right tibia stress reaction)
Raptors: Fred VanVleet - questionable (back), Precious Achiuwa - questionable (ankle), Otto Porter - out (toe)
Last Meeting
Nov. 12, 2022: The Pacers put up 36 points in the fourth quarter while holding the Raptors to just 14 in the final frame to come away with a 118-104 win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Six Pacers scored in double figures on the night. Buddy Hield led the Blue & Gold with 22 points on five made 3-pointers while center Myles Turner posted a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
O.G. Anunoby led the Raptors with 26 points and Chris Boucher came off the bench and scored 19.
The Raptors were without Pascal Siakim in the game due to a right adductor strain and Fred VanVleet also missed the game due to a non-COVID illness.
Indiana outrebounded Toronto 61-49 and held the visitors to 39 percent shooting overall, including 20 percent from 3-point. The Blue & Gold made 41 of 82 field goal attempts and were 19-for-43 from beyond the arc.
Noteworthy
- Haliburton leads all NBA guards in double-doubles with 19.
- The Pacers are second in the NBA in fourth-quarter scoring, averaging 28.9 per game, and are third in bench scoring (41.3 per game)
- Pacers rookie Bennedict Mathurin leads all bench players in scoring (minimum 20 games) with 17.7 per game.
- Anunoby was on the Indiana University men’s basketball team from 2015-2017 before being selected by the Raptors with the 23rd overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
- The Pacers' Oshae Brissett, Andrew Nembhard and Mathurin are all Canadian and Chris Duarte was born in Montreal.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (studio host)
Tickets
The Pacers will wrap up a four-game homestand against Pascal Siakam and the Toronto Raptors on Monday, Jan. 2 at 7:00 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Find Tickets >>