There’s been an underlying question to the Raptors’ record-breaking season: can they win a playoff series? They have one last game to provide an answer. The series and the pressure return to Toronto for a winner-take-all Game 7 after the Pacers extended their season with a convincing win on Friday.
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Indiana Pacers +6
Toronto Raptors -6
Over/Under 190.5
LOOK AHEAD
Indiana had trouble all season closing out games and when it blew a seemingly safe 13-point lead in Game 5, the question was how would the Pacers respond? They answered with one of their best halves all year, closing the third quarter with six straight points and opening the fourth on a 12-0 run. Playoff scoring leader Paul George led the way with 21 points. He also had plenty of help for a change as all five starters scored in double figures.
Everyone around the Raptors is sick of hearing about the playoff disappointments of the last two seasons, tired of all the talk of pressure. All-Star guards Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan keep saying that they’re not worried about their poor shooting. Now Toronto goes home looking to advance to the second round for the second time in franchise history and the noise about past failures will be just as loud as the ACC on Sunday.
INJURIES
Both teams are relatively healthy going in so injuries won’t be a factor when the game tips off. However, many are wondering if an elbow injury Lowry sustained late in the regular season is still bothering him, despite his insistence that it isn’t.
KEY MATCHUP
Paul George can’t win the series all by himself, though he is giving it his best effort. The Pacers’ star said prior to Game 6 that he’d be willing to play 48 minutes if needed. It wasn’t needed, but George still led the team with 21 points in just over 40 minutes. Though he can’t do it alone, the Pacers don’t stand a chance without him.
In 41 minutes during the Game 5 loss, George scored 39 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out eight assists, but it wasn’t enough. What was more telling, however, is what happened when George wasn’t in the game. The Pacers missed all 10 field goal attempts, had three turnovers and scored just one point during the six minutes, 55 seconds that George was out of the game.
QUICK PICK
The Raptors are on the verge of blowing another first-round series and you know all of Canada will be in a panic. This year, their team finally looked different, firmly marching to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and giving Cleveland a run for the top spot until the final week of the regular season. Toronto drew the No. 7 Pacers, who alternate between wowing fans and making them wonder how they even won 40 games.
Given Indiana’s inconsistency, even with Toronto’s shaky playoff history, most people didn’t expect this series to reach a seventh game. Yet, here we are. Anything can happen in a winner-take-all game, but homecourt is a huge edge. The Raptors set a franchise record for wins during the regular year so they could have it. Now is the time to take advantage.
NBA Odds: Toronto 104, Indiana 98
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