The playoff-challenged Raptors needed something good to happen. They rolled into Indiana and made it happen. Winning on the road in the postseason for just the fifth time in franchise history, Toronto took back homecourt advantage and now goes for the jugular against a reeling Pacers squad.
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LOOK AHEAD
The Raptors knew a game like Thursday’s was coming for DeMar DeRozan. They’re just glad it came sooner rather than later. Chalk it up to postseason jitters, or possibly something else the general public isn’t privy to, but DeRozan stunk in the first two games. He showed up and appeared to lift his teammates as well. Leaving the ACC apparently put the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed at ease, and the Raptors dynamic backcourt reverted to its more traditional form.
Looking completely untroubled and on-point at every position and in every phase of the game, the Raptors dismantled Indiana 101-85. You have to look back to the turn of the century to find a Toronto team with a 2-1 series advantage in the postseason. More astonishing: it was only the fifth road playoff game won by the organization. Ever. Asked ahead of Thursday’s game whether he’d yet seen the best from his opponent, Pacers coach Frank Vogel said matter-of-factly, “No.” He was right on with that call.
INJURIES
Raptors swingman Terrence Ross cleared the concussion protocol after suffering a blow to the head in Monday’s game. He contributed five points and three rebounds in a little less than 10 minutes off the bench.
Ian Mahinmi recovered from his lower back soreness that kept him out of the fourth quarter on Monday. The Pacers center was back in the starting lineup on Thursday, playing 24 minutes with seven points and four rebounds.
KEY MATCHUP
After being a ghost in the first two games of the series, DeRozan finally showed up and broke out of his postseason shooting slump. Entering Game 3, he was just 10 of 37 from the field and 0 of 5 from three-point range. In Monday’s victory he didn’t even attempt a free throw – only the second time that happened all season.
He had no trouble on Thursday. DeRozan made his first three shots, scored 12 points in the first quarter, went 7 of 9 at the free throw line and finished with 21 points. His play was instrumental in the Raptors fast start and was infectious among his teammates. His early outburst helped the Raptors to an eight-point lead and when he went to the bench at the start of the second quarter, his teammates continued the onslaught. Seeing DeRozan back in All-Star form was a much needed relief for the Raptors.
QUICK PICK
Led by a resurgent DeRozan, the Raptors came to Indiana and embarrassed the Pacers, taking homecourt advantage back swiftly and decisively. The Pacers have only one X-factor and that’s Paul George. When DeRozan is playing the way he did Thursday and for most of the NBA season, he offsets Indy’s star. That allows players like Kyle Lowry to be a game-changer, and he was on Thursday with 21 points.
Once again the Pacers had little help for George and no answer for the Raptors inside. Led by Jonas Valanciunas, who grabbed 14 rebounds, Toronto held a 45-38 edge on the glass, including 15-9 difference on the offensive end. With Lowry and DeRozan playing like it’s a regular season game in December, the Raptors are cruising.
NBA Odds: Toronto 104, Indiana 96
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