OGT: Jan 7 Raptors (16-16) @ Pacers (27-6)

[Legends66NBA7]

Game Links: http://firstrownow.eu/sport/basketball.html

Game Preview: http://www.nba.com/games/20140107/TORIND/gameinfo.html?ls=slt


After spending some extra time in warmer weather, the Toronto Raptors will try to stifle the league-leading Indiana Pacers for the second time in a week.

The Raptors, though, will play Tuesday night's rematch in chilly Indiana, where the Pacers have lost just once this season.

Toronto (16-16) beat Indiana 95-82 on New Year's Day -- the Pacers' only loss in their last eight games -- as part of a season-high five-game win streak that was snapped with a 102-97 loss in Miami on Sunday. With snow and bitter cold lingering in the Midwest, the Raptors chose to stay in South Florida until Monday.

"It's no difference to us," leading scorer DeMar DeRozan said. "We understand we have to prepare for Indiana either way (Monday), either if we were here or there. We understand what's up. It really doesn't matter."

Toronto is hoping that move leads to another strong performance against Indiana (27-6). The Raptors caused the Pacers to commit a season-high 23 turnovers and record their lowest point total of the season. Paul George scored only 12, two off his season low.

"We're going to go out there and battle with the best of them," DeRozan said after that game. "We don't care who is out there in front of us, we understand that they are going to throw a punch and we're going to throw punches back."

Indiana has won back-to-back contests since that loss and had to overcome another subpar offensive performance Sunday in Cleveland. The Pacers matched that season-low scoring effort from the loss in Toronto, shot a season-worst 36.4 percent and nearly blew a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter in an 82-78 victory.

Indiana, though, held Cleveland to 34.2 percent shooting.

"There was no style points tonight. None. Zero. I can assure you of that. Unless you like defense. Our defense was pretty strong most of the night," coach Frank Vogel said.

The Pacers, allowing league lows of 88.6 points and 41.1 percent shooting, limited Toronto to 39.5 percent in the most recent meeting in Indiana and won 91-84 on Nov. 8. The Raptors had won their previous two games there, but this Pacers team is a league-best 16-1 at home.

Toronto, though, has won seven of nine away from home and 10 of 14 overall since it began the process of trading Rudy Gay to Sacramento as part of a seven-player deal. With 30 points, Gay was the only player to score more than 12 in the loss at Indiana in November, but the Raptors had four players with 13 or more in the New Year's victory, led by DeRozan's 26.

DeRozan is averaging 24.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists in the last three games, but he's often struggled at Indianapolis. He's shot 30.7 percent in seven career games there -- his worst showing in any city -- and his 37.5 percent shooting in 14 matchups with the Pacers is his lowest versus any Eastern Conference opponent.

Roy Hibbert, meanwhile, has made 22 of his last 34 shots against Toronto (64.7 percent) and averaged 18.0 points in the last three meetings.

[Legends66NBA7]

Bump, game about to start.

[Kungfro]

Can't imagine Raps would be able to steal 2 from Indiana, but here's hoping.

[nycjeff45]

hoping also, but dont think its gonna end well...

[Ai2death]

Any one elses gametime down?

[Legends66NBA7]

:oldlol: @ Pacers trying to get under the Raptors skin.

[EricGordon23]

holy crap thats a lot of fouls already! go raps!

[Sakkreth]

Go Raps!

No need to consider anymore if to stay up at night for raps games.

[Fudge]

How was that a foul?

[DuMa]

vasquez needs to play more

[LEFT4DEAD]

Nice pass from Vasquez. Guy has been balling last year in NO. Wonder why didn't he get much chance in Sacramento?

[Legends66NBA7]

The Raptors have game planned against George perfectly.

[Legends66NBA7]

You guys can't expect Vasquez to play more with the way Lowry has been playing.

[Sakkreth]

Jonas needs to get his shit together and we might take it.

[DuMa]

Flop by Lance

[Sakkreth]

Stephenson with a flop, why they try to act tough, but then flop all over the place...

[Legends66NBA7]

DeRozan and Amir have played with 58 different players in the last 3 years.

That is insane.

[NustABut]

How in the hell was that not a foul on that derozan drive?

Hibbert was not even "vertical"

[Sakkreth]

How in the hell was that not a foul on that derozan drive?

Hibbert was not even "vertical"

It's called Hibert's rule :no:

[Sakkreth]

Ohh cmon Lowry 0/3 from the line ???

[EricGordon23]

LOWRY SMH come on man!

[EricGordon23]

DeRozan and Amir have played with 58 different players in the last 3 years.

That is insane.

Holy crap those 2 must be best friends no choice since everyone else gets traded or leaves

[Legends66NBA7]

Yeah, DeRozan should have gone to the line there.

And that was a "ball don't lie" moment if I have ever seen one against Lowry.

[Burgz V2]

lowry shouldn't have gotten those three fts but damn so make one at least :facepalm

[Burgz V2]

Holy crap those 2 must be best friends no choice since everyone else gets traded or leaves

they must be, anytime i've seen them in Toronto they're always together.

[Legends66NBA7]

Holy crap those 2 must be best friends no choice since everyone else gets traded or leaves

They say their "family", so that can tell you how close they are.

Came from the same state too. Amir from Los Angeles and DeMar from Compton.

[Sakkreth]

Refs with a nice boost to Indiana :facepalm

[Burgz V2]

these refs are terrible. not calling the same game both ways in the paint.

[Rik Smits' Hair]

Well I can see there is no need to post in here. :oldlol:

[Burgz V2]

Refs with a nice boost to Indiana :facepalm

they get away with a lot of contact with the body but they put their hands straight up but rule of verticality only applies when stiill or moving backwards, they are literally running into their rotation and slamming themselves into JV.

[Burgz V2]

wow this has become unwatchable. how can they even call the moving screen, thats the SAME THING INDY is doing on every quick hitter play

[Burgz V2]

George with his 4th foul. Refs be unfair doe.

what game are you watching :biggums:

[Legends66NBA7]

Amir and Val having bad games right now.

DeMar is the only who has made a free throw.

[Burgz V2]

damn DeRozan keeping us in the game but not good shots, we need to hit some threes to stretch the floor

[Sakkreth]

Lowry.. that was a dumb pass.

[Sakkreth]

Who went against Hibbert on that last play where hit and 1 ?

[Dro]

Well I can see there is no need to post in here. :oldlol:
This...
But anyway...Derozan looks automatic from midrange every time I see him play. Or is it just against the Pacers?:confusedshrug:

[Legends66NBA7]

Casey needs to switch the lineup.

DeMar has been the only consistent force on offense.

[n00bie]

George with his 4th foul. Refs be unfair doe.

You watching the game, or just looking at stats? :wtf:

[Legends66NBA7]

Who went against Hibbert on that last play where hit and 1 ?

John Salmons. :oldlol:

[Burgz V2]

You watching the game, or just looking at stats? :wtf:

"April 2013" doe :lol

[Rik Smits' Hair]

Like I said. No need to post in here. I'll see myself out. Neg away.

[Sakkreth]

John Salmons. :oldlol:

Ok, was scared that it was this easy against Amir. Question is though why it was Salmons on him.

[n00bie]

Derozan. :applause: :bowdown:

[Legends66NBA7]

I expect Lowry and DeMar to come back soon.

[Sakkreth]

I expect Lowry and DeMar to come back soon.

It's game though...

[EricGordon23]

We are not worthy Derozan

[Fresh Kid]

I definitely cant stand tha overraterz :facepalm but I definitely want dem to win this game :applause:

[EricGordon23]

It's game though...

With that attitude it's game. Have more faith crazier things have happened

[Legends66NBA7]

It's game though...

The game hit 0.0 yet ?

[Sakkreth]

With that attitude it's game. Have more faith crazier things have happened

They came out with right intensity and good defense in 4th, but couldn't buy a bucket. Alright not a game yet, but will be tough.

[kaiteng]

Without Demar on the court, Raps' points won't move forward.

[EricGordon23]

single digits!

[Sakkreth]

I was definetly wrong.

[Legends66NBA7]

Ross's defense on George has been outstanding.

Patterson has shown to be our most consistent bench player. He's the only other player other than DeMar to make free throws.

[EricGordon23]

J.V and amir have been no help today at all

[EricGordon23]

J.V finally puts point on the board. Better late than never I suppose

[Sakkreth]

J.V finally puts point on the board. Better late than never I suppose

He lets emotions to affect his game too much, if he gets frustrated he doesn;t play the same... And he gets frustrated too easy, you won't be getting good game everynight and refs sometimes do keep screwing you over.

[EricGordon23]

He lets emotions to affect his game too much, if he gets frustrated he doesn;t play the same... And he gets frustrated too easy, you won't be getting good game everynight and refs sometimes do keep screwing you over.

I wasn't expecting like a huge game out of him. I expected a 11 - 6 game though.

[Sakkreth]

I wasn't expecting like a huge game out of him. I expected a 11 - 6 game though.

He did quite well against Hibbert in the past, it's more of a battle against himself for Jonas.

[Rik Smits' Hair]

Great effort from the Raptors.

[Sakkreth]

Game, they fought hard, Indiana was just a little better tonight.

[EricGordon23]

He did quite well against Hibbert in the past, it's more of a battle against himself for Jonas.

He's still young I am not to worried

[Rik Smits' Hair]

Game, they fought hard, Indiana was just a little better tonight.

I want no part of you guys in the playoffs.

[Sakkreth]

I want no part of you guys in the playoffs.

Be serious, we don't have real chance in best of 7 series against Indiana, 2 games if we get lucky.

[Rik Smits' Hair]

Be serious, we don't have real chance in best of 7 series against Indiana, 2 games if we get lucky.


I am serious. The Raptors don't lay down when they get behind. They keep fighting and if you let your foot off the gas they will get you. Toronto just matches up well with Indy. PG was off tonight for a reason.

[Legends66NBA7]

I'd rather face the Pacers than the Heat in the playoffs. Our style just matches with them. I can see it going 6-7 games going either way.

I've really been impressed with the job our defense has done on Paul George.

[crunk-juice]

I want Toronto in the playoffs. good enough that the Pacers have to take them seriously, but not good enough to actually win the series. I think Pacers would take it in 5 (maybe 6), which is better than coasting past some scrub team

[Burgz V2]

the way the whistle went inside, you have to believe JV and Amir were not given the benefit of the doubt. Hibbert and West were allowed to be way more physical in this game. Our interior D is what makes our team so good, it allows us to get stops and push the ball. When we get into a half court battle we tend to rely on DeRozan too much. Tonight he had it going but if he didn't we would have been blown out.

Tough game but just like the Miami game, I was impressed with our ability to play through the whistle not going our way more often than not. It's almost as if we play harder when calls don't go our way. That's the very definition of a hungry team.

[BurningHammer]

Raptors managed to shut down PG again. Pacers shut down Raps' bigs in response this time and it worked.