The Toronto Raptors could not match the intensity that the Indiana Pacers brought to start the game. As a team, the Raptors struggled to generate offense, and after a poor start, they were forced to try and play catch up for the rest of the game. Indiana got out to a 28-16 lead after the first quarter. Indiana widened their lead to as much as 25 points before the Raptors started to claw back to try and get the score back within striking distance by half time. The Pacers still held a 57-42 advantage at half.
The Raptors brought an excellent defensive effort in the 3rd quarter, holding the Pacers to just 16 points on 29% shooting (6-21 shooting), but unfortunately for Toronto they were unable to capitalize on the offensive end, shooting just 31% themselves (6-19 shooting). By the end of the quarter the Raptors had not cut into the Pacers half time lead, as the 15 point deficit still remained, with the score 73-58.
In the fourth quarter not much changed from the Raptors’ perspective, they were keeping pace with Pacers, but were unable to get the game to within single digits. Frustration for the officials & disdain towards the two teams was evident in the game’s final frame. Patrick Patterson picked up technical foul after yelling at an official after a non-foul call. Paul George, Jonas Valanciunas, and DeMarre Carroll were all involved in an briefly lived skirmish late in the fourth quarter. By the end of the quarter both teams emptied their benches, as all reserve players for both teams saw minutes to close the game. The Pacers never trailed at any point in the game, and went on to win 100-83.
Game 5, aka the swing game, will be played on Tuesday night, April 26th in Toronto at the Air Canada Centre.
Raptors by the Numbers:
Toronto shot just 27 of 74 from the field, 36.5% – DeRozan 4-15, Lowry 4-12, Scola 0-5, Ross 2-9
Pacers made only 8 of 30 from three-point range (27%) – Lowry 0-5, Scola 0-4, Patterson 1-4, Ross 1-4
Raptors committed 19 total turnovers which led to 25 Pacers points.
Pacers by the Numbers:
Indiana shot 40 – 85 from the field (47%), including 6-16 from three-point range (37.5%)
Pacers outscored the Raptors paint by a WIDE margin, 50 – 26 (+24)
Pacers secured 15 offensive rebounds, helping lead to 23 second chance points (9 of 13)
Raptors secured 11 offensive rebounds, helping lead to 18 second chance points (7 of 11)
(Pacers plus-5 advantage on second chance points)
Pacers turned the ball over 13 times, in the game but it only lead to 13 total points for the Raptors.
Notable Raptors stat lines:
DeMarre Carroll – 12 points (4 of 8 from three-point range), six rebounds
Jonas Valanciunas – 16 points, six rebounds, one block
Norman Powell – 10 points, three rebounds, two steals
Notable Pacers stat lines:
Paul George – 19 points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal
Ian Mahinmi – 22 points, ten rebounds, five assists, two steals, one block
George Hill – 22 points, four rebounds, three assists
Postgame Media Session:
Dwane Casey
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h2XFDXL_1M]Kyle Lowry & DeMar DeRozan
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFk68c3-GKg]Pacers head coach Frank Vogel, and Pacers Paul George and Ian Mahinmi talk about their Game 4 win over the Raptors at home in Indiana
Postgame Reactions:
Luis Scola
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6txWc1KXiQ]Jonas Valanciunas
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FveIdKwElI]DeMarre Carroll
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