How to Watch Pacers' Game With Raptors on Monday; Gametime, TV, Point Spread
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors played the first part of a back-to-back series on Sunday. It was the Raptors who came out on top in that initial meeting as they won 107-102.
On Sunday, the Raptors played without Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam due to day-to-day injuries. It remains to be seen if they will be active in the second meeting between these two teams. Regardless, the Pacers will be without Caris LeVert and TJ Warren.
Here's everything you need to know about Sunday afternoon's game between the Indiana Pacers and the Toronto Raptors:
Here are the particulars on Monday night's game:
- Who: Toronto Raptors (7-9) vs. Indiana Pacers (9-7)
- When: 7 p.m. ET, Sunday, Jan. 25.
- Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Ind.
- Latest Line: The Indiana Pacers are a 2-point favorite over the Toronto Raptors, according to the DraftKings.com website as of 11 a.m. ET on Sunday.
- Standings: Indiana is in second place in the Eastern Conference's Central Division, 1.0 game back from the Milwaukee Bucks. Toronto is in last place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division, 4.5 games out of first behind the Philadelphia 76ers.
- Series history: Indiana leads the all-time series, 49-44.
- Last meeting: The Raptors held off a second-half comeback attempt by the Pacers on Jan. 24, 2021. Toronto came out on top 107-102 with OG Anunoby leading the way with 30 points.
- Projected Raptors starters: Fred VanVleet, Norman Powell, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Aron Baynes.
- Projected Pacers starters: Malcolm Brogdon, Justin Holiday, Doug McDermott, Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner.
- TV: FOX Sports Indiana.
- Announcers: 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), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
Here are three things to watch in Sunday afternoon's game:
1. Execution From Brogon & Sabonis
Much of the success for the Pacers' offense is determined by the production that Malcolm Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis manage to provide. When they struggle, Indiana as a unit tends to underachieve.
On Sunday, Sabonis finished with 10 points and was held scoreless in the second half. Overall, he went 1-of-10 (10%) from the field. The Raptors loaded up with multiple defenders in the paint and sent double-teams to the post. Playing non-shooting threats alongside him helped to enable this strategy to work.
Brogdon struggled with just 12 points and went 5-of-22 (22.7%) from the field. He particularly had problems with perimeters shooting as he went 1-of-10 (10%) on those attempts. To make matters worse, he also ended up going 4-of-12 (33.3%) on two-point field goals.
Both players must execute better on favorable attempts, but the Pacers also need to have a strategy to counter the pressure they received from the Raptors' defense.
2. Ball Control
It's common for teams to struggle to take care of the basketball against the Raptors. They have plenty of athletic wings that can swam within the half-court and pressure opposing players into mistakes.
The Pacers committed a season-high 18 turnovers against the Raptors in Sunday's game. Toronto managed to score 26 points as a result of Indiana's giveaways -- creating a pivotal advantage in determining the outcome.
Indiana's problematic habit of turning the ball over was at its worst during the opening half but they showed real improvement afterward. For reference, the Pacers committed 13 of their turnovers and allowed 20 points off turnovers within the initial two quarters.
It's crucial for the Pacers' chances of victory on Monday to achieve much closer results to the second half execution they displayed on Sunday. Otherwise, it could be challenging to overcome.
3. Perimeter Shooting
Much was made about the Raptors averaging the most attempts from beyond the arc in the NBA prior to the Pacers' matchup on Sunday. That didn't end up being a problem.
It ended up being that Indiana finished with 39 attempts from deep -- outpacing the Raptors by four in this category. However, Toronto fared better in terms of efficiency as they shot 42.9% while the Pacers converted at a 33.3% clip.
Much of the Pacers' perimeter shooting impact relied on Myles Turner and Justin Holiday to convert from deep. Both players combined for eight of the team's 13 makes from beyond the arc. On the contrary, Brogdon missing nine of his 10 takes didn't help either.
It will be fascinating to see if the Pacers can again end up taking either an equal or greater volume of perimeter attempts than the Raptors on Monday. Additionally, will they convert at a higher rate?
