Raptors salvage one win in NBA Cup by stopping Pacers

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) drives tot he net past Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) during the first half of an NBA Cup at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Scottie Barnes scored a career-best 35 points and added nine assists and six rebounds as the Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Indiana Pacers 122-111 on Tuesday night in an NBA Cup game.

Toronto led by as many as 24 points about midway through the third quarter before Indiana cut the margin to two with 6:36 left in the fourth.

The Raptors completed group play in the NBA Cup at 1-3, and the Pacers finished 0-4.

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RJ Barrett added 29 points and nine rebounds for the Raptors, who have won two straight games and four consecutive at home. Ochai Agbaji scored 13 points and Jakob Poeltl had 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Tyrese Haliburton scored 30 points for the Pacers, who have lost three straight games overall and seven in a row on the road. Bennedict Mathurin scored 17 points, Myles Turner added 16, former Raptors player Pascal Siakam had 13 points, Obi Toppin 15 with nine rebounds. and T.J. McConnell contributed 14 points.

Toronto led 31-23 after one quarter and opened the second quarter with a 10-0 surge. The lead reached 20 points on Poeltl’s 8-foot jumper with 4:40 remaining in the second quarter. The lead was 22 on Barrett’s 3-pointer with 2:06 to go. Toronto led 65-48 at halftime.

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The Raptors shot 55.6 percent (25-for-45) from the field in the first half, and Indiana shot 41.7 percent (15-for-36).

Barnes hit a 21-foot jump shot with 8:34 remaining in the third quarter to put Toronto ahead by 24 points.

The lead dwindled to 13 with 2:34 to play after Haliburton made two consecutive 3-pointers. Mathurin’s steal and dunk with 1:08 to play reduced the margin to 11. Mathurin finished the third quarter with a layup and Toronto led 93-84.

McConnell’s 8-footer cut the lead to seven with 8:51 left in the fourth quarter. Turner’s 3-pointer brought Indiana to within five with 7:28 to play, and Toppin’s three-point play cut the lead to two with 6:36 left.

Agbaji answered with a 3-pointer. Poeltl later made two free throws with 4:05 to play to give Toronto a six-point lead. The lead reached eight when Barnes banked in a floating jumper with 3:32 left. –Field Level Media