Pacers stay hot, pull away in second half to top Raptors

Field Level Media|published: Tue 9th April, 21:52 2024

Apr 9, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) tries to pass the ball as Toronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett (9) and guard Gary Trent Jr. (33) defend in the first half at Scotiabank Arena. credits: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Tyrese Haliburton scored 30 points and the visiting Indiana Pacers defeated the Toronto Raptors 140-123 Tuesday night to solidify their spot in sixth place of the Eastern Conference standings.

Obi Toppin added 23 points off the bench and former Raptor standout Pascal Siakam scored 16 points with nine rebounds for the Pacers (46-34), who have won three in a row and five of six.

T.J. McConnell scored 17 points for the Pacers, Myles Turner added 16 points and Ben Sheppard scored 11.

RJ Barrett scored 23 points for Toronto in the team's final home game of the season.

Kelly Olynyk added 22 points and Javon Freeman-Liberty had a season-best 20 points for the Raptors (25-54), who had won their two previous games after a 15-game losing streak. Bruce Brown and Gary Trent Jr. each scored 16 points and Jordan Nwora had 11 points.

Indiana led by 106-91 entering the fourth quarter. Nwora's 3-pointer trimmed the deficit to 12 with 10:06 to play. Indiana responded with a six-point burst before Barrett's dunk cut the deficit to 128-114 points with 4:39 remaining.

Freeman-Liberty scored 14 points to help Toronto to a 35-25 lead after one quarter. Indiana made six turnovers leading to six Toronto points.

Toppin's 3-point shot cut the lead to six with 8:11 to play in the second quarter. After Toronto took a nine-point lead Indiana scored the next five points. The lead dwindled to one when Andrew Nembhard made a 3-pointer with 2:11 left.

Olynyk answered with a 3-pointer. Consecutive 3-pointers by Turner and Haliburton gave Indiana a three-point lead, with Indiana taking a 65-64 lead at halftime.

Nembhard grabbed a rebound and took the ball the length of the court to give the Pacers a 71-65 lead with 9:46 remaining in the third quarter. Turner's 3-pointer followed by Halburton's dunk after a steal gave Indiana an 81-71 lead with 7:48 remaining.

A Turner 3-pointer bumped the lead to 13. The margin was 92-77 after Sheppard's 3-pointer with 5:01 left. Toronto cut the lead to 12 before Sheppard made a 3-pointer. The Pacers led 106-91 after three quarters.

Immanuel Quickley (rest) did not play for Toronto.

—Field Level Media

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