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Raptors Roll Struggling Pacers

Fred VanVleet and the Raptors pushed around the Indiana Pacers to pick up a long-awaited home win.

 

VanVleet had a season-high 26 points and a career-high 10 rebounds, OG Anunoby scored a season-high 25 points, and the Raptors won at home for the first time in 20 months, beating the Pacers 118-100 on Wednesday night.

 

Indiana was the opponent the last time Toronto won at Scotiabank Arena, a 127-81 victory on Feb. 23, 2020. Since-departed Raptors stars Serge Ibaka (15 rebounds) and Kyle Lowry (11 assists) were among Toronto's statistical leaders in that game, the most lopsided win in team history.

 

The Raptors lost their first three home games this season. In the three seasons prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Toronto went 89-25 at home. Travel restrictions related to the pandemic forced the Raptors to play home games in Florida at the end of the 2019-20 season and throughout 2020-21. They went 16-20 at their temporary home in Tampa last season.

 

On Wednesday, first-year forward Scottie Barnes had 18 points and seven assists, and fellow rookie Dalano Banton came off the bench to score 10 points.

 

VanVleet shot 6 for 7 from 3-point range and had six assists.

 

Banton made 4 of 7 field-goal attempts, including 2 of 3 from beyond the arc, and added three assists.

 

Indiana's Malcolm Brogdon scored 18 points in 22 minutes but injured his left hamstring early in the third quarter and did not return. The Pacers also lost forward Isaiah Jackson to a left knee injury in the fourth. Jackson needed assistance to walk to the locker room after being injured.

 

Chris Duarte scored 14 points, Jeremy Lamb had 12 and Myles Turner had 10 for the Pacers, who are 0-3 on the road.

 

Indiana went 21-15 away from home last season, the best road record in the Eastern Conference.

 

Domantas Sabonis had nine points and eight rebounds but had four of the Pacers' 23 turnovers. The Raptors scored 31 points off Indiana miscues.

 

The Pacers visit Brooklyn on Friday night.

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