Tyrese Haliburton had 21 points and 12 assists, Pascal Siakam added 23 against his former team, and the Indiana Pacers defeated the Toronto Raptors 127-125 on Wednesday.
Isaiah Jackson had 15 points and 11 rebounds, Obi Toppin had 15, and Andrew Nembhard had 14 as the Pacers rebounded from Monday’s setback in Charlotte.
Siakam, who was moved from Toronto to Indiana last month, expressed satisfaction after winning his first game back north of the border.
“You don’t want to come here and lose,” Siakam explained. “That was something on my mind. Everyone was saying, ‘I’m so thrilled to see you,’ but in my brain, I was thinking, ‘I’ve got to win, guy. I cannot lose this game. It really feels fantastic to win.”
Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 29 points and 12 rebounds, while Jakob Poeltl contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds. Barnes ended with eight assists, just missing a triple-double.
Barnes missed a shot with 39 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, which would have given Toronto a 125-124 lead. Siakam responded by scoring with 25 seconds remaining, giving Indiana a three-point lead.
With 14.7 seconds remaining, Poeltl made two free throws to bring the score to 126-125. Jackson made one of two at the opposite end, giving the Pacers a two-point lead with 9.5 seconds remaining. RJ Barrett’s driving jumper at the buzzer missed, and the Raptors suffered their third consecutive loss.
“Ben Sheppard tonight, particularly in the fourth quarter, was a difference-maker,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “Shot-making, defense, the stop on the last play.”
Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic stated that he requested a 3-pointer on the final possession.
“Watching the film now, I think that the pass was probably there, but we just did not execute it the way we wanted,” Rajakovic said in an interview.
Barrett scored 23 points, Immanuel Quickley had 14, and Bruce Brown, who was acquired in last month’s Siakam trade, scored 12 points against his former team.
Doug McDermott scored 13 points and Sheppard added 10 for the Pacers, who are 14-14 on the road.
The Raptors recorded season highs of 84 points in the paint and 40 fast-break points.
Toronto supporters welcomed back former Raptors guard Fred VanVleet as Houston visited last Friday, the first of four consecutive home games. They wrapped off on Valentine’s Day with an emotional reunion with Siakam, who was honored with a video tribute before pregame introductions. Raptors players applauded, and the audience gave Siakam a standing ovation.
“It definitely means a lot,” Siakam explained. “I am humbled. I couldn’t have imagined that kind of reception. Thank you. Thank you, everyone.”
The two-time All-Star appeared at his postgame news conference wearing pink leggings, a pink jacket, and a pink winter cap in honor of Valentine’s Day.
Indiana’s Benedict Mathurin was unable to play due to illness and an injured right knee. Myles Turner, the Pacers’ center, was also out due to sickness, while Jalen Smith missed his third straight game due to back spasms.
The Pacers lost forward Aaron Nesmith early in the second half after he fell hard on a drive to the hoop and needed assistance to the locker room. Carlisle stated that Nesmith injured his lower right leg, perhaps the ankle, and would undergo imaging on Thursday to confirm the ailment.
“It looked very scary,” Carlisle remarked. “He is in good spirits. He did walk off the court with considerable assistance. Hopefully that isn’t a long-term issue.”
Kelly Olynyk of Toronto went scoreless for seven minutes in the first half. He did not return after the break due to a sore lower back.
