Tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET the Toronto Raptors (2-3) will try to become the first team this season to defeat the Indiana Pacers (5-0), who have carried on their momentum from last season's impressive postseason performance. Live stream the game here; Raptors fans can follow along on the radio by tuning in to SportsNet590 The Fan, while Pacers fans can hear the action on 1070 The Fan.
The Pacers can tie a franchise record tonight with a victory, matching Indiana's best ever start to a season. "We're deep and we have a lot of guys who contribute and make plays," power forward David West said. "That's what we're going to need as the year wears on."
Toronto has been playing hard this year, but is struggling late in games to come away with the win. Two nights ago they lost a squeaker against the Charlotte Bobcats after rallying from an early 32-18 deficit.
"Our approach in the first quarter was very unlike us," coach Dwane Casey said. "We did not play the way we did the last three quarters. This is a great learning lesson for us. Never leave winning the game to the last couple of possessions."
With Paul George emerging for Indiana as a true superstar on the wing, the Raptors will need their own highly-paid stud, Rudy Gay, to try playing George to a draw. Gay is averaging 16.8 points, and 8.6 rebounds this year, but continues to be inefficient. On the season he's made 33.7 percent of his shots, including 28.6 percent from 3-point range.
Despite the tough rate numbers, Toronto will take the two-rebound increase he's shown from last season, including a rise of over an offensive rebound a night. Toronto will also ask young center Jonas Valanciunas, averaging 9.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, to go to war with Roy Hibbert in the post.
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