Scottie Barnes delivered a career-high 35 points to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 122-111 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday.
The win secured Toronto’s first NBA Cup group-stage victory of the season, as the Raptors (7-15) never trailed in the matchup. The Pacers (9-13) extended their road losing streak to seven games, as they struggled to match Toronto’s offensive intensity.
Barnes was a standout, shooting 13-for-20 from the field and adding nine assists and six rebounds. His previous career-high was 32 points, but he eclipsed that mark with a dominant performance.
RJ Barrett also played a crucial role, contributing 29 points, including nine free throws. Jakob Poeltl added a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Ochai Agbaji scored 13 points.
Indiana was led by Tyrese Haliburton, who tallied 30 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Raptors’ offensive surge. Bennedict Mathurin had 17 points, Myles Turner added 16, and Obi Toppin finished with 15. However, the Pacers’ 21 turnovers, which led to 23 points for Toronto, proved costly.
The Raptors built a 24-point lead in the third quarter and remained in control throughout. Toronto’s defense capitalized on Indiana’s mistakes, scoring 12 points off turnovers in the first quarter and adding five more in the second.
Pascal Siakam, facing his former team, struggled against his old squad. Siakam fouled out with 13 points on 4-of-13 shooting. He also received a technical foul in the fourth quarter, highlighting the frustration of his performance.
The Raptors’ victory was their fourth consecutive home win, improving their record to 6-4 at Scotiabank Arena this season. They have struggled on the road with a 1-11 record. Toronto’s solid play at home was crucial in securing the win and maintaining their momentum.
