The Toronto Raptors conclude their five-game Eastern Conference road trip with a matchup against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST on TSN.
After the Raptors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-113 on Nov. 13 to improve to 7-5, they improved to two games above .500 for the first time since 2022. Through the first 12 games of the 2024-25 season, the Raptors were 2-10 and had lost five in a row.
The vibes around the Raptors are certainly high, but the jubilation that comes with surprise victories often expire when it’s followed up with letdown games against inferior teams.
With Toronto only one game back of second place in the east, here are three more storylines to pay attention to during the game.
The Pacers’ downward spiral
With their exciting 2025 playoff run in the rearview mirror, the Pacers practically find themselves in the NBA equivalent of the upside-down. Indiana is 1-10 and has lost their last six contests, with its most recent defeat being a 35-point pummelling at the hands of the Phoenix Suns on Nov. 13. The Pacers haven’t dropped seven consecutive games since the 2022-23 season.
The Pacers have a chance to pull off a watered-down version of what happened to the San Antonio Spurs in 1996-97. During that time, the Spurs followed up a 59-win season and deep playoff run with an injury-plagued campaign that ultimately led to winning the Tim Duncan sweepstakes.
In addition to the massive void left by Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers are also missing Obi Toppin, Cody Martin and Canadian Ben Mathurin. Guard Quenton Jackson looked like he was on the verge of playing a significant role before suffering a hamstring injury, which has kept him sidelined since Nov. 3.
Canadian guard Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell finally returned and are continuing to get back into a rhythm, but Aaron Nesmith injured his knee in the game against the Suns. Nesmith had started all 11 games this season and was averaging 15.5 points in 30.5 minutes per game.
Pascal Siakam is doing all that he can to keep the Pacers competitive and it has required him to play 34.9 minutes a contest. This marks the most he’s played per game as a Pacer and his highest average since his 2021-22 season with the Raptors. With an unproven supporting cast, Siakam is also dealing with the lowest field-goal percentage (44.6 per cent) of his career.
The ‘M” word
As narratively gripping as the Raptors’ starting lineup may be this year, the bench consists of the most fascinating collection of players the organization has had since the original bench mob. While this group isn’t as dynamic or wasn’t homegrown through the Raptors 905 developmental system, there’s a fun intensity that somehow awkwardly works.
Through 12 games, the group of Jamal Shead, Collin Murray-Boyles, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and the carousel of Gradey Dick, Ja’Kobe Walter, Ochai Agbaji and Jamison Battle are third in net rating among bench units. They trail only the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets. The bench mob that Raptors fans look back fondly on was an offensive juggernaut that played with pace but wasn’t efficient on the defensive end. Whether it’s due to being thrown into the fire or having an arguably less developed skill set, this year’s group is more balanced and is defined by their reliable floor rather than an unlimited ceiling.
Even though it seems like Indiana is on pace to be in the running for the number one pick in next year’s draft, each of the Raptors’ bench pieces needs to be ready for a competitive game. Struggling teams often try to play fast to increase variance and the Pacers have adopted that mantra. The Pacers rank 11th in pace and 10th in total possessions. By comparison, the Raptors are 14th in pace and 16th in possessions, despite how strong their transition game looks on screen.
The interlude
Regarding pace, it occasionally feels like Brandon Ingram is still trying to figure out how to best fit within this year’s offence. Ingram is the Raptors’ best “off-script” creator. It’s a trait that balloons in value during the playoffs, but it doesn’t necessarily match how the team has been urged to play in the last two seasons.
The Raptors’ offensive numbers look great across the board. Their offensive rating (11th), points per game (10th), field-goal percentage (8th), and three-point percentage (9th) have all improved in comparison to the past few years. Ingram is a big reason for that, primarily because his mere presence on the court creates lanes and space for his teammates.
But there’s plenty of room for improvement. Ingram recently admitted he didn’t have his legs or explosiveness back yet. This could be why Ingram is still searching for his stroke from three. He’s currently shooting 26.4 per cent from the perimeter, which is on pace for a career low.
Despite this, Ingram deserves leeway and patience. He’s already six games from matching his total appearances from last year. Before his Raptors debut, he last suited up for a regular-season game with the Pelicans on Dec. 7 in 2024.