The Indiana Pacers get revenge.
After the Toronto Raptors defeated them on their home court on Sunday, the Pacers bounced back and came up with a 129-114 win on Monday.
Malcolm Brogdon stole the show with a career-best 36 points to go along with nine assists and seven rebounds. Myles Turner came up big for the Pacers with 21 points and 10 rebounds, as did Jeremy Lamb with 22 points off the bench.
The Raptors were led by Fred VanVleet (25 points) and Norman Powell (24 points). Kyle Lowry (12) and OG Anunoby (10) were the only other Raptors who scored in double figures.
For more on the game, here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
1. Pascal Siakam remains out
Siakam missed his second straight game with left knee swelling. He was originally listed as questionable for Monday's game, so he could be back soon.
With Lowry (right foot soreness) returning to the lineup, Powell got the start in Siakam's place, moving Stanley Johnson, who started his first game of the season in Toronto's win over Indiana on Sunday, back to the bench.
Speaking of Johnson...
2. So nice you have to see it twice
Johnson did his best LeBron James impression in the closing seconds of the first quarter with this chasedown block on Aaron Holiday:
.@iAmSJ SAID GIMMIE DAT ISH pic.twitter.com/1qfigCWla5
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 26, 2021
That's nice.
3. Get well soon, Domantas Sabonis
Sabonis came out looking like a man on a mission.
After the Raptors held him to 10 points on 1-for-10 shooting from the field on Sunday, Sabonis set the tone for the Pacers in the first quarter with 11 points, doing so 3-for-5 shooting from the field, 2-for-2 from the 3-point line and 3-for-4 from the free throw line.
The one-time All-Star also pulled down three rebounds and dished out two assists, the combination of which helped the Pacers take a 33-30 lead.
sharing is caring 🎁
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) January 26, 2021
10 AST on 11 FG so far tonight 🔥 pic.twitter.com/x4oQhwIGvS
Unfortunately for Sabonis and the Pacers, that's where his night ended.
Following the first quarter, the Pacers tweeted that Sabonis was questionable to return with a left knee contusion. He was then ruled out for the game in the second quarter.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Sabonis has no structural damage in his knee and an MRI is planned for Tuesday morning.
4. What a difference a day makes
Brogdon had his worst game of the season in Indiana's loss to Toronto on Sunday. Not only did he score a season-low 12 points, he shot 5-for-22 from the field.
Brogdon was a different player on Monday, particularly in the first half. There was one stretch in the second quarter when he scored or assisted on 14 of 18 of Indiana's points, which helped the Pacers build a 10-point lead.
Brogdon finished the first half with 17 points, six assists and four rebounds. He gave the Pacers the boost they needed with Sabonis out.
🔥🔥🔥
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) January 26, 2021
the block ➡️ the bucket pic.twitter.com/q1RCuu6pfo
Brogdon's strong play carried over into the second half. He ended up with a career-best 36 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. The Pacers outscored the Raptors by 15 points in the 36 minutes he was on the court, giving him the best plus/minus in the game.
Quite the bounce-back, wouldn't you say?
MALCOLM IS DIFFERENT 😤😤 pic.twitter.com/axTAKP7uYi
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) January 26, 2021
5. Not in Chris Boucher's house
Another day, another blocked 3-pointer by Chris Boucher.
NO CHANCE. NONE. pic.twitter.com/UFkNaLrOyZ
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 26, 2021
Boucher has now blocked nine 3-pointers this season, extending his lead over Jerami Grant (6) for most in the league.
That was one of two blocks Boucher recorded in the game. It was a quiet night for him otherwise — he scored nine points on 3-for-12 shooting from the field and 1-for-6 from 3-point range.
6. It's good to see Jeremy Lamb back
It's hard to believe that this was Lamb's only fourth game back after his 2019-20 season was cut short due to a torn ACL.
In Lamb's first game this season, he scored 10 points in 19 minutes. In his second, 22 points in 28 minutes. In this third, 13 points in 19 minutes.
In this one? 22 points in 32 minutes.
Lamb showed up in two key moments for the Pacers, first with 10 points in the second quarter to make up for the loss of Sabonis, then with 12 points in the third quarter to keep a hold on their lead. Lamb cooled off in the fourth quarter, but Brogdon and Turner took over down the final stretch to carry the Pacers to victory.
7. Powell shines as a starter — yet again
We're still working with some small sample sizes, but it's incredible how much better Powell has been as a starter as opposed to a reserve this season.
Coming into Monday's game, Powell was averaging 18.2 points on .508/.400/.813 shooting splits in the five games he had started. In the 11 games he's come off the bench, he's averaging 10.5 points on .354/.385./839 shooting splits.
As a starter against the Pacers, Powell showed up once again, this time with 24 points, six assists and six rebounds. He shot 8-for-19 from the field, but he was the only player other than VanVleet who was able to get going offensively for the Raptors.
Remember, Powell also played his best basketball last season as a starter, not a reserve. His splits weren't quite as drastic as they are to start this season, but there was still a notable difference.
8. What's next
The Raptors return to Tampa, where they'll host the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, Jan. 27. It'll be another good test for these Raptors.
Catch you then.
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