TORONTO — RJ Barrett delivered a remarkable performance, racking up a season-high 39 points, while Jakob Poeltl contributed significantly with 30 points and 15 rebounds, marking his third consecutive double-double. The Toronto Raptors ended their seven-game losing streak by defeating the Indiana Pacers 130-119 during a game on Monday night.
Entering this matchup with the NBA’s worst record at 2-12, the Raptors finally secured their first victory since their overtime win against Sacramento on November 2.
Barrett was particularly effective, shooting 13 of 21 from the field, with 4 of 8 from beyond the arc, and converting 9 of 12 free throw attempts. He also grabbed nine rebounds to support his team’s efforts.
In addition to Barrett, Gradey Dick added 15 points, while both Ochai Agbaji and Davion Mitchell chipped in 11 points each. Notably, all five Raptors starters finished the game with double-digit points.
On the other side, the Pacers’ Benedict Mathurin exploded for 28 points, with 17 of those coming in a crucial fourth quarter. Pascal Siakam, playing against his former team, notched 25 points along with 10 rebounds. This game marked the Pacers’ third loss in their last four appearances.
Indiana’s Obi Toppin contributed 19 points with nine occurring in the final quarter. Tyrese Haliburton recorded 16 points, and T.J. McConnell added 10 to the Pacers’ total. However, the team was without center Myles Turner due to a sore right calf. Turner had a standout game the previous day, scoring a season-high 34 points in a win against Miami.
In terms of key takeaways, Haliburton had a challenging night, shooting just 5 for 18 and missing nine or more field goals for the fourth time in six games; he connected on only 2 of 9 attempts from three-point territory.
For the Raptors, it’s worth noting that all three of their victories this season have come at home, while they remain winless on the road with an 0-8 record.
A pivotal moment in the game came when Mathurin’s layup narrowed the deficit to 106-99 with 6:47 remaining in the fourth. However, following a Toronto timeout, Barrett responded with a three-point play, igniting a 5-0 run that helped the Raptors reestablish a comfortable double-digit lead.
Despite committing 23 turnovers that allowed Indiana to score 24 points, Toronto managed to secure the victory, highlighting their resilience as they had 10 turnovers in a particularly troublesome third quarter.
Looking ahead, the Pacers will face the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, while the Raptors are set to host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.