Month: February 2020

Vanessa Bryant Remembers Husband Kobe and Daughter Gianna in Touching Memorial Tribute — Variety

Vanessa Bryant held back tears as she paid emotional tribute to her late husband and NBA legend Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna at a memorial service held at the Staples Center on Monday. Vanessa began her touching speech by remembering her 13-year-old daughter, who she says was “a sweet soul,” and reflected on their friendship.…

Vanessa Bryant Remembers Husband Kobe and Daughter Gianna in Touching Memorial Tribute — Variety

RAPTORS 127, PACERS 81: “A lot of times you start 14-2 and you end up 24-22 at the quarter or something like that, so you don’t get too carried away. It was one of those where it just kept extending and there was not too many moments. There was one little lapse to start the second, where we turned it over, a little lapse to start the third where we didn’t stop them for about three or four possessions, but we answered a couple and after that there wasn’t any. There were some mistakes and there is going to be, but most of the time it was hard playing mistakes.” –NICK NURSE.

(33-24) INDIANA PACERS, 81 VS. (42-15) TORONTO RAPTORS, 127 SCOTIABANK ARENA SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020

TORONTO RAPTORS QUOTES

NICK NURSE (HEAD COACH)

On this being the best game you have played start to finish in a long time … Probably, yeah. Flying and executing the coverages, the ball was popping and every single guy that went in there was on, ready to go.

On the teams defence … Well, the defence starts with a lot of desire to do it, so there is want to out of this group to play it. Then it becomes how connected can these guys all be, it is hard to play if all five guys aren’t doing it. There are a lot of coverages and things and it takes a lot of connectivity between five guys. Just play hard and get some confidence, its builds momentum, you start jarring a few loose and the energy keeps rolling, you start making some good plays and tough shots and confidence builds.

On Kyle Lowry being a big factor in the defensive play … For sure, and I think again that I say this a lot, his compete level, I’ve never coached or seen anybody play as hard as this guy does in basketball. It is the ultimate compliment and it rubs off on the other guys. Not only does he do it that way, he plays it smart, he knows the coverages, he knows the opponents, he studies film, he gives his body up. All those things kind of transfer to the other guys I believe. Leadership.

On Pascal Siakam passing out of the post … I thought tonight he really was ready for them to swarm him and come at him and his timing was awesome. Sometimes you get caught in between your move and you are not quite to your move and then there are too many bodies there. He was working to score and when the nest person came the timing of what he was doing was pretty good. Impeccable really.

On getting the sense it will be a big night the way the game started … Well, I try not to. A lot of times its fool’s gold or games change pretty quickly. A lot of times you start 14-2 and you end up 24-22 at the quarter or something like that, so you don’t get too carried away. It was one of those where it just kept extending and there was not too many moments. There was one little lapse to start the second, where we turned it over, a little lapse to start the third where we didn’t stop them for about three or four possessions, but we answered a couple and after that there wasn’t any. There were some mistakes and there is going to be, but most of the time it was hard playing mistakes.

KYLE LOWRY (16 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds)

At what point in the first quarter did you start to see how this game was going to go? We played well. Our defence played well. They missed some shots early, missed some layups. We played them physical and kept our pace up. It was a good start for us.

Is this the ideal game you’d like to have as a team? I think every game is different. We came out and we played well. We made shots and they missed a lot of shots. We were physical. It’s something you can learn something from each game. Our third quarter start wasn’t good enough for us. We had a couple lulls in that third quarter that we didn’t like. These are the type of the games when you are a good team you have to continue to keep going and going and building and building. We had a couple of lax moments, but we figured a way out to keep it going and to keep building on it.

SERGE IBAKA (15 points, 15 rebounds)

On tonight’s game… We set the tone early. Normally when we start good like this, we relax. Tonight, as a team, we did a great job of focusing on us and keep working together.

Has your game improved because of the increase in minutes and touches? I feel like my teammates have been doing a great job of looking for me, especially my two point guards, Kyle and Freddie, so it’s big when you get a couple of touches on offence. It gets you loose and in your zone.

How much better is Pascal getting in recognizing when the help is coming? As good as Pascal is in the post it’s going to happen a lot. It’s on him to read that. We also have to do better job, sometimes they double and he tries to find us. We have to a better job of moving to make it easier for him. That’s what I did tonight. He kept feeding me.

Do you feel more comfortable cutting around him now when he’s in the post? I think some games I kind of hesitate. The good thing about watching film is that you learn from that. We watch film. The coaches keep telling me if your guys go, you are to go. I’m going to keep working on that and keep watching tape to get better and better.

(33-24) INDIANA PACERS, 81 VS. (42-15) TORONTO RAPTORS, 127 SCOTIABANK ARENA SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020

INDIANA PACERS QUOTES

NATE MCMILLAN (HEAD COACH)

On from the start of the game, you were overwhelmed… That’s a wakeup call, man. I mean that team is playing for something big and they showed us what February, March, April, if you can get into May and June, what it’s going to look like, and what you got to play against. They jumped on us, they came with the intensity, they play with a sense of urgency. That team is connected out there. We’re back on our heels from the start of this game. Its NBA basketball, and we got to get to that level.

How do you get this team to respond Tuesday night? This is about pride. You get kicked like this, the response is come out and play basketball, it’s as simple as that. We’ve got to play with more energy, more effort, more connection, more of everything. It’s as simple as that.

At times you have been able to overcome slow starts, this was just too big, wasn’t it? Again, that team, they’re champions and they’re playing great basketball on both ends of the floor. Tonight, they jumped on us and really everything we had to get we had to earn it. Really never got a rhythm or was able to get anything going defensively, never was able to get any stops. This is the type of basketball we got to expect to see the rest of the season. Teams are playing for positioning; this team is playing for home court and to win the East. Some of these teams that are not in the race, those guys are going to be playing for jobs. So you are going to see this type of intensity going down the stretch and you got to be ready for it.

JEREMY LAMB (five points, one assists, one steal)

Is the injury serious? I’m not sure. Hopefully it’s not too serious and I can get right back on the court, but I just have to wait on it.

What’s it like? It’s sore (and) swelling, so I just have to wait on it. I mean, I don’t have much to say. I don’t really know. Nothing was cracked or nothing like that, but (I) just have to wait on it at this point.

Do you think the play was dangerous? No. I’m not upset about it. He tried to make a play on it and that happens all the time. He bumped me in the air and I hung on the rim, so I don’t think it was dirty or nothing like that. It just happens, and obviously looking back on it, I probably should have not hung on the rim or I don’t know, try to slow him up or something, lay it up, whatever it was. I missed so many layups already, so I was like, “I’m dunking this to make sure it goes in.” Just a freak accident.

DOMANTAS SABONIS (14 points, 11 rebounds, five assists)

On tonight’s game… We just didn’t come out ready to play. As you saw the first three minutes we dug ourselves a hole and couldn’t get out of it.

Did you have trouble with their pressure? I feel like at the beginning we were down like 10 or 15, but we were getting open looks. We just weren’t converting, even easy ones under the basket, and then as the game went on, we just couldn’t even get open.

Does it feel like the same issues are persisting this month? Yeah. Nate has been saying ever since the All-Star break (that) every game is going to be different. Everyone is fighting for position. It’s going to be tough and today we just thought we could come out here and beat the champions, and you just can’t do that in this league.

RAPTORS 127, PACERS 81 –The 46-point win was the largest margin of victory in franchise history. The Raptors have won nine straight games at Scotiabank Arena, tying their longest home winning streak of the season … Toronto opened the 2019-20 campaign with nine consecutive home victories.

FINAL SCORE: TORONTO RAPTORS 127, INDIANA PACERS 81
DATE: FEBRUARY 23, 2020 ATTENDANCE: 19,800 (Sellout)
FINAL SCORE RECORD HIGH POINTS HIGH REBOUNDS HIGH ASSISTS
Indiana 81 33-24 Sabonis / A. Holiday – 14 Sabonis – 11 A. Holiday – 6
Toronto 127 42-15 Siakam – 21 Ibaka- 15 Lowry – 11
KEY RUN
The Raptors led wire-to-wire … Toronto opened the game on a 15-1 run and led 34-12 after one quarter …
Pascal Siakam and Serge Ibaka paced the Raptors with 11 points apiece, and Toronto shot .565 (13-for-23) from the field, in the opening period … The Pacers shot just .174 (4-for-23) in the first quarter.
KEY STAT
Toronto’s 46-point victory (127-81) over the Pacers was the largest margin of victory in franchise history.
RAPTORS NOTES:
• With the win, Toronto improves to 42-15 this season and 23-7 at home … The Raptors have won 17 of their last 18 games … Toronto is 7-1 in the month of February … The Raptors continue a four-game homestand (Feb. 21-28) Tuesday night when they welcome the Milwaukee Bucks.
• Toronto has won 13 consecutive home games against the Pacers … With tonight’s victory, the Raptors won the season-series (3-1) with Indiana for the sixth straight year (2014-20) … Since the start of the 2014-15 season, Toronto is 16-5 against the Pacers in the regular season.
• The Raptors have won nine straight games at Scotiabank Arena, tying their longest home winning streak of the season … Toronto opened the 2019-20 campaign with nine consecutive home victories.
• Toronto held the Pacers to an opponent season-low 81 points, including 32 points in the first half.
• The Raptors outscored Indiana 33-13 on the fast-break and had a 60-30 advantage in bench scoring.
• Toronto shot .511 (47-for-92) from the field, including .523 (23-for-44) in the second half … The Raptors are a perfect 17-0 this season when they shoot 50 per cent from the floor.
• Kyle Lowry posted his career-high sixth straight double-double, and 13
th of the season, with 16 points, 11 assists in 32 minutes … Lowry is averaging 19.3 points and 10.8 assists over the last six games.
• Serge Ibaka posted his team-leading 16th double-double of the season with 15 points and a season
high-tying 15 rebounds in 24 minutes of action.
• Matt Thomas scored a career-high 17 points (all in the fourth quarter) in 15 minutes off the bench.
• The Raptors had six players score double figures – Pascal Siakam (21), Thomas (17), Lowry (16),
Ibaka (15), Terence Davis ll (13) and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (12) … Both Davis and HollisJefferson scored in double digits off the bench for the second straight game.
PACERS NOTES:
• With the loss, Indiana falls to 33-24 on the season and 14-14 on the road … The defeat ends the
Pacers’ two-game win streak … Indiana’s next game is Tuesday at home vs. the Charlotte Hornets.
• Domantas Sabonis recorded his 43rd double-double of the season (tied for third in the NBA) with 14 points and 11 rebounds in 31 minutes of action.
• The Pacers had three players score in double digits – Sabonis (14), Aaron Holiday (14) and Justin Holiday (12) … A. Holiday added a team-high six assists in his 20th start of the season.

Back to health and back in the American League, Josh Donaldson is ready to pick up where he left off — Toronto Sun

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Like the rockets he sends over the outfield walls around Major League Baseball, Josh Donaldson believed he was always going to land a home-run contract. Read More

Back to health and back in the American League, Josh Donaldson is ready to pick up where he left off — Toronto Sun

Clippers’ Reggie Jackson is getting acclimated, with Paul George’s help — Daily News

LOS ANGELES — It wasn’t the most auspicious start to Reggie Jackson’s Clippers’ tenure, but Coach Doc Rivers, a former point guard typically demanding of those filling that role, proved Saturday he can be empathetic too. “He struggled a little bit, but he should have,” Rivers said of Jackson, who started in his Clippers debut…

Clippers’ Reggie Jackson is getting acclimated, with Paul George’s help — Daily News

This Stat Shows Insane Closeness Of Celtics-Lakers Rivalry Since 1960s — NESN.com

The Celtics-Lakers rivalry isn’t considered one of the best in all of sports just because. In addition to being one of the fiercest, most entertaining rivalries around, the Celtics-Lakers rivalry also is unbelievably competitive, particularly over the past 55 years. Since the 1965-66 season, which culminated in Boston beating Los Angeles in the NBA Finals, the…

This Stat Shows Insane Closeness Of Celtics-Lakers Rivalry Since 1960s — NESN.com

PACERS AT RAPTORS PREGAME NOTES: Kyle Lowry is one game shy of tying Morris Peterson (542) for second on the Raptors’ all-time games played list. DeMar DeRozan is the franchise leader with 675 appearances in a Raptors uniform.

INJURY REPORT AT 5:30 SUNDAY

Indiana Pacers Bowen II, Brian Out G League – Two-Way
Mitrou-Long, Naz Out G League – Two-Way
Oladipo, Victor Out Injury/Illness – Back; Sore lower
Sumner, Edmond Out Injury/Illness – Left Hip; Sore
Toronto Raptors Brissett, Oshae Available – Gasol, Marc Out Injury/Illness – Left Hamstring; Strain
Hernandez, Dewan Out Injury/Illness – Right Ankle; Sprain
McCaw, Patrick Out Injury/Illness – Illness; Flu-like symptoms
Powell, Norman Out Injury/Illness – Left Finger; Fourth – metacarpal fracture
Watson, Paul Available

RAPTORS NOTES

• The Toronto Raptors continue a four-game homestand (Feb. 21-28) Sunday night when they host the Indiana Pacers at Scotiabank Arena. This is the third game between the two teams this month and the fourth and final meeting of the season. Kyle Lowry is averaging 26.0 points and 10.0 assists in three games against the Pacers this season. With a victory, Toronto would capture the season-series with Indiana for the sixth consecutive year. Since the start of the 2014-15 campaign, the Raptors are 15-5 vs. the Pacers.

• With Friday night’s win over Phoenix, the Raptors have now won eight in a row at Scotiabank Arena. It’s their second longest home winning streak of the season. Toronto opened the 2019-20 campaign with nine straight victories at Scotiabank Arena. Over the last eight home games, Toronto is averaging 124.9 points and is shooting .520 (368-708) form the field, including .417 (121-290) from three-point distance.

• Kyle Lowry is one game shy of tying Morris Peterson (542) for second on the Raptors’ all-time games played list. DeMar DeRozan is the franchise leader with 675 appearances in a Raptors uniform.

• The Raptors have finished with a winning record each of the past 22 calendar months (February 2017 – February 2020) after guaranteeing a winning month with Friday night’s victory. The streak is the longest in franchise history and the longest current streak in the NBA. The last month in which Toronto did not have a winning record was January 2017 (8–9). Toronto is 6-1 this month.

• Kyle Lowry recorded his career-high fifth straight double-double (Feb. 5-21) with 13 points and 10 assists Friday night against the Suns. Over his last five games, Lowry is averaging 17.0 points and 11.0 assists. Lowry now has 12 double-doubles this season – second most on the team behind only Serge Ibaka (15).

• Phoenix shot .176 (6-for-34) from three-point range Friday night, its lowest mark of the season. Pascal Siakam’s five three-pointers were just one fewer than the six the Suns managed on 34 attempts. The Raptors currently lead the NBA in opponent three-point percentage (.336). Opponents are averaging 38.5 three -point attempts against Toronto this season, second-most in the league behind only Milwaukee (38.8).

• The Raptors outscored Phoenix 30-17 on the fast-break Friday night. Toronto ranks first in the NBA in fast break points per game (18.9). Pascal Siakam sits fifth among all players averaging 4.2 fast break points, while Fred VanVleet is 12th at 3.5 fast-break points per game.

• Pascal Siakam is averaging career highs of 23.8 points and 7.6 rebounds through 45 games this season. Only two players in Raptors history have finished a season averaging at least 23.0 points and 7.0 rebounds: Chris Bosh in 2009–10 (24.0, 10.8) and Kawhi Leonard in 2018–19 (26.6, 7.3).

• Terence Davis ll is one of just two rookies in the NBA who has played in all games for their team this season, along with Coby White (Chicago). Two rookies have played in every game of a season for the Raptors: Vince Carter in 1998–99 (lockout-shortened 50-game season) and Matt Bonner (2004–05).

• Toronto’s 41-15 record after 56 games is the best in franchise history. The Raptors have won at least 51 games each of the previous four seasons (2015-19) after not reaching 50 wins in any of their first 20 seasons in the NBA.

PROBABLE STARTERS

G – OG ANUNOBY #3

MIN: 29.3 REB: 5.4 AST: 1.5 STL: 1.2 TO: 1.3 BLK: 0.7 PTS: 10.3

• Recorded 12 points and five rebounds and matched a career high with four blocks Feb. 21 vs. Phoenix. • Toronto is 22-4 this season when Anunoby scores 10 or more points. • Averaging a career-high 10.3 points and shooting a career-best .500 from the field this season.

F – PASCAL SIAKAM #43

MIN: 35.0 REB: 7.6 AST: 3.4 STL: 1.0 TO: 2.4 BLK: 0.9 PTS: 23.8

• Finished with game highs of 37 points and 12 rebounds in 38 minutes of action Feb. 21 vs. Phoenix • Ranks 15th in the NBA in scoring (23.8); averaging 24.5 points over the last six games (Feb. 5-21). • Has scored 30+ points 14 times; had five 30-point performances in 80 games played last season.

C – SERGE IBAKA #9

MIN: 27.2 REB: 8.0 AST: 1.3 STL: 0.5 TO: 2.0 BLK: 0.8 PTS: 16.1

• Recorded 16 points, six rebounds and one block in 26 minutes of play Feb. 21 vs. Phoenix. • Averaging 19.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 31.7 minutes in 22 games as a starter this season. • First player in NBA history with 500+ three-point field goals and 1,500+ blocks.

G – KYLE LOWRY #7

MIN: 36.4 REB: 4.8 AST: 7.7 STL: 1.2 TO: 3.0 BLK: 0.4 PTS: 19.5

• Posted his fifth straight double-double with 13 points and 10 assists in 34 minutes Feb. 21 vs. Phoenix. • Passed Vince Carter (9,420) for third on the franchise’s all-time scoring list Feb. 7 at Indiana. • Ranks eighth in the NBA in assists per game (7.7); has dished out 10+ assists 12 times.

G – FRED VANVLEET #23

MIN: 36.0 REB: 3.8 AST: 6.8 STL: 1.9 TO: 2.3 BLK: 0.3 PTS: 17.9

• Finished with 14 points, seven assists, seven rebounds and two steals in 36 minutes Feb. 21 vs. Phoenix. • Ranks fourth in the NBA in steals per game (1.91); has registered multiple steals in 23 games. • Has more assists than turnovers in all but two games – leads the team with a 2.95 assists to turnover ratio.



INJURY REPORT Marc Gasol (Left hamstring; tightness) – Out Dewan Hernandez (Right ankle; sprain) – Out Patrick McCaw (Flu-like symptoms) – Doubtful Norman Powell (Left hand; fourth metacarpal – fracture) – Out

Opponent: Indiana Pacers Date: Sunday, February 23 Tip-Off: 6 p.m. (ET) Venue: Scotiabank Arena Television: Sportsnet One Radio: TSN 1050 Toronto

SERIES RECAP VS. INDIANA

OVERALL HOME ROAD

2019-20 2-1 1-0 1-1

ALL-TIME 42-49 28-18 14-31

STREAKS Won 2 Won 12 Won 1

LAST WIN: February 7, 2020 (115-106)

LAST HOME WIN: February 5, 2020 (119-118)

LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: +25, March 19, 2017

LARGEST MARGIN OF DEFEAT: -29, April 8, 2009

LAST TIME VS. INDIANA

GAME 52 – FEBRUARY 7, 2020 TORONTO 115, INDIANA 106

INDIANAPOLIS — Two days after rallying from a 19-point deficit to extend their franchise-record winning streak, the short-handed Raptors beat Indiana 115-106 for their 13th consecutive victory … Toronto has been winning without Marc Gasol and Norman Powell, two key players who are injured … Kyle Lowry missed the final 14 and a half minutes with a whiplash injury … The Raptors beat the Pacers for the second time in three days and head home with their 10th consecutive road victory … Serge Ibaka scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds … Fred VanVleet added 20 points and seven assists for Toronto, which hasn’t lost since Jan. 15 … Lowry finished with 16 points and 11 assists, his ninth double-double of the season … Domantas Sabonis finished with 19 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Pacers, and Victor Oladipo added 15 points and four assists in his first home start since returning from an injured right knee … Indiana has lost a season-high four in a row … Toronto had a 12-3 run in the third quarter which contributed to an 87-78 lead … When Lowry left with 2:42 to go in the third, the Pacers closed out the quarter with five straight points, cutting the deficit to four … The Pacers got as close as 101-99 with 6:47 left before Terence Davis scored seven points in a 12-4 spurt that gave Toronto a 113-103 lead with 1:48 to go.

1 2 3 4 TOT

TORONTO 36 28 23 28 115

INDIANA 31 32 20 23 106

INDIANA PACERS (33-23) at TORONTO RAPTORS (41-15) Game #57 | Road Game #28 Sunday, February 23, 2020 | 6:00 P.M. (ET) Scotiabank Arena | Toronto, ON

PROBABLE STARTERS

Pos. No. Player Ht. wt. Notes
Forward 1 T.J.Warren 6-8 215
2019-20 Averages: 18.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.2 spg, .529 FG%, .373 3FG%, .803 FT%

Last Game: 27 points (10-21 FG, 2-5 3FG, 5-5 FT), eight rebounds, three assists, two steals Currently leads the team in scoring average, and has scored 20 or more points 26 times this season….Ranks 16th in the NBA in field goal percentage (.529) …Finished with 36 points during the road win at Charlotte, 1/6, the second-highest total of his NBA career and the most by any Pacers player this season.


Forward 11 Domantas Sabonis 6-11 250
2019-20 Averages: 18.4 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 4.8 apg, .540 FG%, .224 3FG%, .729 FT%

Last Game: 24 points (8-16 FG, 8-10 FT), 13 rebounds, three assists, two steals Currently ranks fifth in the NBA in rebounding average and third with 42 double-doubles on the season, passing his career high set last season (30)…Recorded his 19th double-double of the season with 18 points and a career-high 22 rebounds against the Clippers, 12/9..His 22 rebounds was the most by any Pacers player since 1993…Recorded his first four NBA triple-doubles this season, becoming the third Pacers player in team history with at least four in one season.
Center 33 Myles Turner 6-11 255
2019-20 Averages: 11.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.9 bpg, .450 FG%, .342 3FG%, .760 FT%

Last Game: Eight points (3-7 FG, 1-4 3FG), eight rebounds, one steal, one block Ranks fourth in the NBA this season in blocks (1.93 per game)…Posted his fourth double-double of the year and set season highs with 27 points and 14 rebounds in the road win at Chicago, 1/10…Led the NBA and tied for third in Pacers franchise history with 199 blocked shots in 2018-19…Also became the first Pacers player since Jermaine O’Neal in 2000-01 to lead the NBA in blocks.
Guard 4 Victor Oladipo 6-4 210
2019-20 Averages: 10.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.6 apg, .323 FG%, .250 3FG%, .765 FT%

Last Game: Eight points (3-8 FG, 1-3 3FG, 1-2 FT), three rebounds, one assist Has started in each of his last five appearances, scoring in double figures four times for an average of 12.2 points per game…Made his season debut against Chicago, 1/29, played his first game since Jan. 23, 2019, and made the game-tying 3-pointer with 10.3 seconds remaining to force overtime in the win over the Bulls.


Guard 7 Malcolm Brogdon 6-5 230
2019-20 Averages: 16.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 7.3 apg, .435 FG%, .315 3FG%, .902 FT%

Last Game: 11 points (4-14 FG, 0-5 3FG, 3-4 FT), eight rebounds, six assists, one steal Ranks fifth in the NBA in free throw percentage this season (.902)…Ranks 10th in the NBA in assists, and is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, asissts and steals…Has posted nine double-doubles on the season, including four straight to begin the regular season. He had only recorded four double-doubles over his first three NBA seasons entering this year.

Injury Report

Victor Oladipo ……..Sore lower back ……………………..Questionable

Edmond Sumner .Sore left hip …………………………….Questionable

BROGDON’S FREE THROW STREAK Malcolm Brogdon ranks fifth in the NBA in free throw percentage at 90.2 percent on the season. Brogdon made 44 straight free throw attempts from the third quarter against the Pistons on Oct. 23 until his first attempt against Utah on Nov. 27. His streak placed him fifth in Pacers NBA franchise history for most consecutive free throws made: Player Consecutive FT Made Dates 1. Danny Granger 65 Jan. 21-Feb. 22, 2008 2. Reggie Miller 61 Feb. 5-March 13, 2005 3. Reggie Miller 60 March 18-April 6, 2005 4. Reggie Miller 52 March 5-18, 1991 5. Malcolm Brogdon 44 Oct. 23-Nov. 27 Brogdon set career highs in free throws made and attempts as he made all 15 of his foul shots in Indiana’s home win over Boston, 12/11. He became only the eighth player in NBA franchise history to make all of his free throw attempts while shooting at least 15. Player FTM-FTA Date 1. Danny Granger 17-17 vs. Golden State, 12/17/08 Billy Knight 17-17 vs. Philadelphia, 3/15/83 3. Danny Granger 16-16 vs. Golden State, 3/1/11 4. Malcolm Brogdon 15-15 vs. Boston, 12/11/19 Jalen Rose 15-15 vs. Utah, 12/22/00 Reggie Miller 15-15 vs. Orlando, 4/2/94 Reggie Miller 15-15 vs. Denver, 1/12/94 Clark Kellogg 15-15 at Seattle, 1/5/93

Holiday Season Aaron and Justin Holiday brothers became the seventh pair of brothers to play in a game for the same team in NBA history as they took the floor on Opening Night against Detroit. There have now been 10 sets of brothers as Giannis and Thanasis Antetotkounmpo and Brook and Robin Lopez have suited up together for the Milwaukee Bucks, and Cody and Caleb Martin have played together for the Charlotte Hornets. During the Pacers’ road victory at Brooklyn on Nov. 18, Aaron Holiday posted his first NBA doubledouble and new career highs with 24 points and 13 assists. His older brother, Justin, scored a 20 points on 6-for-11 shooting. The Holidays became the first pair of brothers on the same team to each score 20+ points in the same game in NBA history. Additionally, the two combined for eight 3-pointers, making four apiece, which was the most by a pair of brothers in NBA history. Aaron Holiday followed that performance by capping his 13-point outing with the go-ahead 3-pointer with 8.7 seconds remaining to lift Indiana to a home win over Orlando, 11/23. During the Pacers’ road game at New Orleans on Dec. 28, Aaron and Justin Holiday competed against their middle brother, Jrue. The three brothers all were on the court together for the first time during the third quarter, marking the first tieme in NBA history in which three brothers played at the same time during a regular season game.

NINE MEN IN The 2019-20 Indiana Pacers return eight players from last season’s team. After back-to-back seasons in which the Pacers posted a 48-34 record and finished as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, Indiana will feature nine new faces this season, including six players with at least three years of NBA experience. Of Indiana’s returning players, Myles Turner – who in his fifth season is also the longest-tenured Pacer on the roster – is the lone returning starter from last season’s playoff series against the Boston Celtics. Domantas Sabonis is expected to step into the starting lineup in the frontcourt along with Turner. Sabonis, who was a finalist for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award last season, set new career highs in nearly every statistical category in 2018-19 and set a new franchise record for the highest field goal percentage in a season as he shot 59.0 percent from the floor. Newcomers and projected starters Malcolm Brogdon, Jeremy Lamb and T.J. Warren all enjoyed career seasons with their respective clubs last season. Lamb averaged career highs with 15.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game for Charlotte last season. Warren played only 43 games for Phoenix, but averaged 19.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and set a career high by shooting 42.8 percent from 3-point range. Brogdon helped lead the Milwaukee Bucks to the Eastern Conference Finals, and became the eighth player in NBA history to shoot at least 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 90 percent from the free throw line in the regular season. Other notable veteran additions include Justin Holiday (10.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game for Chicago and Memphis last season), T.J. McConnell (6.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and a NBA-leading 1.1 steals per game off the bench for Philadelphia) two-way player Naz Mitrou-Long and JaKarr Sampson (20.0 points, 8.0 rebounds in four games for Chicago at the end of last season). The Pacers also feature two rookies on their roster. Goga Bitadze was the 18th selection in the 2019 NBA Draft. A 20-year old and native of the Republic of Georgia, Bitadze has played professionally since he was 16. He averaged 13.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game last season, and earned the Euroleague Rising Star Award, a prestigious honor previously awarded to current and former NBA players such as Luka Doncic, Alex Abrines, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Nikola Mirotic, Ricky Rubio, Rudy Fernandez, Andrea Bargnani and Danilo Gallinari. Brian Bowen II went undrafted, but signed a two-way contract on July 1. He competed with the Pacers’ Summer League team in Las Vegas in July and averaged 12.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 50 percent from the field, 50 percent from 3-point range and 10for-10 from the free throw line. He spent the regular season in Australia with the Sydney Kings in 2018-19 and averaged 6.3 points and 3.2 rebounds over 30 games played. New Indiana Pacers Players – 2019-20 Player 2018-19 Avg. Acquired Goga Bitadze 13.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.9 bpg 18th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft Brian Bowen 6.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg Signed as a free agent, 7/1 Malcolm Brogdon 15.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.2 aspg From Milwaukee, 7/7 Justin Holiday 10.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.5 spg Signed as a free agent, 7/31 Jeremy Lamb 10.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.5 spg Signed as a free agent, 7/6 T.J. McConnell 6.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.0 spg Signed as a free agent, 7/29.

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HOME COURT HEROES The Pacers secured a winning record on their home court in 30 consecutive seasons, which is the longest active streak in the NBA. Indiana currently holds a 19-9 record at home this season and has outscored its opponents by an average of 4.5 points per game. Opponents are shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 32.8 percent from 3-point range for an average of 106.4 points per game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Pacers allowed the fewest points per game at home in the NBA in 2018-19 while holding opponents to 100.9 points per game on 43.8 percent shooting (first in the league). The NBA record for the most consecutive seasons with a winning record at home is held by the Phoenix Suns, who posted 34 straight winning seasons at home from 1969-2003. Since the building’s opening in 1999, the Pacers have posted a 558-277 (.669) record at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. In Indiana’s NBA history, the Pacers hold a 1,126-633 (.639) record at home, the 10th best winning percentage at home among active NBA franchises.
TURNER’S BLOCK PARTY Myles Turner led the NBA in blocked shots during the 2018-19 regular season with a career-high 2.69 rejections per game. Despite missing eight games due to injury, Turner led the NBA with 199 total blocks. He recorded at least one block in all but five games, and posted 11 games with five or more blocks. Turner became the first Pacers player since Jermaine O’Neal in 2000-01 to lead the NBA in blocked shots. Entering this season, only two players in franchise history averaged more than 2.5 blocks per game over an entire season (O’Neal, 2.8 in 2000-01 and 2.6 in 2006-07; Roy Hibbert, 2.6 in 2012-13).

HURRICANES 6, MAPLE LEAFS 3–WHAT THEY SAID: “It’s another embarrassing night, right? Embarrassing nights shock the system a little bit, you know? I think this game was different than the others. I don’t think today was a lack of work ethic or anything like that. Today was just our execution. We couldn’t connect on a pass. Part of it is them, they put pressure on us, Carolina pressured us, they were above us, but like you saw on our power play, we just couldn’t connect on passes. The execution was really poor and then you’ve got a team that works the way that they do.” –SHELDON KEEFE.

HEAD COACH SHELDON KEEFE

On the loss:

Yeah, it’s a tough one. It’s going to be a tough one here for us to regroup from, it’s going to take a little time. Obviously, disappointing given the way it went for us the other day and we thought we had put together a good process and a good model for what we need to look like and how we can have success. I thought at 5-on-5, our first period was fine. Special teams was a real issue and perhaps signs of what was to come in terms of — especially our power play, I just thought our execution was so poor. It’s a sign our best players just weren’t having a good night. That was more of what was to come in the second and third. Get out of the first period up 1-0, 5-on-5 I thought we had played pretty good, especially the back half of it. A lot of that work was done from our third and fourth lines and the energy and pace that they had. We just were not able to sustain it. The special teams struggle again, this time our power play. Obviously, the penalty kill didn’t get good results, but our power play really had a chance to make a mark in the game and clearly failed to do so.

On if he thought the team expected an easy game after scoring two quick goals in the second period:

No, I didn’t. The reality is that the game really just stayed the same. We got a couple of shots and they went in. Their D hurt his shoulder, so they lost their coverage and allowed John to turn the corner and get his shot. When the goalie switch happened, I talked to the team and said if we don’t change how we’re playing, they don’t even need a goalie. There’re no chances, no shots, there’s nothing happening. They didn’t need a goaltender the way the game was going. Credit to them, we missed pretty well a near open net at the buzzer at the end of the second and could have made it 4-4 going into the third. Really, we just gifted them two at the start of the third. It’s game over from there. They competed hard, they were above us really the entire game and we just continued to pass into it. Our execution was poor, away from the puck was very poor, unorganized. From an execution standpoint, from our best people, especially, it was a real tough night like we’ve haven’t seen from them.

On his relationship with David Ayres:

Great. He’s got great energy, he comes to the rink every day, just wants to work and wants to be a part of it. Whether it’s with the Marlies or the Leafs, he’s always there when you need him. There’s probably not an emergency goaltender anywhere in pro hockey that has seen as many pro shots as this guy who’s in pretty much every day getting work. It feels terrible given that he’s on the other side today from our end of it. On a personal note, you can’t help but feel good for the guy.

On how to get the current mindset out of the team during a playoff push:

It’s just what we talked about before. It’s another embarrassing night, right? Embarrassing nights shock the system a little bit, you know? I think this game was different than the others. I don’t think today was a lack of work ethic or anything like that. Today was just our execution. We couldn’t connect on a pass. Part of it is them, they put pressure on us, Carolina pressured us, they were above us, but like you saw on our power play, we just couldn’t connect on passes. The execution was really poor and then you’ve got a team that works the way that they do. Not connecting makes it really tough to get anything going positive. Defensively, as a unit, our six D probably had as tough a night as they’ve had in quite some time. That’s a bad combination for us.

On Carolina responding to their goalie situation:

There’s a lot focus on the goalie, of course, but they were dominating us before the goalie switch. After it came, it just stays the same. You’ve got to get through five people to the goalie. We couldn’t get to Mrazek when he was in there. The game was the same. It just so happened it was a different guy in between the pipes. The game was the same, the just continued to play hard the way they were before.

FREDERIK ANDERSEN (42 SAVES)

On his takeaways from tonight’s performance:

At the end of the day, I’m going to try to focus on what I can do to do better out there and focus in on my tasks. I think I still have got to be better too and frustrating for everyone.

On if he felt a shift in the team’s play after Ayres came in for Mrazek:

I wasn’t paying too much attention to that. I was trying to worry about stopping the next puck and trying to give us a chance. I wasn’t good enough either. Good on Dave, I think he did a good job and I think they played well in front of him.

MITCH MARNER (20:11 TOI)

On what prevented the team from having success tonight:

I just think we didn’t have enough zone time. A lot of one-and-dones, turnovers, especially our line, especially myself. It’s just not good enough. I expect myself to be a lot better in these types of games. Knowing that was a big one, knowing that this team’s going to come out like that, it’s bulls— on my part. Something I’ve got to be better and we’ve got to be better with.

On if the team the team was forcing things in the third period:

Maybe. Like I said, I think we were a lot of just one-and-dones. Our line’s past games, we’ve been dominant down low, we’ve been playing with that confidence and playing, I think, just most of all with just using our willpower and that’s something that wasn’t there for myself tonight and I feel a couple of other guys. Like I said, it starts with myself, I’m supposed to be a leader and need to be way better than that.

AUSTON MATTHEWS (20:27 TOI)

On what the team can do to move forward:

I think it still allows us the opportunity to fix this ourselves. We’ve got to go out there and play. Obviously, the effort wasn’t there tonight and it’s only up to us to change that.

On if the difference between tonight and Thursday is bewildering:

It is. I think we took a big step forward, especially with the previous game, playing the same team, really good effort, obviously. You think you can kind of pick up on that momentum and you want to continue that and carry it into another game. Like you said, a tough week of games against tough opponents and it just wasn’t there tonight.

JOHN TAVARES (1 GOAL)

On if he’s ever seen anything like tonight’s game before in his career:

Certainly no. We obviously didn’t handle the circumstances of the game very well. Might have been our poorest night of execution. We seemed like the team that played last night and traveled. We were sloppy and I thought our execution was extremely low.

On the defensive job Carolina did once their second goaltender left the game:

They did a good job, no question they played hard. They’ve got good players, they’re a good hockey team but for the way we played I think we know it’s just unacceptable and not even close to good enough. We didn’t make it challenging at all and knowing once the goaltending situation happened they were going to block shots, they were going to make us have to come through five guys and work to get to the middle of the ice and we just didn’t even come close to making it hard on them that way.

HURRICANES 6, MAPLE LEAFS 3 — POSTGAME NOTES: The Maple Leafs went 2-for-4 on the penalty kill and 0-for-4 on the power play. … William Nylander skated in his 300th NHL game. … John Tavares was 5-for-7 (71%) when taking offensive zone draws.

CAROLINA HURRICANES (35-22-4 – 74 Points) vs.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (32-23-8 – 72 Points)

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2020

 123OTFINAL
CAROLINA042–6
TORONTO120–3

GAME SUMMARY         |           EVENT SUMMARY        |           FACEOFF SUMMARY


ON THE SCORESHEET

  • Alex Kerfoot put the Maple Leafs on the board at 19:24 of the first period. Kerfoot has points (1-1-2) in two consecutive games. He has a goal and an assist in two games against the Hurricanes. He has six points (1-5-6) in 12 games during the month of February.
  • Tyson Barrie registered the primary assist on Tavares’ second period goal before adding the primary assist on Engvall’s second period goal. Tonight’s game is Barrie’s sixth multi-assist and 10th multi-point game of the season. Barrie has four points (1-3-4) in two games against the Hurricanes this season.
  • William Nylander had the secondary assist on Tavares’ second period goal. Nylander has points (1-2-3) in three consecutive games. He has 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in 19 games against Metropolitan Division teams this season. He has eight points (3-5-8) in 10 games played during the month of February.
  • Jake Muzzin registered the primary assist on Kerfoot’s first period goal. Muzzin has assists (5) in four consecutive games and points (2-5-7) in five consecutive games. He has registered 10 (1-9-10) of his 22 points in 15 games against Metropolitan Division teams.
  • Kasperi Kapanen had the secondary assist on Kerfoot’s first period goal and later picked up the secondary assist on Engvall’s second period goal. Kapanen has points (1-2-3) in two consecutive games. Tonight’s game is Kapanen’s third multi-assist and seventh multi-point performance of the season. He has seven points (2-5-7) in 11 games during the month of February.
  • Tyson Barrie registered the primary assist on Tavares’ second period goal before adding the primary assist on Engvall’s second period goal. Tonight’s game is Barrie’s sixth multi-assist and 10th multi-point game of the season. Barrie has four points (1-3-4) in two games against the Hurricanes this season.
  • William Nylander had the secondary assist on Tavares’ second period goal. Nylander has points (1-2-3) in three consecutive games. He has 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in 19 games against Metropolitan Division teams this season. He has eight points (3-5-8) in 10 games played during the month of February.
  • Frederik Andersen stopped 42 shots in the loss.

SHOTS ON GOAL

 1st2nd3rdOTTOTAL
CAROLINA172110–48
TORONTO1187–26
      

SHOT ATTEMPTS

 1st2nd3rdOTTOTAL
CAROLINA253318–76
TORONTO191513–47

Please note: 5-on-5 shot data is unavailable for this game.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Record at Home16-9-7 (32 Games)
All-Time Record vs. Carolina47-59-11-7 (124 Games)
All-Time Record vs. Carolina at Home24-32-5-2 (63 Games)
Record vs. Eastern Conference17-15-6 (38 Games)
Record vs. Metropolitan Division8-7-4 (19 Games)
Attendance19,414

MAPLE LEAFS LEADERS

Shots4 (Hyman, Kapanen, Matthews)
Shot Attempts7 (Barrie)
Faceoff Wins11 (Tavares)
Faceoff Win Percentage75% (Hyman – 3 won, 1 lost)
Hits2 (Four players tied)
Blocked Shots6 (Muzzin)
Takeaways3 (Matthews)
TOI23:29 (Holl)
Power Play TOI4:48 (Matthews, Tavares)
Shorthanded TOI4:58 (Holl)
Shifts29 (Holl)
5-on-5 Shot Attempt PercentageN/A
  

RECORD WHEN…

Scoring first22-5-2
Lead after 115-3-1
Trail after 23-16-4
Do not score on the power play13-14-4
Allow multiple power play goals1-5-1
Outshot by opponent13-13-4
Saturday11-4-4

OF NOTE…

  • The Maple Leafs went 2-for-4 on the penalty kill and 0-for-4 on the power play tonight.
  • William Nylander skated in his 300th NHL game.
  • John Tavares was 5-for-7 (71%) in the faceoff circle when taking offensive zone draws.

UPCOMING GAMES:

  • Tuesday, February 25, 7:00 p.m. at Tampa Bay Lightning (Sportsnet Ontario, TSN 1050)
  • Thursday, February 27, 7:00 p.m. at Florida Panthers (TSN4, FAN 590)
  • Saturday, February 29, 7:00 p.m. vs. Vancouver Canucks (Sportsnet, TSN 1050)
  • Tuesday, March 3, 10:30 p.m. at San Jose Sharks (Sportsnet Ontario, FAN 590)
  • Thursday, March 5, 10:30 p.m. at Los Angeles Kings (Sportsnet Ontario, TSN 1050

Tacko Fall Records Second Double-Double In As Many Games For Red Claws — NESN.com

Another day, another double-double for Tacko Fall. The Boston Celtics center amassed a double-double during the Maine Red Claws’ win against the College Park Skyhawks on Thursday. And Fall picked up right where he left off during the Red Claws’ Saturday contest. The 7-foot-5 Fall notched 16 points (8-of-13 shooting) with 15 rebounds. While Maine…

Tacko Fall Records Second Double-Double In As Many Games For Red Claws — NESN.com