Raptors vs. Pacers Game Thread: Updates, TV info, and more

The Raptors take on another strong Eastern Conference opponent tonight in the Indiana Pacers.

For the second time this season already, the Raptors are getting set to take on the Indiana Pacers on the end of a back-to-back. There doesn’t seem to be too much worry, though. Things are going too well!

The Raptors are riding a three-game win streak after a disappointing loss to the Celtics, even without Kawhi Leonard. With Kawhi continuing to sit tonight due to load management, Fred VanVleet is back with a starting lineup that will test their stuff against one of the East’s top teams.

The Pacers are on a mini-win streak of their own, with a primetime loss to Philadelphia sitting smack dab in the middle of two-game win streaks on either side.

Indiana, albeit a strong 31-15, haven’t been exceptional against the league’s best teams. Much like the Raptors, they’re doing it by taking care of business — they’re 24-3 against the 15 teams no better than one game over .500 (a stat I stole from John Schuhmann in what might be the Schuhmann-iest stat). At the same time, they’ve lost four straight to the top five teams in the East.

Most important for Toronto is not to look ahead to a small west coast swing coming next on the schedule, as they escape to Houston on Friday and Dallas on Sunday. Taking care of business against a Pacers team that takes care of business (cue the Burton Cummings) is all that matters.

With that in mind, here are the details for tonight’s game.

Where to Watch

TSN, 7 PM EST

Lineups

Toronto – Fred VanVleet, Kyle Lowry, Danny Green, Pascal Siakam, Serge Ibaka

Indiana - Darren Collison, Victor Oladipo, Bojan Bogdonavic, Thaddeus Young, Myles Turner

Injuries

Toronto - Jonas Valanciunas (thumb - out), Kawhi Leonard (load management - out), OG Anunoby (personal - out)

Indiana - none