TORONTO (AP) — Pascal Siakam scored 23 factors and the Toronto Raptors routed the depleted Indiana Pacers 131-91 on Saturday evening in a recreation delayed 70 minutes within the first half due to a speaker fireplace that pressured the evacuation of followers.
Scottie Barnes added 19 factors, Valuable Achiuwa 18, OG Anunoby 16, Chris Boucher 15 and Thad Younger 11 because the Raptors posted their largest margin of victory this season.
Oshae Brissett led Indiana with 21 factors. Justin Anderson had 18, Jalen Smith 15 and Buddy Hield 14. The Pacers have misplaced three straight and 5 of seven.
Nobody from the sellout crowd of 19,800 was round at finish to see Toronto transfer previous Cleveland into sole possession of sixth place within the Jap Convention after the Cavaliers misplaced 98-94 in Chicago. The Raptors are one recreation behind the fifth-place Bulls with eight video games remaining.
Sixth place is the final assured postseason spot, with groups ending within the Nos. 7-10 spots headed for the play-in match.
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Within the first quarter, two sections of followers behind the basket on the east finish of the stadium have been cleared and Toronto Hearth Providers personnel might be seen within the empty aisles, staring on the ceiling.
“I used to be like, ‘Jeez, I ponder why they didn’t promote these seats tonight?’ That was my very first thing,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse stated. “Then I noticed the firemen standing there.”
Later, one other part was cleared as play continued. Earlier than lengthy, video surfaced on social media of flames popping out from a speaker hanging above the stands.
Pacers appearing head coach Lloyd Pierce stated he spoke to steer official Zach Zarba concerning the acrid scent coming from the burning speaker.
“You might positively scent it,” Pierce stated. “By the point (the sport) stopped the scent was robust.
“Fifteen years for me, most likely essentially the most weird state of affairs that we’ve been in for a recreation,” Pierce added.
Throughout a timeout, public handle announcer Herbie Kuhn introduced that the world was being evacuated on the order of Toronto Hearth Providers, telling booing followers that the sport had been suspended.
Gamers headed to their locker rooms with 4:05 left within the second quarter and the Raptors main 66-38.
Brissett, who’s from Toronto, had a big crowd of individuals available to observe him play at residence however all of them needed to go away.
“I bought a complete bunch of texts from mates, household,” Brissett stated. “They have been actually mad.”
Through the delay, two staff utilizing ropes and harnesses hung from the ceiling and sprayed a fireplace extinguisher on the problematic speaker.
Remaining ushers and area safety workers cheered when the Raptors returned to heat up for the restart. The halftime break was minimize from quarter-hour to 7 1/2 minutes, and gamers didn’t go away the court docket throughout the intermission.
“It was loopy,” Achiuwa stated. “I’ve by no means been in a recreation like that.”
Toronto guard Fred VanVleet, who missed two video games earlier this month due to a sore proper knee, didn’t return following the restart.
This was the newest occasion of fan-free basketball for the Raptors, who performed to no quite a lot of hundred followers at residence video games between Dec. 31 and Mar. 1 due to Ontario authorities restrictions associated to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anunoby and Siakam mixed for 22 factors within the first, another than the Pacers had as a crew, and Toronto closed the quarter with a 23-5 spurt to steer 41-21.
“We positively got here out actually flat,” Brissett stated.
Forward 66-38 when the sport was suspended, Toronto led 74-46 at halftime.
Indiana guard Malcolm Brogdon (conditioning) sat for the fourth straight recreation, whereas guard Chris Duarte (left massive toe) missed his fifth straight, and ahead Isaiah Jackson (headache) missed his second straight. The Pacers have been additionally with out middle Goga Bitadze, who sat due to a sore proper foot.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle missed his second straight recreation for private causes. Pierce stated he’d checked in with Carlisle since a loss Thursday evening at Memphis.
“We simply preserve it skilled, however he’s doing properly,” Pierce stated. “He’s involved about us however we’re involved about him as properly.”
Toronto is 15-4 when six or extra gamers rating in double digits.
Pacers: Smith returned after lacking the previous two video games due to a non-COVID sickness. … Indiana is 9-29 on the street. The Pacers went 3-5 away from residence in March.
Raptors: G Gary Trent Jr. (left massive toe) sat for the third straight recreation however is “fairly shut” to a return, Nurse stated. … Signed G Armoni Brooks to a multi-year contract. Brooks had beforehand signed two 10-day contracts with Toronto.
Pacers: Host Atlanta on Monday evening.
Raptors: Host Boston on Monday evening.
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