The Toronto Raptors were cruising along nicely to start Monday’s game against the Indiana Pacers. It was pretty surprising considering it was the second night of a back-to-back, their starters played big minutes Sunday, it was a road game, and the Raptors generally start slow. It was also a lot of fun, with few things more exciting than a 26-5 lead and the potential for an early night with plenty of Yung Poutine.
It was not to be. The Pacers scored back-to-back buckets to rediscover their footing. Then everything went to hell.
This Paul George triple over top of a screen may have been the momentum-builder the Pacers needed. Two baskets in a row is a nice way to stop an opposing team’s run, but three starts to build the elusive (and not mathematically provable) “momentum,” especially when it’s a big trifecta from a team’s best player, who to that point was a little cold.
Yeah, so…the George 3-ball was deadly, if unspectacular aesthetically. Before the Raptors knew what happened, the Pacers had gone on a 39-4 run, which has to be some type of record for ineptitude. At that point, they were stuck 14, and the lead would swell from there before the Raptors finally woke up late in the third, unfortunately too late. Then they went back to sleep in the fourth.
Check out the fan-made highlight of the three on Grandstand here.
On the bright side, the run led to what might be my favorite tweet I’ve ever sent.
This run has now spanned the Mesozoic and Cenozoic Eras, in that Raptors have become extinct during it.
— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) December 15, 2015
Yup, I’m an idiot. Can you blame me in this game?
On the new sports app, you can share your own Raptors highlights, and watch other fans’ videos straight from the crowd.
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