 | L. Scola 16 MIN | 1-4 FG | 1-3 3FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 3 PTS | +5 +/- I don’t have much to complain about here. I like Scola a lot, and he works his tail off. This just isn’t a good matchup when the Pacers go small, and his leash and minutes are short as a result. Hopefully he can answer the Myles Turner call. |  |
 | D. Carroll 35 MIN | 7-16 FG | 3-9 3FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 17 PTS | +13 +/- Grading on a bit of a curve here given expectations, but holy, CARROLL IS BACK. This looked like the Carroll the Raptors signed, freed from a minutes restriction and freed from the slow first-step that caused him problems against Paul George in Game 2. His night couldn’t have been more encouraging, with three threes, solid defense on George (6-of-19), and a couple of very Carroll plays. |  |
 | J. Valanciunas 27 MIN | 3-8 FG | 0-0 3FG | 3-3 FT | 14 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 9 PTS | +16 +/- It wasn’t quite as dominant as he was in the first two games, and he had to battle foul trouble throughout, but this was more proof the Pacers can’t handle him. The Raptors grab 114% of offensive rebounds when he’s on the floor. Or something like that. | |
 | K. Lowry 40 MIN | 8-21 FG | 4-10 3FG | 1-2 FT | 4 REB | 8 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 21 PTS | +18 +/- I haven’t looked at the new SportVu hustle stats for this game, but whatever they are, it feels like Lowry should lead in all of them. This is probably the best 8-of-21 game a player can have, and 12 of his 21 points came during the ice-out period of the fourth. |  |
 | D. DeRozan 36 MIN | 7-19 FG | 0-2 3FG | 7-9 FT | 2 REB | 3 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 21 PTS | -1 +/- Not a terrible night as far as 7-of-19 shooting performances go. He started really hot, hitting a jumper, getting to the line, making plays on defense, and making some nice reads on offense, but he eventually devolved into DeRozan from the first two games. I thought he looked a little more comfortable, but it’s just not falling for him right now, and when it stops, he starts making bad decisions. (And before anyone calls me a DeRozan hater, I spent the last three days doing radio hits getting baited into burying him and refusing. He’s still going to find his way in this series.) |  |
 | P. Patterson 26 MIN | 2-7 FG | 1-5 3FG | 2-2 FT | 4 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 7 PTS | +13 +/- Pro-tip: Never look at Patterson’s stat line. What he brings doesn’t show up there. Even on a night where he went 1-of-5 from outside, he was a major factor for the Raptors. His anticipation on the defensive end is unmatched on this team, and there’s a good reason he’s a part of basically all of the Raptors’ best lineups. | |
 | T. Ross 10 MIN | 2-3 FG | 1-2 3FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 5 PTS | +3 +/- It wasn’t even a case of Ross or Powell in this one, really, as Carroll had his minutes extended and heavy run for Joseph and DeRozan left just 13 backup minutes on the wing. Ross looked solid while out there, even throwing Valanciunas a great pass in the pick-and-roll. | |
 | B. Biyombo 21 MIN | 3-5 FG | 0-0 3FG | 0-0 FT | 8 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 6 PTS | +0 +/- Brought a ton of energy when Valanciunas got an early hook, and he’s had highlight-reel blocks in each game so far. If the Pacers try to hide George on him for possessions again, the Raptors need to risk the turnover and try to bait George into fouling Big Bizness. | |
 | D. Wright 1 MIN | 0-0 FG | 0-0 3FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | +1 +/- Hey, congrats on that garbage run! Experience! |  |
 | C. Joseph 24 MIN | 5-10 FG | 0-1 3FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 10 PTS | +12 +/- Perhaps the Raptors’ best player through three games, he once again brought a steadying presence, helped find Lowry a comfort zone, and made some tough shots to keep the offense rolling. Really, really solid, as always. | |
 | N. Powell 3 MIN | 1-1 FG | 0-0 3FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 2 PTS | +0 +/- Honestly surprised he didn’t manage a plus-20 in his three minutes. His lot right now is a tough one, but it speaks volumes about his character that the Raptors know he’ll be ready whenever he’s called on next. |  |
 | Dwane Casey Some will disagree here for the Powell icing, but it’s tough to argue with the results. My lone gripe with Casey from this one was the slow hook for Scola in each half, and even then, Scola’s played fine, it’s just a bad results-over-process decision to keep him out so long. Credit has to fall somewhere for how tough and energetic the Raptors were. | |
Five Things We Saw
- If Lavoy Allen starts another game in this series, I’ll be really surprised. Allen and Scola basically just traded helping way off of each other, and the series would be much more aesthetically pleasing if both sides turfed their starting four. Scola was fine, results-wise, but all evidence suggests Turner is a tough matchup for him.
- The first half was the best half of defense the Raptors have played in I don’t know how long. It was awesome. Related, and it’s reductive, but the Raptors simply out-worked the Pacers here. It felt like they got every loose ball, they had another good offensive rebounding night, and so on. It was good.
- I know some will be mad that Norman Powell was relegated to deep reserve duty, but that’s the tough reality of his lot in life right now. Casey justifiably wants a tighter rotation, and Ross’ shooting is paramount to what the second unit likes to do. Plus, they clearly wanted to stretch out Carroll.
- The Raptors are plus-infinity in the series when Lowry and Patterson share the floor. They might be plus-infinity just with Patterson out there, actually. If Carroll looks like this moving forward, he and Patterson could be a dangerous forward duo.
- Game 4 goes Saturday in Indiana. The Raptors have looked really good twice in a row now, but winning two on someone else’s turf is tough. Expect a more game Pacers squad for that one.
