Raptors steamroll Pacers for 17th win in 18 games
TORONTO — Pascal Siakam scored 21 points and the Toronto Raptors led all the way to defeat the visiting Indiana Pacers 127-81 on Sunday night.
Kyle Lowry had 16 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds and five steals for the Raptors, who have defeated the Pacers three times this month. The Pacers won the first game of the season between the teams at home on Dec. 23.
Serge Ibaka added 15 points and 15 rebounds for the Raptors, who have won 17 of their past 18 games. The Raptors’ 46-point margin of victory marks the largest in franchise history.
Matt Thomas had 17 points off the bench for Toronto, Terrence Davis II added 13 points and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 12. Chris Boucher had nine points and 11 rebounds.
Toronto’s lead reached 49 points when Thomas made a 3-pointer with 43.7 seconds remaining.
The Pacers were without guard Victor Oladipo, who had a sore back.
The Pacers lost guard Jeremy Lamb, who left the game with a sore left knee in the second quarter after taking a hard fall at the baseline. He stayed in to take his free throws before going to the locker room. He did not return.
Domantas Sabonis scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Pacers, who have lost seven of their past nine games. Aaron Holiday added 14 points and brother Justin Holiday had 12 points.
Toronto shot 51.1 percent from the field and Indiana shot 32.6 percent.
The Raptors had a 15-1 start, opened up by as many as 26 points, and led 34-12 after the first quarter.
Siakam’s 18-footer gave Toronto a 30-point lead with 1:22 left in the second quarter. VanVleet closed the first-half scoring with a 3-pointer as Toronto led 63-32.
Siakam and Lowry each had 14 first-half points as the Raptors shot 50 percent from the field. Ibaka had 11 points and 10 rebounds in the first half.
Justin Holiday had nine firsthalf points off the bench for the Pacers, who shot 23.9 percent.
The Pacers scored the first six points of the second half. But Ibaka’s jump shot with 7:54 left in the third quarter stretched Toronto’s lead to 33 points. The Raptors led 85-55 after three quarters.
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Anthony Davis tallied 32 points and 13 rebounds and LeBron James recorded 29 points, nine assists and eight boards, and the Los Angeles Lakers weathered a career-high-tying 41-point effort by Jayson Tatum to beat the Boston Celtics, 114-112, on Sunday at Staples Center. —