Takeaways As RJ Barrett Stars In Raptors Upset Over Pacers

In a stunning upset, the Toronto Raptors, led by a brilliant performance from RJ Barrett, defeated the Indiana Pacers 114-106 on Wednesday night. The victory marked Toronto’s third straight win and moved them into eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

RJ Barrett’s Stellar Night

Barrett was sensational for the Raptors, finishing with a game-high 32 points on 12-of-20 shooting. He also added 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Barrett’s performance was particularly impressive considering that he was matched up against one of the league’s best perimeter defenders in Aaron Holiday.

“RJ was incredible tonight,” said Raptors coach Nick Nurse. “He was aggressive on both ends of the floor and made some big plays for us when we needed them.”

Raptors’ Improved Defense

In addition to Barrett’s performance, the Raptors’ defense was also a key factor in their victory. Toronto held the Pacers to just 41.7% shooting from the field and 28.6% from three-point range. The Pacers were also limited to just 11 fast-break points.

The Raptors’ defense has been much improved in recent weeks, and they have now held their opponents to under 100 points in three of their last four games.

Pacers’ Struggles

The Pacers have now lost three of their last four games and are currently in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. Indiana has struggled to find consistency this season, and they have been especially poor on the road, where they are just 6-14.

“We’re just not playing to our potential right now,” said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. “We’re making too many mistakes and we’re not shooting the ball well enough.”

What’s Next?

The Raptors will return to action on Friday night when they host the Philadelphia 76ers. The Pacers will also be back in action on Friday night when they visit the Milwaukee Bucks.

Conclusion

The Raptors’ upset victory over the Pacers was a significant step in their quest for a playoff spot. Barrett was sensational, the defense was impressive, and the team showed a lot of resilience. The Pacers, on the other hand, continue to struggle, and they will need to find a way to turn things around quickly if they want to make the playoffs.

The Raptors’ victory also has implications for the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Raptors are now just two games behind the seventh-place Atlanta Hawks, and they are starting to build some momentum. The Pacers, on the other hand, are now three games behind the Raptors and their playoff hopes are starting to slip away.