The Toronto Raptors will encounter a familiar opponent in Pascal Siakam as they head to Indiana on Monday to face his Pacers, with the game airing on TSN. Their previous encounter on Feb. 14 saw the Raptors succumb to the Pacers with a score of 127-125, during which Siakam led the charge with 23 points and contributed seven assists to secure the victory.
As the teams gear up for their next showdown, here are five key aspects to keep an eye on during Monday night’s game.
Siakam shining with Pacers
Just over a month after the January 17 trade that relocated Siakam to the Pacers, the 29-year-old forward has settled into his new environment and is beginning to thrive in Indiana.
In his 17 appearances with the Pacers, Siakam’s statistics closely mirror those that earned him two All-Star selections with the Raptors, with averages of 20.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
Additionally, Siakam has demonstrated improved shooting efficiency in recent weeks, with his three-point percentage climbing from .317 during his tenure with the Raptors to .420. Furthermore, his field goal percentage has seen a slight uptick, rising from .552 to .562.
Pacers riding three-game win streak
The Pacers aim to prolong their three-game winning streak, which commenced with a victory over the Raptors on Feb. 14.
Following that win, they defeated the Detroit Pistons 129-115, with Tyrese Haliburton contributing 25 points and Siakam adding 20 to the scoreboard. They then secured another victory against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, triumphing 133-111, led by Myles Turner’s impressive 33-point performance.
Barnes’ All-Star season
Following his recent debut at the All-Star game representing Indiana, Scottie Barnes’ journey to stardom has skyrocketed.
With career-high averages across the board (20 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists), Barnes is spearheading a promising future for the Raptors alongside RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley.
Originally drafted fourth overall by the Raptors in 2021, Barnes, a product of Florida State University, garnered All-Rookie recognition and clinched the Rookie of the Year title for his impressive averages of 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.
Tale of the tape
When it comes to matchups within the Eastern Conference, the Raptors and the Pacers exhibit contrasting records.
The Raptors (14-23) have faced difficulties, whereas the Pacers (25-14) have enjoyed a successful season thus far, occupying the sixth position in the Eastern Conference standings.
Currently, the Pacers trail the Central Division-leading Cleveland Cavaliers by five games.
Meanwhile, the Raptors find themselves trailing the Boston Celtics by a substantial margin of 24 games in the race for the Atlantic Division title.
Canadians on the court
The upcoming game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Monday night will showcase a notable presence of Canadian players.
RJ Barrett, a Toronto native, has been performing exceptionally well, averaging a career-high 20.1 points per game since his trade to the Raptors in December from the New York Knicks, alongside Immanuel Quickley, as part of a deal that included OG Anunoby.
Kelly Olynyk, hailing from South Kamloops, joined the Raptors in a trade with the Utah Jazz on Feb. 8 and is contributing 9.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game.
On the Pacers’ roster for the 2023-24 season, there are two notable Canadian players: Bennedict Mathurin from Montreal and Andrew Nembhard from Aurora, Ontario.
Mathurin, who earned a spot on the All-Rookie Team last season, is averaging 14.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, and two assists per game. Nembhard, not far behind in performance, is averaging 9.2 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
