100%

It is easy to root for this team! Unselfish, hardworking and with a variety of player types that allow them to play different from one substitution to the next

I want to celebrate Darko taking care of Gradey tonight. Hopefully, Gradey will be fine. And while there may be protocols that must be followed, it is admirable for Darko to role model prioritizing Gradey's health over team success.

There are a LOT of youth basketball coaches who should follow suit

I spoke to my girls about how sad that was: Obviously the fall was horrifying; However, I mostly felt horrible for that girl, and how the 'caring' adults in her life had behaved. A coach AND her parent decided to prioritize winning grade 9 basketball games over her long-term health and well-being.

She played every minute of that game, and every minute of a game after that (against us).

All of my athletes witnessed this. They were worried about her.

I do too. IMO tonight was an aberration, not a harbinger.

Luckily, Walter stepped up:
Team high +21

CMB was on him a couple times and did the best job IMO

Not the way Shead was playing tonight

He "defended" McConnell most of the time, a big part of allowing him to will the Pacers back into the game. I'll grant the blocks were impactful, but he was upright and disengaged far too often.

I thought BI was quite weak defensively tonight...but oh my, that dagger! All is forgiven!

something something that's why you get BI

The Raptors have been excellent at finishing quarters and finishing games this year, on both ends. They definitely need to do both to pull this one out.

Looks like Darko's stretch run lineup is Walter with the starters. Hard to quibble with that choice the way Walter has played tonight

It looks like the Raptors thought they had the game won by going up 13 in the 3Q. They are back into their sluggish, poor effort play that got them in so much trouble in the first half.

I think the Raptors **should** win, but it is far from obvious that they will

How does any team not take McConnell seriously as an offensive threat after that playoff run?

Darko with the instant anger timeout here and rightfully so!

Like I said earlier, NOT a good Shead game. Comes in and turns the ball over, nearly throws another pass away, misses a three.

Team worst -12

Yeah, not good enough. Glad to see CMB on him next time down

Scottie has tried going at Siakam, and it hasn't worked. Not thrilled with the no-calls (or calls against Scottie) but the NBA refs its stars differently.

Without meaning to take away from McConnell, but the Raptors need to make things harder for him

Siakam is definitely playing full tilt, and he's had some non-calls go his way a few times. Not much earlier in the 2Q, he poked one away from Scottie in the post with a ton of contact. Then, they call Scottie for a travel on a very physical play that also could have been a foul.

Wow, Carlisle sticks with Siakam and he picks up his 4th foul on an obvious call.

Things have swung heavily in Toronto's favour. Full marks for a solid close to the 2Q.