Patrick Patterson, who had a great game three, was a -22 for the game and ended up eight points and one rebound. The Raptors outscored their opponents by 8.9 points per 100 possessions * a href=”http://stats.nba.com/team/#!/1610612761/lineups/advanced/?CF=GROUP_NAME*E*Joseph, Cory%20-%20Patterson, Patrick&Season=2015-16&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&GroupQuantity=2″ target=”stats” *in 1,529 regular-season minutes with both on the floor. Toronto had 19 turnovers, which IN converted into 25 points, and s only 36.5 percent from the field (27 of 74).As they have all series, IN let Scola fire away at will from beyond the arc, yet he failed to convert on those opportunities time and time again. In Game 4, the Pacers contested all 15 of DeRozan’s shots, according to ESPN Stats & Information research, and he made just four.
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The Raptors have never won three consecutive playoff games, but have all the momentum going into Game 4.
With their first round series all tied up at a game apiece before Saturday afternoon’s pivotal Game 3, the No. 7 seeded Indiana Pacers aren’t being the best of hosts to their No. 2 seeded foe in the Toronto Raptors. George shot 2-of-13 from the field and 0-of-6 from three against Carroll exclusively in Game 3.
Toronto coach Dwane Casey said that IN deserves credit, but Lowry and DeRozan have just not been at their best. With that kind of performance from the two stars, it’s a wonder the Raptors haven’t been swept by now. Neither of them have shot above 40% in a game so far this series, but Lowry remains confident.
Casey relishes how the fifth overall pick from 2011 is stepping up.
“Everybody has to be a scoring option for us, and today they were”, said George. “Nobody comes into this league and sets it on fire, it’s very rare when you do”. “I keep telling him, ‘You’re an athletic big man”.
And in the Raptors’ wins in Games 2 and 3, Toronto actually had the lead when the two checked in. The Pacers’ shooting percentage has dropped with every game, down to 38.2 in Game 3 with a series-worst 17 turnovers.
Kaminsky gave the Hornets a spark in the third quarter with 11 points, including two spin moves against Wade and a turnaround jumper over Joe Johnson. Miles missing all eight attempts.
George got in Valanciunas’ face while DeMarre Carroll joined the fray trying desperately to get at George.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Jonas Valanciunas and Paul George went chest to chest after George responded to a shove from Valanciunas on an IN free throw.
Swish or Brick: Are the Pacers chasers? While he’s led all scorers in the series with 86 points, the Pacers have had only one other double-digit scorer in each of the losses. That’s what we need and that’s what we’ve got to travel on the road to Toronto. Rod Black, Jack Armstrong and Leo Rautins discuss this and more in Swish or Brick.
“I feel like the shots. they’re shots that we’ve made all year”, he continued. Even better news: he declared himself healthy and able to go for another 35 minutes if needed in Saturday’s Game 4 in Indianapolis. Turner finished with four points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
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“We didn’t do our job”, said George, who went 12 for 12 at the free-throw line.
