Pascal Siakam returns to Toronto for the first time since last month’s trade. It’s bound to be an entertaining clash as both sides are eager to show up one another.

Catch the game tomorrow at 8:30 AM, Manila time.

AWAY: Indiana Pacers (30-25, 13-14 AWAY)

Projected starting five:

  • Tyrese Haliburton
  • Ben Mathurin
  • Pascal Siakam
  • Obi Toppin
  • Myles Turner

While able to maintain their place as one of the most potent offenses in the league–ranking first in points per game and second in offensive rating–these high-scoring Pacers enter the game as losers in five of their last eight games. They average 116.8 PPG and allow 119.0 over that span.

Pascal Siakam will be the man of the hour as he makes his return to Toronto, where he spent seven and a half seasons and won a championship. In 14 games with the Pacers thus far, he’s putting up 21.3 / 6.9 / 4.6 on 57.9% shooting (41.9% from three). 

As always, though, All-Star Tyrese Haliburton (21.3 PPG, 11.7 APG) will be the maestro. He has three-consecutive games with 11 or more assists, and had a monster 33 points with 16 dimes in the previous meeting with the Raptors, albeit ending in a 132-131 loss.

Myles Turner (17.2 PPG), Ben Mathurin (14.1 PPG) Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, and TJ McConnell remain as the secondary weapons. All can suddenly go out and be the focal point of the attack.

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HOME: Toronto Raptors (19-35, 11-15 HOME)

Projected starting five:

  • Immanuel Quickley
  • Gary Trent Jr.
  • RJ Barrett
  • Scottie Barnes
  • Jakob Poeltl

The Raptors are only 2-5 over their last seven games with a woeful -16.2 net rating over that span, scoring just 108.1 points and allowing a whopping 124.3 on the other end. On Tuesday, they got dominated by the West-bottoming San Antonio Spurs, 122-99, and allowed Victor Wembanyama to post a triple-double with points, rebounds, and blocks.

Tomorrow’s a different day, though, and the group might be inspired to show up former teammate Pascal Siakam. 

New main man Scottie Barnes has an all-around line of 19.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game, and he’s backed up by RJ Barrett (20.4 PPG, 55 FG%) and Immanuel Quickley (16.3 PPG, 5.7 APG), who have both improved their numbers since arriving in Toronto. 

Big man Jakob Poeltl is in an interesting match-up opposite Turner. He has 13.2 points, 9.8 boards, and 2.0 blocks over his last six outings.

PREDICTIONS:

Handicap: The Pacers (-3.5) cover the spread.

Over/Under: The total goes under 244.5

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