NBA Playoffs: Raptors vs. Pacers Game 3 recap, full highlights

The Raptors exercised their NBA Playoffs demons on the road to win Game 3 against the Pacers

The Toronto Raptors had won just one road game out of their last 18 in the NBA Playoffs, just another unsightly chapter in their laundry list of struggles in the postseason. With arguably their best team in over a decade this season and with the team needing to get a win back after losing to the Indiana Pacers in Game 1, though, the Raptors’ need to exercise their demons on Thursday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse was all too real.

Even away from the Air Canada Centre, though, the Raptors came out looking much like a team finally ready to make some noise in the playoffs. Not only did DeMar DeRozan finally wake up and start attacking and/or getting to the foul line to where he could start getting his bread buttered, but the Raptors also locked down on the defensive end in a major way. They stifled Paul George and the Pacers in the first half in emphatic fashion as they allowed just 36 points through the first two periods and went into halftime up by 17 points.

On their home court, the Pacers obviously weren’t going to lie down and let the Raptors continue to run all over them and it was rookie big man Myles Turner that really started stepping up to try and spearhead a comeback. He was knocking down shots from everywhere on the floor, crashing the offensive boards, and protecting the rim to help Indiana start to climb back slowly and surely.

With the deficit cut, though, Cory Joseph continued to be huge off of the bench and Kyle Lowry started stepping up at the start of the fourth quarter, facilitating, knocking down shots, and creating timely turnovers to extend the lead once again in favor of the Raptors. From there, Toronto was able to hold on in Game 3 to get the win. In the end, they were able to finally pick one up on the road and regain control of the series by going up 2-1.

Three Stars

DeMar DeRozan, Raptors — 21 points, three assists, two steals

Kyle Lowry, Raptors — 21 points, eight assists, four rebounds

Paul George, Pacers — 25 points, 10 rebounds, six assists

Highlights

Next Game

Game 4 between the Pacers and Raptors will take place on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET. That game as part of the day full of NBA Playoffs coverage will be broadcast on TNT.

For all your NBA Playoffs coverage, stay in tune with the FanSided NBA hub.