NBA Matchups: January 14

TOR @ IND | CLE @ PHI | UTA @ CHI | BKN @ NOP | DEN @ DAL | NYK @ SAC | WAS @ LAC

Toronto Raptors at Indiana Pacers

Team Totals: Raptors 112.3, Pacers 110.8

Injury Report: R.J. Barrett (O, ankle), Sandro Mamukelashvili (Q, illness), Ja’Kobe Walter (O, hip)

Raptors projected starters: Immanuel Quickley, Jamal Shead, Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles

Pacers projected starters: Andrew Nembhard, Johnny Furphy, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, Jay Huff

Darko quotes: Said the 76ers came out hot and they dug themselves into too deep a hole, said CMB has a lot to learn from some of his matchup with Embiid, said he likes the shot quality they got and they just need their 3-pointers to go down, said they “have to be hungry and humble” going forward.

Carlisle quotes: Said Siakam “played one of his better games” of the season and was “really, really big time,” said Siakam made a stronger case for the All-Star Game, said he played 11 and they needed everyone, said they’ve had a nice 5-6 days with this winning streak, said Jarace Walker “has been tremendous” and “is showing a lot of poise and a lot of growth, said Siakam “is our secondary ball handler,” said Huff and Potter have a “tag team position” at center with Tony Bradley mixed in, said some guys still have minutes limits, said Furphy did a great job guarding Hauser and Furphy learned a lot from the previous matchup.

Stats and Notes:

*After going 6-31 in their first 37 games, the Pacers are on a three-game winning streak thanks to their defense really turning up in those three wins (vs. BOS, MIA, and CHA). They have been rebounding the ball better lately, and their rim defense has been trending up as well. They’re still fourth in C&S 3PA frequency, and they are first in their last 10 to really try to take that away. With Aaron Nesmith back, this defense isn’t one that‘s easy to score on anymore. The Toronto defense got crushed in two of their last three games, but it was mostly just about the Celtics and 76ers hitting so many jumpers against them. They were able to keep them in the halfcourt, and they remain the second-best transition defense in the league (they also have the best D pace in the league; teams play at the slowest pace against them). The Collin Murray-Boyles lineups have been awesome, and they have a 100.7 D rating with him and Scottie Barnes together. This is going to be more of a defensive matchup.

*Scottie Barnes had been cooking before a rough game against the 76ers on Monday. Brandon Ingram’s return did affect him negatively, as his role shrank to just eight drives and six potential assists. Barnes hasn’t been that great in this matchup with Pascal Siakam on both ends (averaged 19/11/5 in the previous two), and the Pacers being better overall on defense makes it slightly unattractive for the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week.