The Toronto Raptors’ have won a franchise record 12 straight games with an improbable 119-118 come from behind, signature victory over the Indiana Pacers.
The win also gives the Raptors’ the most consecutive wins by a major Toronto professional sports franchise — breaking a deadlock tie between the Toronto Blue Jays’ who won 11 in a row five times.
The Raptors’ had won 11 games in a row three times, from Feb. 26 to March 16, 2018 and Jan. 6 to January 30, 2016. The Toronto Maple Leafs managed to pull-off a 10 game streak that dates back to 1993. Toronto Argonauts also had 10-game winning streak in 1997. Toronto FC’s longest winning streak stands at six games in 2017.
Serge Ibaka nailed the game-winning triple with 30.4 seconds left in the fourth-quarter to stun the Indiana Pacers who buried 19-of-39 triples in the game. The Raptors’ trailed by 19 points in third-quarter and found themselves down 118-108 with 2:27 remaining on two made free-throws from Justin Holiday.
Toronto 11-0 run seals franchise 12 straight victory
The Raptors’ rallied, getting two crucial steals on the defensive end to close the game on a 11-0 run to seal the victory.
Six-time all-star point guard Kyle Lowry nearly recorded a triple-double, with a huge game-high 32 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds. Ibaka finished with a season-high 30 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists on 13-of-21 field-goals. Pascal Siakam shock-off a slow start and was huge down the stretch — the first-time all-star added 25 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals.
The trio were phenomenal and scored, rebounded and/or assists on every play during the game clinching run.
Ibaka’s 30 point effort was only the fourth time in his career that he has reached the 30 point mark — four (4) shy of his all-time scoring accomplishment.
“We had little rough night against them, you have to give them a lot of credit, they did a great job on defense and on offense they were making shots. But one thing about this team, we don’t give-up, we keep digging, and in the end we get back.” shared Ibaka during his post-game interview.
Raptors on pace for first 60 win season
The Raptors’ improve to 37-14 — their best record in franchise history through 51 games. Their record stood at 36-15 during the historic 2018-19 championship run. Toronto is on pace to plateau the 60-game win mark for the first-time in franchise history — topping the 59-23 standard set during the 2017-2018 season and the subsequently impressive 58-24 achievement recorded 2019. Furthermore, the franchise is set to register it’s fifth straight 50-game win season.
The San Antonio Spurs, the model for consistency, reeled off 18 consecutive 50-plus win campaigns from 1999-2017 — including six 60-win seasons during the rare the stretch that culminated with five NBA titles (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014).
Toronto will look to extend the winning streak to 13 against the same Indiana Pacers on Friday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Raptors’ last defeat came via a one-point, 105-104 home loss to the San Antonio Spurs’ on January 12, 2020.
