Raptors rout Pacers following lengthy game delay due to fire at Scotiabank Arena
Treasured Achiuwa spent a lot of the 70-minute hearth delay becoming a recent jersey, and going by his pre-game stretching routine — once more.
On one of many oddest nights in Raptors historical past, Toronto crushed the Indiana Pacers 131-91 after a speaker hearth at Scotiabank Area suspended play for greater than an hour and noticed followers evacuated for the rest of the sport.
“Simply add it to the record [of weird games],” stated coach Nick Nurse.
Bizarre, however huge within the Raptors’ quest for a playoff place.
WATCH | Raptors, Pacers recreation suspended on account of hearth:
Spectators at Scotiabank Area have been compelled to exit the constructing after an overhead speaker caught hearth. The sport was late into the 2nd quarter when the decision was made. 0:57
Pascal Siakam led the best way with 23 factors for Toronto (42-32), who moved previous Cleveland into sixth place within the Japanese Convention.
Scottie Barnes had 19 factors, Achiuwa chipped in with 18, OG Anunoby completed with 16, Chris Boucher scored 15 and Thaddeus Younger had 11.
The Raptors have been main 66-38 when the sport was suspended with 4:05 left within the first half. Followers have been evacuated, groups headed to the locker-rooms, and after Toronto Hearth Providers deemed it was secure to proceed, gamers did a 10-minute warmup and the sport resumed.
“In the course of the recreation I appeared up and that complete part was cleared out and I used to be making an attempt to determine why or what occurred or I used to be like geez, marvel why they did not promote these seats,” Nurse stated with fun. “Then I noticed the firemen standing there.”
Nurse spent the break within the lounge watching a reside TV feed of the world the place two firefighters, suspended from the ceiling in harnesses, have been extinguishing the small blaze.
“I do not suppose I have been in any recreation like that in my complete life the place we needed to go within the locker-room, come again,” Achiuwa stated. “It was loopy. I’ve by no means been in a recreation like that.”
Fred VanVleet, who’s battling a knee harm, did not return after the lengthy pause in play.
Former Raptor and Toronto native Oshae Brissett topped the Pacers (25-50) with 21 factors, whereas Justin Anderson completed with 18.
With simply eight video games left within the common season and the Raptors battling for a playoff spot, ending the sport after the fireplace delay was essential for Toronto.
WATCH | Raptors rout Pacers after delay:
Followers have been compelled to evacuate Scotiabank Area simply minutes earlier than halftime on account of a small hearth. The 2 groups resumed play in an empty venue over an hour later, the place Toronto got here away with a 131-91 victory. 0:52
The Raptors have already clinched at the least a play-in berth, however would like a top-six end within the Japanese Convention to keep away from that prolonged path to the post-season. Chicago’s win noticed the Raptors take sole possession of sixth, a recreation forward of Cleveland.
Indiana has already been eradicated from playoff competition, and whereas the Raptors have misplaced quite a few video games in opposition to dangerous groups this season, their 20-point lead within the first quarter Saturday was a powerful trace that would not be occurring.
The Raptors led by 29 within the second quarter, and stretched that to 35 factors when Boucher drilled a three-pointer with 7:07 to play. Nurse went deep into his bench to play out the rest of the rout.
Armoni Brooks, who scored six factors simply hours after signing a multi-year take care of Toronto, stated the restart after the fireplace was robust.
FIRE:<br>Scotiabank Area<br>- reviews of a speaker on hearth on the <a href=”https://twitter.com/ScotiabankArena?ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>@ScotiabankArena</a><br>- police o/s<br>- <a href=”https://twitter.com/Toronto_Fire?ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>@Toronto_Fire</a> o/s – suggested 2 alarm-fire, TFS requesting the world be evacuated as a precaution<br>- no reported accidents<br>- potential street closures within the space<br>- anticipate delays<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/GO565176?src=hash&ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>#GO565176</a><br>^al
—@TPSOperations
“That is why within the locker-room we had the Warmth recreation on the TV simply so we have been nonetheless locked in on basketball,” Brooks stated. “We had a few of our movie circulating on there too so we might simply keep locked in on what we needed to.”
Raptors used to taking part in in empty area
The empty area was a backdrop the Raptors have been all too acquainted with, having performed a number of weeks earlier this season in entrance of no followers after the most recent COVID-19 wave within the fall noticed tight crowd restrictions in Ontario.
“Sure, let’s not give you any extra methods to clear the constructing,” Nurse stated, knocking on the wood desk. “It is by no means a very good factor, it is by no means constructive information once they clear the constructing.”
The primary signal one thing was amiss was when followers seen smoke within the east finish of the world. Video confirmed an overhead speaker in flames. One part was evacuated after which one other, as hearth fighters stood within the empty part peering up on the ceiling.
A timeout was finally known as and Toronto Hearth Providers met with Public deal with announcer Herbie Kuhn who instructed followers to evacuate, which was met by boos from the capability crowd of 19,800.
The Raptors stated all tickets could be refunded at level of buy inside 30 days.
Replace on Raptors vs. Pacers. <a href=”https://t.co/bzlbvHly17″>pic.twitter.com/bzlbvHly17</a>
—@Raptors
“The required venue repairs might be executed in time to permit the Toronto Maple Leafs recreation to proceed as scheduled on Sunday at 7 p.m. in opposition to the Florida Panthers,” Maple Leafs Sports activities & Leisure Ltd., stated in an announcement.
The Raptors pounced on the Pacers early Saturday, regardless of 11 factors within the first 9 minutes from Brissett, who had quite a few family and friends members within the crowd.
Siakam and Anunoby mixed for 21 first-quarter factors for the Raptors, who shot 68 per cent within the body. The Raptors ended the quarter with a 13-0 run to steer 41-21 to begin the second, and the rout was on.
The Pacers could not reduce the distinction to lower than 19 factors earlier than halftime. The groups performed the ultimate 4 minutes of the primary half, after which paused for the shortened 7.5-minute halftime break, with Toronto comfortably in entrance 74-46.
The Raptors play all however two — Orlando and New York — of their ultimate video games at dwelling. They host Boston on Monday and Minnesota on Wednesday.
