Raptors erase 17-point deficit in comeback win, but did the refs help them out in the end?
The Toronto Raptors had already turned what was previously a 17-point deficit into only a seven-point deficit, but this dunk from Kawhi Leonard was probably the moment the Toronto crowd realized their team was really making the comeback.
KA-WHYYYY'D YOU DO THAT TO THEM 👀
(via @Raptors)pic.twitter.com/AhIn4gVybQ
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) December 20, 2018
That was two very loud points of what ended up being a 99-96 win for the first-place Raptors on Wednesday night, but the ending likely left a sour taste in more than a few Pacers fans’ mouths.
Raptors mount 17-point comeback over Pacers
The Raptors started slowly against the Pacers, finishing the first quarter down 34-24 and never pulling to closer than five points over the next two quarters. They started cooking early in the fourth quarter, stringing together an 8-0 run to pull within 5, then tying the game minutes later on a Pascal Siacam bucket.
The Pacers responded and were up 96-94 with less than 30 seconds left, at which point Fred VanVleet stepped in and nailed a deep 3-pointer to give the Raptors their first lead since the first two minutes of the first quarter.
Fred VanVleet got 'em!
That's a clutch shot!🎥: Toronto Raptorspic.twitter.com/HlUVWmYMhh
— Yahoo Sports Canada (@YahooCASports) December 20, 2018
Pacers suffer another frustrating loss
VanVleet’s 3-pointer came with 26.4 seconds left, so the Pacers had ample opportunity to respond. A Victor Oladipo turnover was one missed opportunity, and gave the Raptors two Kawhi Leonard free throws to make it a 3-point lead, and then, well, this happened with one second remaining.
Bogdanovic says he got fouled but looked more like a flop…Hard to tell on the replay. Foul or no foul? pic.twitter.com/6mWiw5qe57
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) December 20, 2018
It sure looks like OG Anunoby got a hand in where he shouldn’t have on Bojan Bogdanovic’s attempt at game-tying 3-pointer, but the refs missed the contact and let time expire. 99-96 Raptors.
That’s the second straight loss for the Pacers after the team’s seven-game win streak, and also its second straight loss that ended on a disappointing no-call.
The team fell to the Cavaliers 92-91 on Tuesday on a buzzer-beating tip-in from Larry Nance Jr. However, the NBA’s Last Two Minutes report concluded that Nance should have been called for throwing Victor Oladipo to the floor while waiting for the rebound.
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