INDIANAPOLIS—Dwane Casey warned about the intensity the Raptors were going to face here Tuesday, from a team scratching and clawing to keep alive hopes of making the NBA playoffs.
The coach wondered how his team would react, hoping they would match up well, hit for hit, and play with an edge despite being in rather comfortable circumstances.
“That’s exactly the message we gave the team this morning,” Casey said, “how important the game is. We have to be ready.”
And they weren’t ready for long enough.
Seeing a 19-point first-half lead disappear in a brutal defensive third quarter, the Raptors were beaten 108-90 by a desperate gang of Indiana Pacers, a win that kept alive playoff hopes that were fast fading.