Dwane Casey knew it would be a tough game against a hot, physical opponent in a difficult environment that would be very much like a playoff game and a very good test for his Toronto Raptors.
They passed, turning up the intensity at both ends of the court in the second half for an impressive 106-99 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night.
In a game that lived up to its billing — tough, relentless, the kind of grind-it-out game they’ll get in a month when the playoff start — the Raptors won their 10th straight game, a franchise-record eighth straight road win, and played as tough a game as they have all year.