Back home in Canada, Andrew Nembhard nets 25 as Pacers top Raptors

TORONTO (AP)— Rookie guard Andrew Nembhard had 25 points and 10 assists in hisfirst NBA game back home in Canada, and the Indiana Pacers beat theToronto Raptors 118-114 on Wednesday night to snap their homewinning streak at seven.

Myles Turnerscored 16 points, Bennedict Mathurin added 15 and Buddy Hield had13 for the Pacers, who swept the three-game season series betweenthe teams.

Canadian-bornplayers Mathurin, Nembhard and Oshae Brissett all started forIndiana as the Raptors celebrated Canada Basketball Night. It wasthe first time since the NBA began tracking starters in 1970-71that three Canadians started for the same team.

“For it tohappen in Toronto, it’s pretty cool,” Pacers coach Rick Carlislesaid. “All three of those guys played well. Nembhard had a greatgame. Mathurin was terrific. I thought Brissett did what he does.He gave us energy, rebounded, he scored the first five points ofthe game. That was great.”

Pascal Siakamscored 18 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter but the Raptorslost their second straight. Siakam also had 10 rebounds and sevenassists.

Fred VanVleethad 28 points and 11 assists for Toronto, and Jakob Poeltl scored23.

Poeltl missedtwo free throws with 1:24 left when Toronto could have cut thedeficit to two. After a missed 3 by VanVleet, Nembhard connectedfrom long range to give the Pacers a 114-107 lead with 33 secondsto play.

“That was theshot that put the game away,” Carlisle said. “Just an amazing nightfor him and his family.”

Nembhard shot11 for 17, going 3 of 5 from long range.

“I didn’treally feel too much pressure to play out of character tonight,” hesaid. “I just wanted to be aggressive.”

Fellow rookieMathurin made three of his five shots and earned praise fromCarlisle for his defensive effort on VanVleet.

“It wasreally fun just to play in Toronto my first time,” Mathurin said.“The fact that we got the win makes it even more exciting.”

Theshort-handed Raptors were without forward Scottie Barnes, whoexited Sunday’s loss at Milwaukee because of a sore left wrist.Toronto was also without forward Precious Achiuwa (right hamstring)and guard Gary Trent Jr. (right elbow).

Toronto lostat home for the first time since Feb. 10 against Utah, when theJazz overcame a 12-point deficit in the final five minutes to beatthe Raptors 122-116.

“Didn’t feelsuper organized at either end at the start or for a while,” Raptorscoach Nick Nurse said. “I thought that we let a lot of chancesgo.”

The Raptorsshot 7 for 34 from 3-point range. Chris Boucher’s buzzer-beatingshot helped Toronto avoid matching a season low for makes andsetting a new low for shooting percentage from beyond the arc.

Nembhardscored 14 points in the first, the most he’s ever had in a singlequarter, as the Pacers led 36-26 after one.

“Nembhardobviously at the start was big,” Nurse said.

Indiana led58-52 at halftime and took an 83-78 lead into the fourth.

TIP-INS

Pacers: T.J.McConnell scored 14 points and Jordan Nwora had 10. … G TyreseHaliburton (right ankle), G Chris Duarte (left ankle) and G/FKendall Brown (right leg) all sat for Indiana. … The Pacerscommitted 18 turnovers, leading to 21 points for Toronto. … Indianaoutscored the Raptors 40-21 in bench points. ... The Pacers are 3-1when Nembhard scores 20 or more.

Raptors:Barnes sat for the fourth time this season and first since Nov. 26.… Actor Mike Myers sat opposite the Toronto bench. Actor NicholasBraun also attended the game, sitting in a baseline seat.

HIELDFINED

Hield wasfined $25,000 for making an obscene gesture while sitting on thebench during the second quarter of Monday’s loss at Charlotte. TVcameras caught him raising his middle finger to someone on thecourt.

UPNEXT

Pacers: VisitBoston on Friday.

Raptors: HostDetroit on Friday.