Raptors rout Pacers following lengthy game delay due to fire at Scotiabank Arena
CBC
Precious Achiuwa spent much of the 70-minute fire delay changing into a fresh jersey, and going through his pre-game stretching routine — again.
On one of the oddest nights in Raptors history, Toronto crushed the Indiana Pacers 131-91 after a speaker fire at Scotiabank Arena suspended play for more than an hour and saw fans evacuated for the remainder of the game.
"Just add it to the list [of weird games]," said coach Nick Nurse.
Weird, but big in the Raptors' quest for a playoff position.
WATCH | Raptors, Pacers game suspended due to fire:
Pascal Siakam led the way with 23 points for Toronto (42-32), who moved past Cleveland into sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
Scottie Barnes had 19 points, Achiuwa chipped in with 18, OG Anunoby finished with 16, Chris Boucher scored 15 and Thaddeus Young had 11.
The Raptors were leading 66-38 when the game was suspended with 4:05 left in the first half. Fans were evacuated, teams headed to the locker-rooms, and after Toronto Fire Services deemed it was safe to continue, players did a 10-minute warmup and the game resumed.
"During the game I looked up and that whole section was cleared out and I was trying to figure out why or what happened or I was like geez, wonder why they didn't sell those seats," Nurse said with a laugh. "Then I saw the firemen standing there."
Nurse spent the break in the lounge watching a live TV feed of the arena where two firefighters, suspended from the ceiling in harnesses, were extinguishing the small blaze.
"I don't think I've been in any game like that in my whole life where we had to go in the locker-room, come back," Achiuwa said. "It was crazy. I've never been in a game like that."
Fred VanVleet, who is battling a knee injury, didn't return after the long pause in play.
Former Raptor and Toronto native Oshae Brissett topped the Pacers (25-50) with 21 points, while Justin Anderson finished with 18.
With just eight games left in the regular season and the Raptors battling for a playoff spot, finishing the game after the fire delay was crucial for Toronto.
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