It's not the craziest idea in the world (Ja or Zion is). I don't think it's the gamble they'll make, though.

As I keep saying, it is nice to be writing about a team trying to win games again. From a coverage perspective, different guys at different points of careers is nice, and also nobody who just shuts down any and all conversation. So, OK!

In Lisbon we were delayed 8 hours, and we got lounge access. The lounge had little napping cubicles and it was great! But, on the NBA circuit, Detroit and Charlotte are best bigger airports. Milwaukee is my favourite smaller airport.

THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING

I have a White Sox tee and my dad is a White Sox fan, so I guess it's them.

Best things about O'Hare 4. Your connecting flight is always somehow at a gate that is 23 minutes away from where you land. 3. Related: You will miss your connection, but at least you'll kill some calories trying to make it 2. Every food option is shady 1. None of the thousands of outlets work.

My dad, if you couldn't tell, used to be a lawyer

Darko was very happy with the road trip. Thinks the road has been good for them coming together, and was very complimentary about the bench, even beyond Mamu/Shead, for finding ways to contribute to wins. I'm not sure I remember how to cover a normal team that is trying to win games.

Raptors were 2-45 when going down by 10 or more last season. They came back from down 10 tonight, their fourth double-digit comeback win this season. Raptors are 4-5 when trailing by 10.

Well, I have to go catch the elevator, so let's just say it: 'Topes win! It will end up, like, 132-107 or something. Excited to see how close I end up being! Seven in double digits for Raps, led by Poeltl and Barrett, who had 22 each. 10/11/6 for Scottie. 30 for Siakam, 22 for Nembhard.

ARE THE PACERS DOING HACK-A-JAK DOWN 23 WITH 5:16 LEFT?

I'm old enough to remember when this game was moving along at a nice clip, back in the first half.

With wins in Indiana and Brooklyn, obviously this road trip didn't have the highest degree of difficulty. On the other hand, the Raptors went 23-59 on the road the last two seasons. Appreciate a 4-1 trip.

A challenge signal should be like a timeout signal. If a player calls for one, the referees have to honour it. If he calls for one and the team doesn't have a challenge, tech! Yes, I'm sick of players asking for a challenge.

Raps up 101-85 after 3. RJ has 19, Ingram has 16, 12/7 for Quickley. 46 for Siakam and Nembhard, and 39 on 14-41 shooting for the rest of the team.

I didn't know good Shead/Mamu minutes were the only stable thing in my life, keeping me tethered to sanity by a thread, until they nearly had bad minutes. Don't worry — they recovered, with Scottie throwing a dime in transition to Dick — and the lead is back up to 15.

Raps are shooting 10-21 from FT line, the type of stat that never comes back to bite a team.

Give CMB was/is sick, he's given them really nice minutes tonight.

Jakob Poeltl may be back. One thing against this version of the Pacers, but he's been good since the second half of the Nets game, including a very solid effort vs. Allen/Mobley.

ESPN's box score that leads with points instead of minutes has me legitimately shaken.

Scottie played outrageously aggressively vs. Cleveland, while Ingram took a backseat. A lot of it is just responding to what opponent is doing. Part of the point of having Ingram is so Scottie doesn't HAVE TO shoot 16-20 times a night if it's not there.

Solid recovery after a rough start, and a nice second spurt from the starters (after looking wobbly). Raps up 62-53 at half RJ has 13, Siakam has 18. Mamu is a +20 in 12 minutes while Shead is a measly +15 in 8.

Thru nearly 4.5 games on this trip, Brandon Ingram is 27-51 from 2 and 3-25 from 3.

IQ is skipping.

Blocked wedgie! @jeskeets.bsky.social @tasmelas.bsky.social!

I have no idea what the numbers say, but Gradey seems to be having more of an impact on glass this year.

You know the story: Starters come out iffy, Mamu and Shead spark comeback, Raps lead 32-29 after a Q. Raps have 16 bench points, led by Mamu's 7. Nembhard has 11.

Oh no, it's McConnell vs. Shead. Only one can survive.

10-5 run started by Mamu drive and ended by Shead steal/layup, forcing Indy timeout.

Jamal Shead has taken Chris Boucher's spot as the Will He Take Out His Braids guy on the roster.

They don't call him "Nembhard to guard" for nothing. They also don't call him that, but, you know

Pacers have hit four 3s, Raps have turned it over four times. 17-8 Pacers early. Starters with a yucky start.

CMB is back. No ochai or Battle (knee, not believed to be serious)

Rick Carlisle just said Nesmith is out four weeks with knee sprain, but that is on good range of outcomes. Mathurin is nearing a return.

Brandon Ingram and the Raptors are slowly getting to know each other. There are some concerns, but the early results are promising

Brandon Ingram and the Raptors are slowly getting to know each other. There are some concerns, but the early results are promising

When you lose an item while travelling, do you think about where it like six months later and the adventures it may or may not be having, or is that just me?

Me: "The Raptors are exceeding my expectations so far. There are some ongoing questions, but they're doing pretty well." Other people: "Why do you hate the Raptors?"

From last night

If Scottie Barnes is gonna play like this? Well, the Toronto Raptors might be frisky.

'Topes win! 126-113. 28/10/8/5 for Barnes. 25 and 6 for Quickley. More bench goodness from Shead, Mamu and Dick. 31/6/6 for Mitchell.

Really bad foul from Ja'Kobe Walter there, regardless if it's called shooting or not. You don't try a take foul with 0.4 left and the guy catches it with his back to the basket.

Seemed like a textbook illegal screen from Bryant, but what do I know. Cavs get a free throw and the ball on an away-from-the-play foul.

Darko might start matching Shead's minutes with Mitchell's.

The Cavs are on a B2B, but Mobley and Mitchell didn't play last night. Barnes is everywhere, the best player on the floor. Raps by 17.

I asked Darko about playing Shead and Quickley together before the game. Here's what he said.

Well, that was a darn good second quarter, mostly on the strength of awesome play from Shead, Mamu and Barnes. Raps lead 67-54 at half. Scottie has 16, Mamu has 11, Shead has 6/6. 12 for Hunter, 11 for Mitchell, who has done most of his damage at FT line.

Stop me if you've heard this before: The Raptors' starter-heavy lineups struggle, Shead and Mamu help them claw back. 30-29 Cavs after 1. Mitchell has 9, Scottie has 7.

The Raptors offence is getting totally throttled by the Cavs defence. Just creating nothing easily.

Within 47, Donovan Mitchell • Drew a shooting foul on RJ Barrett when shooting a 3 • Drew a foul on Gradey Dick on a drive • Drew a foul on Ja'Kobe Walter on a long 2