Pacers at Raptors
THE STORY: The Indiana Pacers rode a significant rebounding advantage to victory in their season opener on Monday night. They'll face a team that has traditionally struggled on the boards as they visit the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. Indiana's new-look frontcourt dominated throughout its 91-79 victory over the Detroit Pistons, finishing with a 53-40 rebounding advantage. Three players finished with double-digit rebounding totals, including towering center Roy Hibbert (14) and new arrival David West (12). Both men were also part of a balanced offensive attack that saw five Pacers finish with at least 11 points. The Raptors are coming off an eight-point win in Cleveland in their season curtain-raiser. Toronto finished with an eight-rebound edge in that one - rare feat for a team that has finished in the bottom 10 in the league in boards every season since 2001-02. Seven Raptors scored in double figures against the Cavaliers, led by DeMar DeRozan and Jose Calderon (15 points apiece).
TV: 6 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Indiana, Rogers Sportsnet
ABOUT THE PACERS (1-0): That Indiana was able to handle the Pistons despite a rough night from Danny Granger bodes well for the team's prospects this season. Granger, Indiana's go-to scorer the past several seasons, shot just 6-for-18 Monday night as part of a 36.8-percent performance by the Pacers. But the club held Detroit to 36 percent from the field and picked up enough secondary scoring from Hibbert, West and others to negate Granger's subpar start to the season.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (1-0): This is a pivotal season for Calderon, who has largely flown under the radar when discussions about the league's best point guards take place. The Spanish veteran will be relied upon to lead a Toronto club expected to finish near the bottom of the standings - and he looked sensational in the opener, dishing out 11 assists while grabbing six rebounds and hitting a team-high three 3-pointers. He also committed just one turnover on the night.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The teams split four meetings last season, with the home team prevailing each time. The home side has won the last 11 encounters overall.
2. Hibbert, originally selected, by Toronto in 2008 before being acquired in a draft-day trade, is averaging 9.6 points and four rebounds in 11 career games against the Raptors.