The Raptors easily won their NBA home game against the Pacers on Saturday in Toronto (131-91). But the meeting had to be interrupted for a little over an hour before resuming without spectators, due to the start of a fire.
The interruption was decided in the middle of the second quarter of a match already dominated by the Raptors (66-38). In question: flames coming out of the grid of one of the many speakers fixed to the ceiling, a few meters above the highest rows of seats in the room. The fire alarms then sounded.
“Due to an equipment problem, the firefighters are asking everyone present to evacuate the building calmly via the nearest stairwell. There is no threat to public safety, ”indicated the message transmitted on the giant screens of the hall, which can hold 19,800 spectators. “No injuries were reported,” the City of Toronto Police Operations Center added in a tweet. The Canadian franchise has promised that all tickets will be refunded within 30 days.
The good operation of the Raptors
The meeting was finally able to resume and the Raptors confirmed their superiority, thanks to Pascal Siakam (23 points) and Scottie Barnes (19 points). In the standings of the Eastern Conference, it’s a great operation for the Raptors, who take advantage of the defeat of the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Chicago Bulls (94-98), to delight them with sixth place, synonymous with automatic qualification for the play-offs. .
