Pacers seek to extend series win streak over Raptors
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There was a flair for the dramatic the last time the Indiana Pacers squared off with the Toronto Raptors in late October.
The Pacers hope it doesn't go down to the wire when they welcome the Raptors to Bankers Life Fieldhouse Tuesday.
In a season-opening 90-88 Indiana victory back on Oct. 31, George Hill put his team ahead for good on a runner in the lane with 2.1 seconds left and scored six of his eight points during a deciding 12-2 run.
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David West posted 14 of his game-best 25 points in the fourth quarter to help the Pacers to their fourth straight win over the Raptors and the ninth in the previous 12 meetings. Paul George had 14 points and 15 rebounds.
Toronto was led by Kyle Lowry's 21 points, and has lost seven in a row and 15 of its past 19 as the visitor in this series.
Indiana ended a three-game losing streak its last time out in an 89-85 win versus the lowly Washington Wizards. George posted 20 points and seven rebounds, while Gerald Green had 15 points and eight boards for the Pacers, who got seven points, 12 rebounds and two blocks from Roy Hibbert. The Pacers erased a five-point deficit in the fourth quarter with a 10-0 run.
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"It feels good to win and hopefully we can put together a streak here," said George. "It's a long season and we just have to focus on what will make us better in the future."
Indiana continues to toil without star forward Danny Granger (knee) and he is expected to miss the next 2 1/2 months. The Pacers have won two straight as the host, but are playing 12 of their first 18 games on the road.
Toronto is playing 15 of its first 22 contests away from Air Canada Centre and is mired in a four-game losing streak.
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The Raptors just dropped a 140-133 decision in triple overtime versus the Utah Jazz on Monday and blew an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter. The Raptors were outscored, 15-8, in the final extra session.
DeMar DeRozan tied a career-high with 37 points on 16-of-33 shooting, while Jose Calderon posted 20 points and 17 assists for a Raptors team playing without guards Lowry (ankle), Landry Fields (hand/wrist) and Alan Anderson (foot). Lowry is expected to miss Tuesday's game and both Fields and Anderson are listed as doubtful.
"They went out there short-handed, but the guys played hard and left it all on the floor," said Toronto coach Dwane Casey. "They executed, some balls didn't go our way, and Jefferson hit that big three. If anybody said those guys didn't fight, they didn't see the game."
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Amir Johnson finished with 11 points and 14 rebounds for Toronto, which is just 1-6 on the season and will visit Boston on Saturday.
DeRozan is averaging 26.6 ppg in his last three games.