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INDIANAPOLIS — The Toronto Raptors have played the Indiana Pacers three times this NBA season and won each time, but that looks a lot easier than it was.
In a game in December, the Raptors had to overcome a 17-point disadvantage in the third quarter in Indianapolis before coming on for the victory.
Last night at Conseco Fieldhouse, the Raptors had to scrap again before defeating the struggling Pacers 102-98 before an announced attendance of 10,468.
"It wasn't pretty," Raptors head coach Sam Mitchell said. "I thought our bench played unbelievable. We gutted this one out."
Raptors forward Jamario Moon dunks over Indiana Pacers guard Mike Dunleavy. (AJ Mast/AP)
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- Indiana Pacers
- Toronto Raptors
- Maceo Baston
- Chris Bosh
- Primoz Brezec
- Marquis Daniels
- Carlos Delfino
- Mike Dunleavy
- T.J. Ford
- Danny Granger
- Jermaine O'Neal
- Anthony Parker
- Kareem Rush
- Jamaal Tinsley
The Raptors defeated the New York Knicks on Sunday, so were playing on consecutive days coming into Indianapolis against the Pacers, who had Sunday off.
It looked like that way in the first quarter, as the Pacers raced out to a 30-19 lead. The Raptors made seven turnovers leading to 14 points in the first frame and the Pacers made only one leading to two points.
"We had some guys tired," Mitchell said. "We came out slow and that is to be expected sometimes back-to-back."
There was an abrupt reversal in the second quarter as the Raptors made just one turnover, which did not lead to any points, while the Pacers made six leading to 13.
T.J. Ford played most of the second quarter at point guard in place of Jose Calderon and scored seven points with three assists on his way to 16 and seven, respectively, for the game. Calderon finished with four points and no assists.
Ford has missed time because of injury this season and has showed his value on his return in a backup role.
"Jose has played a lot of minutes," Mitchell said. "When T.J. comes into the game, he gives you a different look."
It was a different Raptors team in the second quarter. Guard Carlos Delfino played the full quarter, when he scored six of his 23 points. Jason Kapono also played the entire quarter and scored all nine of his points in that time. All-star forward Chris Bosh scored six of his 24 points in it.
As a result, the Raptors took a 54-46 lead into the half.
Ford is used to being the starter but has adapted to his role of backing up Calderon as he works his way back into top form after missing almost two months because of a neck injury. He has adapted to working with the second unit.
"As a group we are building our confidence together," Ford said.
The Pacers started a smaller lineup to emphasize a running game.
"Our game plan had been set for [forward-centre Jeff] Foster to start," Bosh said. "So we had to change our original game plan.
"We knew with the change they made that they were going to try and come out and run us out of the building. But after we got going, getting to the line was key. When a player like T.J. comes in, he can really speed things up."
"I think now we have a second-team punch with T.J. getting in shape and getting into rhythm," Delfino said. "It opens things up for us offensively and it sure can change our game as the second team."
The Pacers tied the game 69-69 with 41/2 minutes left in the third quarter, and took a 75-74 lead with two minutes remaining. Delfino made two free throws at the end of the third to tie it 77-77.
The Pacers again led briefly in the fourth quarter before the Raptors took charge, although the Pacers had the ball with 18.9 seconds left in a three-point game. Kareem Rush missed a 25-foot jumper with 10.9 seconds left.
Danny Granger and Marquis Daniels each scored 20 points for the Pacers.
"That's a formidable group," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said of the Raptors' bench. "And it speaks to their depth that those players come off the bench."
Indiana forward Jermaine O'Neal was again out of the lineup because of a bone bruise in his left knee. He has missed 15 games in a row.
Guard Jamaal Tinsley has not played since Feb. 5 because of a sore knee.
The first time the teams met this season, the Raptors won 110-101 on Nov. 16 at the Air Canada Centre.
