DeRozan leads Raptors past Pacers 74-72

[November 14, 2012]  INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- DeMar DeRozan scored 15 points and Jose Calderon had 13 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to lead the Toronto Raptors over the Indiana Pacers 74-72 on Tuesday night.

DeRozan and Calderon each had 10 points in the first half for the Raptors, who had a franchise-low five points in the fourth quarter. Toronto led 69-58 heading into the fourth and hit only one field goal the rest of the way, also a franchise low record.

George Hill scored 18 points and Paul George had 12 points and nine rebounds to lead the Pacers, who have lost four of the last five.

Indiana went on a 9-0 run in the fourth and pulled to 74-72 with 1:02 left in the game. Neither team scored again.

The Pacers missed five shots in the remaining 22 seconds with a chance to tie or take a lead.

The Raptors went on a 15-4 run at the end of the first quarter to take a 29-21 lead.

The Pacers missed four shots and turned the ball over on an offensive foul by Roy Hibbert while DeRozan and Andrea Bargnani each hit two buckets to contribute eight points in the run.

That came after the Pacers jumped to a 9-2 lead at the start of the first quarter in what looked like a promising start. Lance Stephenson scored five points in the early spurt on a 3-pointer and a layup. David West scored and George hit two free throws.

The Pacers eventually a 13-4 lead before the Raptors went on a 10-0 run to regain the advantage.

Calderon hit a jumper, a technical free throw and a 3-pointer, and DeRozan scored back-to-back shots in the run that gave the Raptors their first lead of the game

And the Raptors never let up. While the Pacers were taking shots that hit the edge of the rim or that didn't hit the rim at all, the Raptors maintained the lead.

It was by far not a half the Pacers were looking for, but a half the Raptors could use to bounce back from a 140-133 3OT loss the night before.

The Raptors led 46-36 at halftime and things didn't get any better for the Pacers in the second half.

Indiana missed four shots on the first three possessions of the second half and Dominic McGuire and Jonas Valanciunas scored to extend the Raptors' lead to 50-36 before George hit a 3-pointer to make it 51-39.

Then West hit two free throws and Hill hit a shot to cut the Toronto lead to 51-43.

But it didn't take long for the Raptors to take back the momentum.

Calderon and Bargnani hit back-to-back 3-pointers to make it 57-43.

DeRozan hit two free throws before the Pacers scored five consecutive points to pull to 59-50 with 4:20 left to go in the third quarter.

Hill scored a technical free throw and Stephenson and Hibbert each scored next to the basket.

But, again, the Raptors regained the momentum.

Amir Johnson was fouled with 4:20 left, made the first free throw and missed the second. Calderon grabbed the rebound and drove to the basket and was fouled and went to the free throw line to extend the lead to 64-52.

The Pacers committed turnovers on the next two trips down the floor and then Linas Kleiza scored on two free throws to make it 64-52 with 2:30 left in the third quarter.

NOTES: Pacers F Danny Granger remained out with left patellar tendinitis. . Toronto G Kyle Lowry (sprained right ankle) and F Landry Fields (right hand/wrist injury) didn't travel with the Raptors and, instead, the two traveled to New York to see a specialist for another opinion on their injuries. . Raptors G Alan Anderson was out with a sprained left foot.

[Associated Press]

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