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Pacers-Raptors Preview

Jan 30, 2010 - 11:09 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Indiana (16-31) at Toronto (25-22), 6:00 p.m. EDT

Already boasting one of the league's best offenses, the Toronto Raptors have been even more prolific for much of this month.

The Indiana Pacers, however, were one of the few teams to slow down the Raptors during their hot streak.

Toronto will try to avoid going cold against Indiana again as it tries for a season high-tying fifth straight win Sunday at Air Canada Centre in the opener of a home-and-home series.

The Raptors are among the league leaders in averaging 103.9 points this season, and Thursday night's 106-104 victory at New York marked their 12th straight game with at least 100 points, extending a franchise record.

Chris Bosh, who matched a team record with his fifth All-Star selection earlier in the day, had 27 points and 15 rebounds. Hedo Turkoglu added season highs of 26 points and 11 boards for Toronto (25-22), who improved to 14-5 since Dec. 18 - the league's third-best record in that span.

The Raptors' scoring run has also helped them overcome double-digit deficits in each of their past four wins. They trailed by 14 after one quarter Thursday.

With those victories, Toronto has moved within 5 1/2 games of Boston in the Atlantic Division. The Raptors trailed by 11 on Dec. 16 following their 11-17 start.

"I think everything's clicking," Bosh said. "We're looking for our shots, we're being aggressive. At the same time, we know how the game's supposed to flow, who's open, the offensive sets we want to run. I mean it's coming together bit by bit."

Six players have averaged in double figures over Toronto's past 12 games, led by Bosh's 24.8 points per contest. The All-Star forward scored 27 on Jan. 11 at Indiana, but no other teammate had more than 12 in a 105-101 loss.

While overcoming a 23-point deficit, the Pacers limited the Raptors to 39.5 percent shooting, including a 3-of-18 performance in the final period.

"We stopped them a bunch of times, was boxing out, limiting them to one shot," said forward Danny Granger after scoring a team-best 23 points in that win. "That won the game for us."

That victory launched a three-game win streak for the Pacers (16-31), but they've lost six of eight since. Indiana has also dropped three in a row in Toronto, including a 123-112 defeat on Nov. 24, and given up at least 100 points in six straight meetings there.

The Pacers are searching for their third straight road win but have only beaten sub-.500 teams this season while going 6-18 away from home.

They also come off of one of their worst offensive performances of the season, Friday night's 94-73 defeat to visiting Cleveland. Indiana finished one shy of its season low for points and scored nine points on 3 for 19 shooting in the fourth quarter.

Granger led the Pacers with 13 points but missed 17 of 23 attempts.

"We couldn't hit the broad side of a barn," coach Jim O'Brien said. "We drove it to the basket, and when they weren't blocking shots, they were intimidating shots."

Granger has averaged 29.3 points in his last three matchups with the Raptors and scored 36 in the previous trip to Toronto.

The teams play again Tuesday night at Conseco Fieldhouse.