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Pacers hit road after brutal stretch

Dec 10, 2008 - 11:36 AM Indiana (7-13) at Toronto (8-12) 7:00 p.m. EST

TORONTO (Ticker) -- Following an unforgiving stretch, the Indiana Pacers hit the road Wednesday looking to avoid a season-long losing streak.

Indiana opens a four-game road trip against the struggling Toronto Raptors, who are in the midst of a five-game losing streak.

The Pacers posted a 1-4 mark while playing the top four teams in the NBA, capped with an overtime loss against Boston on Sunday. Indiana was routed in road contests against Cleveland, Boston and Orlando while squeaking out a win against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Marquis Daniels scored a season-high 26 points and Danny Granger added 20, but a 3-pointer by Paul Pierce with seven seconds left sent the game into overtime and the Celtics went on to win, 122-117.

Indiana, which has lost six of its last seven road contests, opens a stretch on the schedule that will see it face six of seven opponents with records under .500.

The Raptors have not responded since the firing of coach Sam Mitchell last week, which came a day after a 132-93 rout at the hands of Denver. They have dropped the first three contests of interim coach Jay Triano's tenure.

Toronto became the latest victim of LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers Tuesday, dropping a 114-94 decision. Chris Bosh matched a season-low with nine points and the Raptors allowed the Cavaliers to go on a 23-2 run to start the third quarter to put the game away.

Joey Graham tied a season-high with 17 points as Toronto remained in last place in the Atlantic Division.