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Granger eyes return for Pacers against Raptors

Mar 15, 2009 - 2:29 AM By Anthony Giornalista Stats Senior Writer

Indiana (28-39) at Toronto (23-43), 12:30 p.m. EDT

TORONTO (Ticker) -- Losing seven straight games isn't frustrating, according to Toronto Raptors star Chris Bosh. Indiana Pacers leading scorer Danny Granger freely admits how hard it's been to miss nearly a month.

With Granger possibly set to return, the Pacers look to deal the Raptors eight straight losses for the first time in nearly three years Sunday afternoon.

While Toronto (23-43) is beginning to resign itself to missing the postseason, Indiana (28-39) still has a realistic shot and Granger's return would certainly help.

Granger said Tuesday that it's been "pretty tough" to be sitting out with a foot injury while the Pacers try to make a run, and that he would return no later than Sunday's matchup. Granger, averaging 25.0 points a game, had hoped to play at Atlanta on Friday night but couldn't go as Indiana lost 101-87 and fell to 6-5 without its All-Star swingman.

The Pacers, who continue to chase Chicago and Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference standings, have lost two straight and three of four.

"You can only cover so much ground if you win," point guard T.J. Ford said. "With us losing, it's not helping us put pressure on any of those guys. ... At some point, either we're going to put some games together or we're not."

While Ford seems frustrated, Bosh insists he isn't even though Toronto is in danger of losing eight straight for the first time since a 10-game skid late in the 2005-06 season.

"Frustrated? Stop using that word, 'frustrating,'" Bosh said. "Where do you all get that word. Use another word. You all got a thesaurus around?

"I'm not upset. You compete, you play the game, you play to win, if you come up short then that's what it is. Nobody's frustrated around here. When you lose a game, of course you want to win, but it is what it is."

Bosh had 27 points and 10 rebounds against Detroit on Friday night, but it wasn't enough as the Raptors lost 99-95. The All-Star big man is averaging 26.8 points in his last six games.

He's been helped by strong play from point guard Jose Calderon, who had 20 points and 11 assists versus the Pistons. Calderon moved past Alvin Williams to become the franchise leader with 1,795 assists.

Center Andrea Bargnani didn't get much of a chance to benefit from Calderon's passing, scoring four points in nine minutes before leaving because of flu-like symptoms. Bargnani, averaging 14.7 points, is uncertain for Sunday's game.

He would be matched up with promising Pacers rookie Roy Hibbert, who had 15 points and seven rebounds against the Hawks after posting 12 points while matching a career high with five blocks in a 112-100 loss to Utah on Tuesday night.

Indiana coach Jim O'Brien, though, singled out Hibbert's poor play on defense versus Atlanta, particularly his struggles against the pick-and-roll.

"The game is played at both ends of the court, and you need to have a balanced attack offensively and defensively if you're going win in this league," he said.

Hibbert has gotten a little over 5 minutes of playing time in the Pacers' two matchups with the Raptors this season, scoring five points. Indiana and Toronto each won a game at home.