NBA: Raptors snap Indiana’s six-game winning streak
Toronto Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan. AP
TORONTO— Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan scored 26 points and sparked a fourth-quarter run Wednesday that lifted the Toronto Raptors to a 95-82 victory over Indiana, snapping the Pacers’ six-game winning streak.
The Pacers fell to 25-6, leaving them level with Oklahoma City for the best record in the NBA with San Antonio and Portland on 25-7 and defending NBA champion Miami at 24-7.
The Raptors improved to 15-15 on the season, boosting their lead atop the Atlantic division with their fourth win in a row and eighth in 10 games.
Toronto ended the first quarter on a 13-6 run for a 26-18 edge, but the Pacers outscored the Raptors 26-14 in the second quarter for a 44-40 half-time advantage.
Toronto battled back and took a 66-63 lead into the fourth quarter thanks to a John Salmons 3-pointer.
With the game knotted at 74-74, the Raptors went on a 14-3 run to seize command, DeRozan scoring eight points in the spurt for an 88-77 edge with 2:54 remaining and the Pacers never came close again.
Terrence Ross scored 18 points for the Raptors while Kyle Lowry added 13 points and 14 assists and Lithuanian center Jonas Valanciunas had 13 points and nine rebounds. DeRozan also grabbed nine rebounds.
Roy Hibbert led Indiana with 16 points while Pacers scoring leader Paul George managed only 12 points.
