Indiana uses small lineup to rally past Toronto

By John Oehser, for NBA.com
Posted Monday January 11, 2010 11:09PM

INDIANAPOLIS (NBA.com exclusive) -- Maybe this was what the Indiana Pacers were supposed to look like this season.

Or maybe it was just one memorable night in a long season.

Either way, the Pacers -- a team that has struggled with injuries, inconsistency and an ever-juggling lineup this season -- turned in a dramatic performance Monday night, rallying from a 23-point deficit for a 105-101 victory over the Toronto Raptors in front of 11,039 at Conseco Fieldhouse.

"We showed resiliency, which we haven't showed in the past," said Pacers swingman Danny Granger, who scored 10 of his team-high 23 points as Indiana pushed back into the game in the second half. "We fought back, fought back and took the game right at the end."

The Pacers (12-25), after trailing by 13 points at halftime, not only outscored Toronto 53-36 in the second half, they limited the Raptors (19-20) to 20.6 percent shooting from the field (7-for-34).

"We shouldn't have let them back in the game," Raptors guard Jose Calderon said. "Their team, no matter whether they're 20 up or 20 down, they keep playing the same way."

And in so doing, Pacers coach Jim O'Brien on Monday said the team may have found if not a permanent lineup, at least an effective combination.

A small combination.

The Pacers were at their most effective Monday with a small lineup featuring Granger at the four and forward/center Troy Murphy at the center position. The Pacers are 8-3 this season playing the small lineup extensively, O'Brien said.

"You'll see that more," O'Brien said.

Granger, in his third game back from a right plantar fascia injury, not only scored 23, but had four assists and his driving layup in the fourth quarter pushed the Pacers' lead to 102-98 with 41.5 seconds remaining.

"He allows the ability to stretch the floor," Raptors coach Jay Triano said. "He gives them another dimension."

Murphy, in his third game back from an ankle injury, scored 20 points on 7-for-12 shooting -- 5-for-8 from 3-point range -- and also had 16 rebounds, but O'Brien said the Pacers' defense and the play of their point guards was equally critical.

"In the third quarter, came out, got busy and got the job done," Murphy said.

Starting point guard Earl Watson had 11 points, three steals and eight assists, and rookie point guard A.J. Price -- who O'Brien said "is quickly becoming the steal of the draft" -- added 16 points on 5-for-11 shooting.

The Pacers held the Raptors to 3-for-18 shooting in the fourth quarter.

"That's how we have to play and that's how we have to win," Watson said. "This could be the turning point of the season, but it doesn't mean anything if we don't follow it up."

O'Brien said Watson's defensive energy was particularly critical. O'Brien said while the Pacers challenged just 28 percent of the Raptors' first-half shots, with Watson pressuring the ball they challenged 58 percent in the second half.

"You really have to credit Earl Watson's defensive pressure in the third quarter," O'Brien said. "It really ignited what we wanted to do."

With forward Chris Bosh effective early, the Raptors moved quickly to a 10-point lead and led after the first quarter, 30-22. Bosh finished the quarter with 12 points.

The Raptors pushed the lead to 23, 59-36, with a balanced second quarter, but Indiana regained momentum and cut the lead to 62-52 just before halftime. The Raptors maintained a six-point lead after the third quarter, but Indiana pushed into the lead, then pushed past the Raptors with a 17-8 run to begin the fourth quarter.

"We turned the ball over too much in the second half," Triano said. "They were able to pick up the defensive intensity, shoot the three ball and gain the momentum. I thought the focus was great. We were fatigued. Maybe we didn't have the legs, but I thought we fought hard on a back to back."

Bosh finished the game with 27 points and 10 rebounds, and center Andrea Bargnani added 12 points and 10 rebounds. Calderon added 12 points for the Raptors, who were playing for the second time in as many nights.

"Everybody has those back to backs," Calderon said. "We didn't do anything different in the second half. They just hit some threes. That was the difference."

Said Raptors point guard Jarrett Jack, "We knew they were capable of making a comeback like that. The next time, we have to do a better job of locking down on them and the game is not over until the final buzzer goes off."

• Raptors: Banks, Evans
• Pacers: Diener, Foster, McRoberts

• Raptors: Calderon, Weems
• Pacers: Granger, Hansbrough

• Lead Changes: 5
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
• Officials: #14 Joe DeRosa, #79 Nick Buchert, #59 Gary Zielinski
• Attendance: 11039
• Duration: 2:26