Following up an impressive victory over the Kings on Sunday, the Raptors showed that they are truly a different team with Vince Carter in the lineup, getting help from both sides of the court in an emotional 102-90 victory over the Pacers on Friday night.
The Raptors know they'll have a long and bumpy road ahead of them if they are going to challenge for a playoff position this year. Barring any further injuries to Carter and his troops, it looks like they'll be up to the challenge.
For the first time this season, there was intensity in the eyes of all the Raptors, as they mixed it up with the Eastern Conference's top team.
Antonio Davis slams down the ball for two of his 20 points on the night. (CP PHOTO)
In the end, it was the Raptors offensive depth that pulled out the victory. Led by Antonio Davis's 20 points, the Raps had six players reach double digits in scoring.
"We kept our composure and didn't do anything stupid and continued to execute," Davis said. "We helped each other on defence and we rebounded.
"All those are positive things for us."
Voshon Leonard chipped in 17 points off the bench, while Carter and Jerome Williams each scored 16 for the Raptors, who won for the second time in last three games with Carter in the lineup.
Things got a little ugly in the fourth quarter when Indiana head coach Isiah Thomas charged out on the court and challenged Toronto's Morris Peterson for allegedly tripping up Indiana's Al Harrington when the two players were sprinting down the court.
Harrington shoved Peterson when the play stopped and Thomas ran onto the court, trying to confront the Toronto forward. Toronto head coach Lenny Wilkens held him back.
Thomas, Peterson and Harrington were all ejected.
"I'm in a foxhole with my team," said Thomas. "I thought what Peterson did to Harrington was clearly a cheap shot, it was dirty.
"If guys are going to take cheap shots at my guys, I'm going to stick up for them."
Peterson had another version of the incident.
"(Harrington) was running down the court, and I tried to run past him and I accidentally tripped him, and when he got up I saw out of the corner of my eyes that he was coming after me," said Peterson. "He kind of grabbed my jersey and I pushed his hand back."
The Pacers have been called for a league-high 15 flagrant fouls this season. Orlando is second with eight.
Peterson finished with 13 points for Toronto, which snapped a four-game skid to the Pacers dating back to last season. Alvin Williams added 10 points and seven assists in the win.
Brad Miller, who scored 20 on 8-of-14 shooting in 33 minutes, led the Pacers in scoring. Jermaine O'Neal chipped in 17 points and 11 rebounds and Ron Mercer scored 13 off the bench for Indiana, which has lost two straight on the heels of a four-game winning streak.
Indiana played without forward Ron Artest, who was suspended without pay for four games by the league on Wednesday.
Artest was disciplined after a flagrant foul, a confrontation with Miami coach Pat Riley and flashing an obscene gesture toward the crowd during Monday's 102-95 win over the Heat.
The Pacers led by one at the break, but Toronto opened the second half with a 16-7 burst and grabbed a 61-53 advantage on two free throws from Jerome Williams. Indiana was able to cut the deficit to five and trailed, 69-64, heading into the fourth.
The Pacers pulled within 69-66 to start the final frame, but could come no closer than that the rest of the way. Toronto went ahead by as many as 13 points after Alvin Williams' jumper near the 3:00 mark and there was not enough time left for Indiana to mount a comeback.
Indiana jumped out to a 6-1 lead to start the game, but the Raptors responded by scoring four straight to pull within 6-5. The scoring remained even throughout much of the first quarter and the Pacers carried a 25-21 advantage into the second.
Toronto trailed, 43-38, with around three minutes to play before the half, but consecutive dunks from Carter and Jerome Williams and another bucket from Carter gave the Raptors their first lead of the game at 44-43.
They were unable to hold onto the edge, though, and Indiana carried a 46-45 advantage into the locker room at the break.
with files from Sports Network
