Pacers at Raptors
While the Toronto Raptors' playoff position is all but sealed, the Indiana Pacers are on the verge of punching their own ticket. The Pacers can clinch a spot in the postseason with a victory Friday at the Raptors, who are a loss or a Cleveland win away from securing the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The matchup could be a preview of a first-round series, as Indiana enters Friday in seventh place in the East - a half-game up on Detroit - with four games to play. The Pacers have won three in a row after a 123-109 win over the Cavaliers at home on Wednesday, when they shot 16-of-31 from 3-point distance. Paul George hit four of those triples and finished with 29 points, his seventh straight contest with at least 20. Toronto, which dropped a 95-87 decision in Atlanta on Thursday, is just 4-5 in its last nine games and has scored fewer than 100 in four consecutive affairs for the first time since December.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN Indiana, Sportsnet One (Toronto)
ABOUT THE PACERS (42-36): Indiana took advantage of the LeBron James-less Cavaliers squad to match their longest winning streak since a six-gamer early in the season. The three-game run has coincided with the insertion of Lavoy Allen into the starting lineup in place of rookie Myles Turner, although Allen has provided a total of just nine points and six rebounds in the winning streak. Reserve Solomon Hill has earned more playing time of late and responded against Cleveland with season highs in points (15), 3-pointers (three) and steals (three).
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (52-26): Although it has hit a rut offensively, Toronto has to be pleased with the successful return to action of forward DeMarre Carroll, who ended a 41-game absence with a solid 14-minute effort Thursday night. He recorded five points - making his only 3-point try - and four steals, showcasing some of the defensive grit that could be huge once the playoffs begin. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, who each had 28 points in the previous meeting with the Pacers, scored 16 apiece versus Atlanta as the Raptors shot 38.1 percent.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Toronto has claimed six of the last seven matchups and four in a row at home.
2. DeRozan needs 22 points to pass Vince Carter (9,420) and move into second place on the franchise scoring list.
3. George needs 30 points to record the third-highest single-season scoring total in franchise history.