Toronto Raptors' DeMar DeRozan (10) goes to the basket against Indiana Pacers' Solomon Hill (44) during the first half of an NBA game Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, in Indianapolis.Darron Cummings/The Associated Press
DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points and Kyle Lowry added 19 on Tuesday, leading Toronto to a 104-91 victory at Indiana.
The Atlantic Division-leading Raptors (30-15) overcame a sluggish first quarter to pick up their third straight win. The victory also gave Toronto a franchise record for most wins before the All-Star break.
Rodney Stuckey scored 22 points and Solomon Hill finished with 15 to lead Indiana (16-31), which has lost eight of nine.
Toronto took control in the second quarter with a 20-0 run, which turned a 32-21 deficit into a 41-32 lead. Indiana spent the rest of the game playing catch-up.
The Pacers tied the score once, at 43-43, and got as close as 58-53 midway through the third quarter but never regained the lead.
After Toronto pushed the lead to 73-57 in the third quarter, Indiana never got closer than eight.
For Toronto, it was a familiar script.
Five players scored in double figures and the NBA's fifth-highest scoring team dismantled the league's fourth-best scoring defence after starting the game in a 9-0 hole. And, of course, it was the Raptors' strong backcourt of Lowry, an All-Star starter, and DeRozan that helped the Raptors right themselves in a topsy-turvy first half.
The two guards finished the game a combined 15 of 32 from the field.
Toronto wiped out the early deficit with a 15-5 run, then gave up 12 straight points as Indiana pulled out to a 32-21 lead early in the second quarter. Toronto answered with the 20-0 spurt. After the Pacers tied the score, Toronto closed the half with a 7-1 scoring flurry to take a 50-44 lead.
Indiana trailed by just five midway through the third quarter, but Toronto used a 15-4 run to take a 16-point lead and the Pacers never seriously challenged again.
TIP-INS
Raptors: Toronto caused all sorts of problems for Indiana the past couple of seasons, and that hasn't changed. The Raptors have won three straight in the series, including both meetings this season, and four of the last five overall against Indiana.
Pacers: The return of George Hill has given the Pacers a different look. But after combining for 30 points in 40 minutes over the previous two games, Hill went just 5 of 14 from the field and had 13 points in 20 minutes.
UP NEXT
Raptors: Host Sacramento on Wednesday night.
Pacers: Host Knicks on Thursday night.