Friday’s game between the Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers was a homecoming of sorts for Raptors center Jermaine O’Neal as he played for the Pacers from 2000-08, having been traded to Toronto during the 2008-09 season.  Although he saw limited action during the game, he got a mixed reaction from the crowd at Conseco Fieldhouse.  That aside, Toronto nearly came back from a 24-point deficit in the second half but Indiana managed to hold them off for the win 111-104.

Both teams shot poorly during the first quarter as they were tied at 20, going into the second quarter; the Pacers nearly doubled-up the Raptors in the scoring column in the second period as they outscored Toronto 36-20 as they took a healthy 56-42 lead into their locker room at halftime.  Indiana poured it on in the third quarter as they went into the final period up 89-65 and apperead to have the game well in hand, but the Raptors would change things in a hurry.

Toronto methodically chipped away at Indiana’s lead, holding them to 6-of-21 shooting; they managed to close to within 11 midway through the fourth quarter and when Anthony Parker made a pair of free throws, the Pacers’ lead shrunk to 96-91.  But Indiana would answer back with 4 straight points yet Toronto manaufactured an 8-0 run, capped by a jumper by Parker, making it 100-99 with 1:13 remaining.  Mike Dunleavy sealed the deal for the Pacers as he managed to juke Chris Bosh into fouling him behind the 3-point arc while he tried a jumper; Dunleavy drained all 3 free throws as a result.

Danny Granger led all Indiana scorers with 23 points (including 3 three-pointers), 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocked shots while Dunleavy added 22 with 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocked shots; Jarrett Jack pitched in, scoring 17 with 3 rebounds, 7 assists and a steal while Troy Murphy poured in 15 (including 3 treys) with 15 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.

Toronto was led by Bosh with 25 points, 16 rebounds and 3 assists while Andrea Bargnani added 20 (including 3 treys) with 5 rebounds and an assist; Parker chipped in 16 with 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals.  Indiana (15-25) plays again on Monday when they travel to The Big Easy to take on the New Orleans Hornets while Toronto (16-25) returns home to host the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.