Apr 26, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) drives against Indiana Pacers forward Myles Turner (33) during the fourth quarter in game five of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. The Toronto Raptors won 102-99. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors erased a 13-point deficit to defeat the Indiana Pacers 102-99 on Tuesday night at Air Canada Centre in the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
With the win, the Raptors take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Toronto trailed 90-77 in the third quarter before outscoring Indiana 15-2 through the first 5:29 of the fourth quarter and tying tie the score at 92 on a monster dunk from rookie Norman Powell.
DeMar DeRozan gave the Raptors their first lead of the game, draining a 3-pointer with 4:15 remaining and the Raptors never relented.
DeRozan finished with a team-high 34 points and Kyle Lowry added 14 points, four rebounds and five assists. Jonas Valanciunas chipped in with 11 points.
Paul George, who entered the game averaging 26.3 points in the series, had a game-high 39 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. George Hill added 15 points and Myles Turner had 14.
The Pacers led 61-52 at halftime.
Early in the first quarter, DeRozan scored six straight as Toronto went on an 11-0 run, cutting Indiana’s lead to six.
The Raptors eventually trimmed the Pacers’ lead to three, but when George re-entered the game with four minutes expired in the quarter, he led Indiana on a 10-2 surge.
George finished the first half with 22 points and five assists. Hill added 15 points.
DeRozan had 19 first-half points, but Lowry was held to 1-of-6 shooting from the field and eight points through two quarters.
Toronto trailed 35-20 after the first quarter after a 15-2 Indiana run. George led the Pacers with 12 points and four assists in the opening quarter and Hill added nine points.
DeRozan had six points and Bismack Biyombo added four points and two rebounds off the bench for the Raptors.
Game 6 is Friday night in Indianapolis. When an NBA series is tied 2-2, the Game 5 winner has a 151-33 series record.
NOTES: Pacers C Ian Mahinmi, who has been bothered by a sore back, was in the starting lineup. … Raptors F Patrick Patterson moved off the bench and into the starting lineup, replacing Luis Scola. The Raptors were 8-3 all time when Patterson starts. Tuesday was Patterson’s first start since the preseason (Oct. 12). … Toronto entered Tuesday’s game 3-3 all time in Game 5s and Indiana was 11-18 overall and 2-12 in Game 5s on the road. … Before tipoff, Toronto’s Dwane Casey was presented with the Professional Basketball Writers Association’s Rudy Tomjanovich Award, which honors a coach for his cooperation with the media and fans as well as his excellence on the court.
