Friday, Mar 29, 2024 | Last Update : 03:56 PM IST

  Pacers halted

Pacers halted

AFP
Published : Apr 28, 2016, 2:32 am IST
Updated : Apr 28, 2016, 2:32 am IST

Boston Celtics’ Tyler Zeller (left) attacks the basket against Mike Scott of the Atlanta Hawks in Game Five of the NBA Eastern Conference quarter-final at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia (USA), on Tuesday. The Hawks won 110-83. (Photo: AFP)

NBA1.jpg
 NBA1.jpg

Boston Celtics’ Tyler Zeller (left) attacks the basket against Mike Scott of the Atlanta Hawks in Game Five of the NBA Eastern Conference quarter-final at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia (USA), on Tuesday. The Hawks won 110-83. (Photo: AFP)

DeMar DeRozan returned to form with 34 points as the Toronto Raptors overturned a double-digit deficit to defeat the Indiana Pacers 102-99 and seize control of their best-of-seven playoff series on Tuesday.

DeRozan, who had entered the game averaging just 13.3 points, turned on the style as the Raptors fought back from 13 points down to seal a win which gives them a 3-2 lead.

Toronto had found themselves staring down the barrel of a home defeat after Indiana raced into a 90-77 lead in the third quarter.

But a 15-2 Raptors points blitz in the opening 5 mins 29 sec of the fourth quarter hauled the home side back into the contest with rookie Norman Powell scoring a monster dunk to tie it 92-92.

DeRozan then stepped up to drain a three-pointer to give the Raptors their first lead as Toronto held on for a pulsating win.

Pacers star Paul George had a game-high 39 points including eight rebounds and eight assists while George Hill added 15 points and Myles Turner had 14.

George bemoaned the Pacers’ failure to hang on for what would have been a potentially pivotal road victory.

In Tuesday’s other game, Atlanta also took a 3-2 series lead after a blowout 110-83 win against the Boston Celtics.

Atlanta’s Mike Scott top scored after weighing in with 17 points off the bench as the Hawks hassled the Celtics into 19 turnovers in what rapidly became a rout. The victory means Atlanta lead 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.

Location: Chile, Bíobío, Los Angeles