Raptors defeat Pacers in home opener

DeMar DeRozan and the Toronto Raptors started slowly before rallying in the second half for a season-opening win over the Indiana Pacers.

DeRozan had 25 points as Toronto rallied from a 16-point deficit to capture a 106-99 home victory over Indiana on Wednesday night. The Raptors improved to 13-8 in home openers and 12-9 in season openers while registering a fifth straight win over the Pacers after sweeping last year's season series 4-0.

DeRozan scored 18 of his 25 points in the second half as Toronto's starting lineup scored 52 of its 85 points after halftime. The Raptors gave the boisterous Air Canada Centre sellout of 19,800 little to cheer about early but had their fans on their feet in the second half, outscoring the Pacers 69-54.

"That's the kind of force we have to play with in the first half, at the start of the game," Toronto head coach Dwane Casey said. "I was pleased with our defence, we got stops when we needed to but again we've got to play with force and physicality to start the game."

Toronto took control in the third, outscoring Indiana 35-23 to turn a 45-37 half-time deficit into a 72-68 advantage heading into the third.

"We picked it up offensively," DeRozan said. "We were getting stops, we were playing good defence throughout the game.

"We just hit that spell where we couldn't execute or get a bucket when we needed to."

Toronto held Indiana to 37 per cent shooting and was 10-1 last season when opponents show less than 40 per cent from the floor. But DeRozan said the Raptors ragged offensive play in the first half felt as bad as it looked.

"It felt tough," he said. "But the coach got on us at halftime and we definitely picked it up."

DeRozan missed his first four shots and finished the first half 1-of-7 from the field. But he said he never lost confidence in his shot.

"I could miss 100 in a row and if it comes down to a last shot all those guys trust me to take it," he said. "I'm still confident like I've made 100 in a row taking that last shot.

"I've grown when it comes to situations like that feeling more comfortable."

While Toronto led by as many as 12 points in the fourth the game was tied 95-95 before DeRozan's basket and free throw with 1:29 left put the Raptors ahead 98-95. Indiana made it a one-point game on Paul George's basket but he missed the ensuing free throw with 1:13 to play.

DeRozan's jumper with 50.8 seconds gave Toronto a three-point cushion before DeMarre Carroll's free throw with 27.1 seconds remaining gave the Raptors a 103-97 advantage. DeRozan's two free throws with 15 seconds remaining cemented the victory.

Kyle Lowry had 23 points for Toronto while Valanciunas added 21 points.

Casey pulled to within a win of Sam Mitchell's team record of 156 coaching victories. He can tie Mitchell's mark Friday night when the Raptors visit the Boston Celtics.