Raptors stun Pacers to improve to .500

TORONTO, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) — The Toronto Raptors stunned the league-leading Indiana Pacers to begin 2014 with a 95-82 victory on Wednesday night in NBA action.

With the victory, Toronto improves to 15-15 on the season, the first time the team has reached the .500 mark through 30 games since Jan. 6, 2010.

“We did a good job, the guy’s battled,” said Raptors head coach Dwane Casey. “We came in hungry and fought for 48 minutes, stayed with the game plan and executed.”

Part of the game plan was containing Indiana’s All-Stars, Paul George and Roy Hibbert.

Casey specifically credits the defensive efforts of guard Terrance Ross.

“He’s guarding one of the best wing players in the league in Paul George. Paul George coming in (to the game) was really balling,” said Casey. “Ross did a heck of job of standing up into him, not giving him open looks, making him work for every inch he got.”

Entering the game, George was ranked sixth in the league averaging 23.8 points per game. Against Toronto’s defence, George was held to 12 points on 5-14 shooting and committed a season-worst 6 turnovers and 5 personal fouls.

The 2.18-meter Hibbert battled foul trouble the entire game and managed to play 21 minutes before fouling out.

While defeating the best team in the NBA is a confidence builder, Casey believes his young squad is far from reaching the ultimate goal of becoming a perennial championship contender.

“It’s another huge step as far as their growth is concerned. They’re growing, they’re developing, they’re getting better,” said Casey. “It doesn’t mean we’ve won a championship or anything. We still got work to do and a lot of growth to go.”

Despite beating Indiana, Casey still thinks highly of the Pacers.

“They’re one of the elite teams in the league, one of the best coached teams in the league,” said Casey. “They’re going to be in the money when it’s all said and done.”

With 52 games left on the season, the Raptors hope to maintain their lead in the Atlantic division, assuring the franchise of their first playoff berth since 2008.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/sports/2014-01/02/c_133013263.htm