Toronto Beats Indiana in NBA Playoffs

Raptors All-Star DeMar DeRozan endured another difficult playoff performance.

With the highest-scoring playoff game of his career, Jonas Valanciunas made sure DeRozan's struggles didn't matter.

Valanciunas had 23 points and 15 rebounds, Kyle Lowry had 18 points, nine assists and seven rebounds and Toronto beat the Indiana Pacers 98-87 on Monday night. That snapped their postseason losing streak at seven games and evened the series 1-1.

"We've all got to step up," Valanciunas said. "It's not an individual sport. Some nights are tough for Kyle, some nights it's tough for DeMar, tough for me. Everybody has tough times, so everybody has got to pull for each other."

Lowry said Valanciunas has become "an integral part" of Toronto's offense.

"He's playing fantastic," Lowry said. "He's rolling hard, he's rebounding the ball extremely well. When teams are trying to take myself and DeMar out, he's got to have big games for us."

The Raptors had not won a playoff game since a 115-113 home victory over Brooklyn on April 30, 2014.

Paul George scored 28 points and Monta Ellis had 15 for the Pacers, who host Game 3 on Thursday night.

Before then, George said, the Pacers have to find a way to slow down Valanciunas.

"He's been huge, literally," George said. "We're doing a good job on Kyle and DeMar but the third guy, Valanciunas, has stepped up. He's who is causing us the problems right now and we've got to figure it out."

Toronto finished with 46 points in the paint, compared to Indiana's 30, and the Raptors outrebounded the Pacers 44-33.

Monday, April 18 Scoreboard
    
Toronto 98, Indiana 87

EASTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 2

Dallas 85, Oklahoma City 84

WESTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 2
    
Golden State 115, Houston 106

WESTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 2

Tuesday, April 19 Schedule (All Times Central)

Boston at Atlanta, 5 p.m.

EASTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 2

Memphis at San Antonio, 7:30 p.m.

WESTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 2