Pacers close out homestand vs. Toronto

Indiana is 2-1 on the homestand and has posted back-to-back wins, including Wednesday’s 96-94 overtime win against the Miami Heat. Troy Murphy had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Pacers, who won their second straight after a four-game skid. Danny Granger added 16 points in the win,

The Pacers, who own a 12-7 mark at home this season, are 2 1/2 games off the lead in the Central Division.

Meanwhile, the Raptors have won three straight and closed out a five-game homestand with a 4-1 mark. On Friday they posted a 96-90 win over the Boston Celtics at the Air Canada Centre.

Anthony Parker scored a career-high 23 points behind a career-best seven three-pointers to lead the Atlantic Division-leading Raptors, who ripped off a 19-0 run in the fourth quarter to win for the ninth time in their last 12 games and send Boston to its 10th straight loss.

Chris Bosh ended with 26 points and eight rebounds, while Jose Calderon added 10 points and eight assists in the win. Raptors guard T.J. Ford (sore right ankle) is expected to miss Saturday’s game against Indiana.

Toronto will hit the road where it is 8-15 this season.

Saturday’s game between Indiana and Toronto is the second of three meetings this season. The Raptors won the first meeting, 92-83, on November 26 this season at the Air Canada Centre.

Indiana has won eight of 12 and 12 of the last 17 meetings with Toronto, which has lost seven of its last nine at Conseco Fieldhouse.