Toronto (Canada) (AFP) – Jonas Valanciunas scored 23 points as the Toronto Raptors beat the Indiana Pacers 98-87 on Monday to square their best-of-seven series.
Valanciunas also grabbed 15 rebounds while teammate Kyle Lowry chipped in with 18 points and nine assists as the Raptors made it one game apiece.
Paul George led the Pacers with 28 points as Indiana reduced an 18-point deficit to just four points in the third quarter before Toronto pulled away.
After overcoming the Indiana resistance, Toronto opened up a 19-point lead in the final five minutes.
Cory Joseph scored 16 points from the bench while Patrick Patterson (14) and DeMar DeRozan (10) also made double digits.
The result snapped a seven-game losing streak in playoff matches for Toronto, whose last victory in the playoffs came against the Brooklyn Nets in April 2014.
Game three in the best-of-seven series takes place in Indianapolis on Thursday.