NBA PLAYOFFS -- Raptors survive Game 5 scare, Hawks manhandle Celtics
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 28 Apr 2016
CHICAGO -- Down 90-77 entering the fourth quarter, the Toronto Raptors appeared dead in the pivotal Game 5 of their series against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night at the Air Canada Centre.
But the Raptors defense came to life and held Indiana to just two points in a span of over seven minutes, sparking a torrid 18-2 run that gave Toronto a 95-92 lead with 4:15 remaining. The Pacers never tasted the lead from that point on, eventually losing a 102-99 heartbreaker.
DeMar DeRozan, who drilled the go-ahead 3, led the Raptors with 34 points. Fellow All-Star Kyle Lowry mustered 14 points and five dimes while Jonas Valanciunas hauled 11 points. Bismack Biyombo and Norman Powell finished with 10 points apiece for Toronto, which shot a mere 40.2 percent from the field (33-of-82).
It was a disappointing demise for the Pacers, who jumped to a 35-20 bulge after one quarter and were poised to steal Game 5 with a chance to clinch a Game 6 at home. Instead, they are facing elimination when they head home to Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Thursday night.
Paul George topped all scorers with 39 points, but it wasn't enough as Indiana went ice cold to start the fourth quarter, shooting 1-for-7 during a stretch in which the Raptors sank 8 of 15 field goals.
HAWKS 110, Celtics 83
The Atlanta Hawks ended no drama and pounded the Boston Celtics, 110-83, in Game 5 of their series. After trailing 20-15 in the first quarter, the fourth seeded Hawks went on a 74-42 run in the second and third quarter to put fifth ranked Boston away.
The Hawks now lead the best-of-7 series 3-2 and can close out Boston on the road on Game 6.
Mike Scott paced Atlanta with 17 points. Kent Bazemore and Jeff Teague each had 16 while Kyle Korver chipped in 13.
Evan Turner was the main man for the Celtics with 15. Isiaah Thomas was held to seven points. (HDS)
Photo: DeMar DeRozan stuffs 2 of his 34 points to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 102-99 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of their Round 1 series.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
TICKET NEWS: EUBANK JR-BENN II ON SALE FROM THIS WEDNESDAY
Wed, 17 Sep 2025“Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
Wed, 17 Sep 2025Canelo-Crawford: The Consolidation of Boxing’s New Commercial Empire
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 17 Sep 2025A New Era for Boxing: Canelo vs. Crawford Shatters Global Viewership Records on Netflix
By Dong Secuya, Wed, 17 Sep 2025Crawford Not the First Lightweight to Distinguish Himself at Super Middleweight
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 17 Sep 2025Kurt Scoby and Josh Popper Headline Boxing Insider Card September 19 in Times Square
Wed, 17 Sep 2025Green and Gold 2025: Amateur Boxing’s International Gathering in Bolivia
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 17 Sep 2025Pakistan's Sameer Khan Set to Battle for UBO Youth World Title in Brico Santig’s Sep 27 Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Tue, 16 Sep 2025SAMBO Pilipinas is Southern NSA of the Year 2025
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 16 Sep 2025Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh To headline historic “Legacy Nights” Inaugural Pro Boxing event in El Salvador
Tue, 16 Sep 2025Smarts over power
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 16 Sep 2025HALL OF FAME FLIES FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF FOR TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION RICKY HATTON
Tue, 16 Sep 2025Kazakhstan tops the medal table at the inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025 thanks to victory in the final bout of the competition
Tue, 16 Sep 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 13: JOE FRAZIER’S HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AS AN AMATEUR FIGHTER
By Maloney L. Samaco, Mon, 15 Sep 2025A New King, A New Challenger: Turki Alalshikh Proposes Crawford-Benavidez While Canelo Alvarez Faces Defeat with Humility
By Dong Secuya, Mon, 15 Sep 2025