Toronto @ Indiana preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 1, 2017 ) Indiana 115, Toronto 120

The two hottest teams in the Eastern Conference tangle Thursday when the Toronto Raptors seek their 10th consecutive victory with a visit to the hard-charging Indiana Pacers. The Raptors' nine-game run is two shy of matching the franchise mark established just over two years ago and it has allowed the team to enter Wednesday with a four-game lead over Boston in the race for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Tuesday's 116-102 triumph in Brooklyn gave Toronto 50 victories for the third straight season. "There's a bigger goal," guard DeMar DeRozan told reporters after the win. "Success during the regular season is great, but we're playing for something bigger than all of us. That's to get in the postseason and win all the rounds to get that gold trophy." The Pacers hope to be in that discussion as well and scored a big win Tuesday in Philadelphia to maintain their grip on third place in the East, a half-game ahead of Cleveland. Myles Turner scored 25 points in the 101-98 triumph as Indiana won for the 10th time in the last 13 contests.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One (Toronto), FS Indiana

ABOUT THE RAPTORS (50-17): While DeRozan and fellow All-Star Kyle Lowry were limited to a total of 26 points - 14 below their combined average - at Brooklyn, center Jonas Valanciunas shouldered the load with 26 points and 14 boards as Toronto kept alive several other impressive streaks. The victory was the squad's seventh straight on the road, tying a franchise mark set early in the 2016-17 season. The Raptors also tied a franchise record for consecutive 100-point games with 20 in a row, first accomplished by the 2009-10 edition.

ABOUT THE PACERS (40-28): Turner was 9-for-12 from the floor - including 2-for-4 from long distance - and is averaging 21.3 points while shooting 61.8 percent over his last four games. Thaddeus Young added 19 points and 10 rebounds as Indiana showed its resiliency and depth in a tough road game that saw guards Victor Oladipo and Bojan Bogdanovic combine to make only 5-of-32 shots. "These guys just continue to fight. If there's time on the clock they continue to fight," head coach Nate McMillan told the media after the victory. "Tonight showed growth, playing in a hostile situation having to scrap and not give in to the adversity and play through it and continue to stay together and pulled out a big road win."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Valanciunas averages 17.3 points and 10.7 rebounds over his last six games.

2. Pacers C Domantas Sabonis suffered a sprained ankle in the win at Philadelphia and is day-to-day.

3. The teams split the first two meetings, with DeRozan scoring 26 points to lead the Raptors to a 120-115 win on Dec. 1 at home in the most recent matchup.

PREDICTION: Raptors 109, Pacers 106