Indianapolis ? Chris Bosh had 25 points and 15 rebounds, and Jalen Rose hit two free throws with less than a second to go, lifting the Toronto Raptors to a 98-97 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night.
Indiana blew a 19-point lead in the third quarter en route to its sixth straight loss, its longest losing streak in two years.
The Pacers still appeared to have the game in control after Jeff Foster was fouled by Donyell Marshall with 1.9 seconds remaining. Foster hit both free throws for a 97-96 lead, but after a Toronto timeout, the Raptors inbounded to Rose, who was fouled by Stephen Jackson and hit the winning free throws with 0.4 second to go.
Rose finished with 22 points, and Milt Palacio added 13 for the Raptors. Bosh, who matched his career high with 27 points in a loss in Phoenix on Sunday, made a career-high 15 free throws in 17 attempts against the Pacers.
Jackson led Indiana with 18 points, but missed his final six shots as Toronto took the lead in the closing minutes. Foster scored Indiana’s final seven points and finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
The Pacers, still trying to find a winning combination, used their 21st different starting lineup of the season, putting Scot Pollard at center in place of Foster.
Indiana took an early lead, but two quick fouls on Jermaine O’Neal and four straight free throws by Bosh brought the Raptors within one point before Foster entered the game midway through the first quarter.
Less than two minutes later, two free throws by Foster started a 16-point run by Indiana. Austin Croshere had two baskets, Jackson scored on a fast break, Fred Jones hit two 3-pointers and Foster added a tip-in off an offensive rebound to give Indiana a 32-15 lead.
Toronto came within 11 points in the second quarter, but Jackson had six points and O’Neal added four as the Pacers again built the lead to 18 and took a 53-36 edge at halftime. Indiana’s biggest lead was at 55-36 at the start of the third quarter. Toronto cut it to 71-66 going into the final period and took the lead at 91-90 on a three-point play by Bosh with under 3 minutes remaining.
Notes: O’Neal, who had 15 points, fouled out with 2:20 to go. … Jamaal Tinsley did not play because of a bruised left foot. The Pacers have lost all seven games this season in which Tinsley did not start. Often-injured Jonathan Bender played seven minutes in the second quarter but did not play in the second half because of a sore right knee. … Toronto was without guard Rafer Alston, who finished a two-game suspension by the team for undisclosed “detrimental” conduct during practice last week. … Toronto had lost five straight to Indiana. … Bosh has made 46 of 56 free throws in the past four games.
