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03/29/2024 04:28:17 am

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NBA Preview: Indiana Pacers Aims to Even the Playoff Series to 2-2 Against Toronto Raptors in Game 4

Paul George

(Photo : gettyimages.com) Paul George had 25 points while going 6 for 19 from the field in Game 3.

Indiana Pacers will be looking to bounce back in the pivotal Game 4 of their first round playoffs series against the Toronto Raptors after losing their first postseason match at home on Saturday at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

"We didn't do our job," said George, who had 25 points while going 6 for 19 from the field in Game 3. "We didn't take care of business on our home court. We have to stay positive. We still have a chance to even this at 2-2."

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The Raptors claimed the third game with a 101-85 victory and took the 2-1 lead of their best-of-seven series last Thursday night.

After a sloppy performance in their recent game, the seventh seeded Pacers know that they need to have better offensive execution to come away with a win in Game 4. A victory over the Raptors would make it a best-of-three series and could gain the momentum shift back in their side.

"Too many times we're playing passive, not being aggressive and not being assertive. That's playing right into their hands," said the three-time All-Star George. "Our best offense is when we're in attack mode and I don't think we're doing that enough."

The Eastern Conference second-seeded Raptors will be looking to win the fourth game of the series to take a commanding 3-1 advantage and head back to Toronto in Game 5.

"We just have to keep building, keep continuing to get better at both ends," DeRozan, who scored 21 points in their last encounter against the Pacers, said. "(This series) is going to be tough. But that's why we take it so serious when we are at practice, at shootaround and watching film."

The Pacers projected starters are George Hill, Monta Ellis, Paul George, Lavoy Allen and Ian Mahinmi. Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, DeMarre Carroll, Luis Scola and Jonas Valanciunas are the expected starters for the Raptors.

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