Raptors 102, Pacers 94: Terrence Ross hit five 3-pointers en route to a 24-point performance as shorthanded Toronto strengthened its division title hopes with a pivotal win over visiting Indiana.

Jonas Valanciunas added 22 points on 10-of-14 from the field for the Raptors, who remain 2 1/2 games ahead of Brooklyn for top spot in the Atlantic Division standings. Toronto prevailed without star point guard Kyle Lowry - who missed his second straight game with a knee injury - and forward Amir Johnson, who sat out with a sore ankle.

Paul George led all scorers with 26 points for the Pacers, who are five percentages points in back of Miami atop the Eastern Conference ledger. Indiana was held scoreless over the final 4:24, missing all seven shot attempts en route to its sixth loss in eight games.

After trailing by as many as 11 points early in the third quarter, Indiana chipped away at the deficit and finally seized a 77-75 lead on a George layup with 11:30 remaining in the fourth. The teams traded leads down the stretch before the Raptors pulled ahead for good on a Valanciunas putback of a Greivis Vasquez miss, and Valanciunas added a jumper off another Toronto second chance opportunity with 2:10 remaining.

Ross was nearly perfect in the opening half, going 5-of-6 from the field and drilling both 3-point attempts as his 13 points lifted the Raptors to a 54-46 edge. Toronto took care of the ball in the opening 24 minutes, dishing out 15 assists - six by DeRozan - while turning it over just five times.

GAME NOTEBOOK: George and Raptors SF John Salmons had to be separated after Salmons shoved George near the Indiana bench late in the third quarter. Both players were given technical fouls. ... The Pacers fell to 19-19 on the road. ... DeRozan added 20 points and a game-high nine assists for the Raptors, who won the rebounding battle 42-39.