Raptors stun Pacers, 95-82, for fourth straight win

DeMar DeRozan scored 26 points, Kyle Lowry had 13 points and a season-high 14 assists and the Toronto Raptors extended their season-best winning streak to four games, defeating the league-leading Indiana Pacers, 95-82, Wednesday night in Toronto.

Terrence Ross scored 18 points and Jonas Valanciunas had 13 points and nine rebounds as the Atlantic Division-leading Raptors (15-15) snapped Indiana’s five-game winning streak and improved to .500 after 30 games for the first time since Jan. 6, 2010. The Pacers dropped into a tie with Oklahoma City for the NBA’s best record at 25-6.

The Raptors have won eight of 10 games since Dec. 13, when the majority of the players acquired from Sacramento in the Rudy Gay deal made their Toronto debuts.

Roy Hibbert fouled out with 16 points and Paul George had 12 for the Pacers, who recorded a season-worst 23 turnovers.

Indiana had won nine of its previous 12 meetings with Toronto, including four straight north of the border.

at Minnesota 124, New Orleans 112: Nikola Pekovic had 22 points and seven rebounds for the Timberwolves, who led by as many as 30 points on their way to an easy victory. Kevin Love had 21 points and six rebounds and Ricky Rubio had 14 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and three steals for Minnesota, which shot 55.7%, attempted 35 free throws and forced a season-high 18 turnovers from the Pelicans. The win was potentially important for the Timberwolves (16-16), who are ninth in the West, one spot out of the playoffs, with New Orleans (14-16) right behind them. Ryan Anderson led the Pelicans with 25 points.

Dallas 87, at Washington 78: Monta Ellis scored 23 points, Vince Carter had 13 and the Mavericks held the Wizards scoreless for more than four minutes late in the fourth quarter. It was Dallas’ fourth consecutive victory on the road and its eighth straight over the Wizards (14-15), who failed in their attempt to rise above .500 for the first time since Oct. 31, 2009.

Philadelphia 114, at Denver 102: Evan Turner scored 23 points and Thaddeus Young had 17, helping the 76ers hand the slumping Nuggets their eighth consecutive loss. The Sixers had seven players score in double figures en route to their second straight win away from home. They’d halted a 13-game road losing streak Sunday when they beat the Lakers at Staples Center. J.J. Hickson had 19 points and 11 rebounds for Denver.

at Clippers 112, Charlotte 85