The Toronto Raptors (32-24) host the Indiana Pacers 22-36) Friday Night at the ACC. The Raptors have a chance to sweep the season series against the Pacers and at the same win their fourth in a row.

These two clubs met earlier this week with the Raptors winning 102-98. Chris Bosh had a game high 24 points and Carlos Delfino was red hot from downtown scoring 18 of his 23 points from 3 point land.

The Pacers have lost three in a row and sit four games out of 8th place in the Eastern Conference. The team has struggled without all-star Jermaine O’Neal and starting point guard Jamaal Tinsley, who have been out for a combined twenty seven games over the past month and a half.

After the game the Raptors head on a mini 3 game road trip. They’ll play the Bobcats, Magic and Heat.

Starting 5:
Travis Diener/Jose Calderon
Kareem Rush/Anthony Parker
Mike Dunleavy/Jamario Moon
Danny Granger/Chris Bosh
Troy Murphy/Andrea Bargnani

Key Match-ups:
When these clubs last met, the Pacers tried to go small against the Raptors and it almost worked. In a game that featured some sloppy play, the Pacers managed to keep themselves in the game until the fourth quarter. Chris Bosh is a BIG that runs the floor as good as anyone in the NBA and the Pacers will be hard pressed to handle him. Troy Murphy and Jeff Foster will give their all, but Bosh will lead his team to their 33rd win of the season.

I feel bad for Travis Diener. With the injury to Tinsley, the 6 foot guard has held his own, but with TJ Ford playing at nearly 100% and Jose Calderon doing his thing, the guard out of Marquette will be abused on the defensive end tonight.

Game Notes:
The Pacers hit 10 3-pointers last game against the Raptors; More off court distractions for the Pacer as of late. There was an arrest of a murder suspect after he had been at the home of Shawne Williams and a reported rape at the home of Marquis Daniels. Both are not suspects, but it does cause a distraction to the team; after his team lost to the Raptors earlier this week, head coach Jim O’Brien commended the Raptors bench basically saying they were #1 in the NBA; the Pacers are 11-18 on the road this season.

TJ Ford is averaging 15.6 ppg in his last 3 games; The Raptors have won their last four in a row at the ACC, each win by at least 17 points; Chris Bosh passed Morris Peterson to become the second all-time scorer for the Raptors. First on the list in Vince Carter; Jamario Moon is averaging 12.1 ppg and 7.0 rpg in his last 6 games; the Raptors are 18-11 at home this season.

Technorati Tags: Andrea Bargnani, Chris Bosh, Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers, Jamaal Tinsley, Jamario Moon, Jeff Foster, Jermaine O’Neal, Jim O’Brien, Jose Calderon, Marquis Daniels, Mike Dunleavy, Primoz Brezec, Shawne Williams, TJ Ford, Travis Diener, Troy Murphy