Post-Game Grades: Pacers 90, Raptors 85

The Pacers once again beat up on a lackluster squad — and did so in an unimpressive fashion. On the one hand, it’s nice to know they can win ugly, besting Toronto 90-85. On the other, that’s two ugly performances in a row.

Still, the fourth quarter was an exciting, high-intensity period and, even though the Pacers made it harder than they had to after going up 12 late, they did what they needed to win. They hit clutch shots and strung together a few stops when they needed them.

Thus, this brings us to tonight’s Pacers Post-Game Grades. Agree/disagree? Let us know below in the comments of yell at me on Twitter @8pts9secs.

Indiana Pacers 90 – Toronto Raptors 85

DARREN COLLISON 3/7 FG \| 10 PTS \| 12 AST \| +16 We saw some flashes in the playoffs but there have been more downs than ups during Collison’s days as a Pacer. Tonight wasn’t perfect (PnR decisions need to come quicker, half-court D lacked focus late), but 12 dimes from a guy who only recorded double-digit assists four times last season are cause for celebration.
PAUL GEORGE 5/11 FG (4/7 3PT) \| 18 PTS \| 4 REB \| +4 George was aggressive — and accurate — again. He appeared to be the only guy to make it through Customs in the first half. Had it not been for him drilling his first 4 three-point attempts, his teammates’ late-game heroics may not have been enough.
DANNY GRANGER 8/19 FG \| 21 PTS \| 8 REB \| 3 STL \| +6 Danny struggled early. But he COMPLETELY REDEEMED himself late, canning two big threes that set up West’s game-clincher. In all, he scored 9 of Indiana’s final 13 points and for the first time showed the rest of the league how much more potent he can be as a late-game weapon if he isn’t the only weapon.
DAVID WEST 6/12 FG (2/4 FT) \| 14 PTS \| 6 REB \| +8 It looked like it was going to be another tough shooting day for West. Then came the third quarter — during which he proceeded to get buckets in the paint with his deceptively unstoppable offensive arsenal. And when it really came time to put this game away, there was David. Shooting. From 18 feet. Like an assassin.
ROY HIBBERT 6/11 FG \| 12 PTS \| 10 REB \| 5 TO \| +0 Hibbert now has two double-doubles in as many games. That is the type of consistency that Pacers fans have wanted for years. Now, they are hoping it isn’t fleeting.

TYLER HANSBROUGH 2/7 FG \| 8 PTS \| 8 REB \| -4 Aside from the back-to-back jumpers he hit out of pick-and-pops on consecutive possessions, it wasn’t a fruitful night for Tyler. He was active enough to grab 8 boards and get to the line for 4 freebies, but he struggled to provide much other than scrap in his 26 minutes.
GEORGE HILL 0/5 FG (3/3 FT) \| 3 PTS \| 3 ASTs \| -8 Hill again failed to effect the scoreboard, tallying just a few points at the line. But he did add enough intangibles, steadiness and defense to make this outing better than his 0-for from the floor would suggest. Still, Pacers fans are eagerly awaiting a break-out game from the hometown kid.
DAHNTAY JONES 2/6 FG \| 4 PTS \| -1 The bad news is that Dahntay shot 33% from the floor. The worse news is that he was the most potent offensive threat off the bench. He had one highlight dunk, but otherwise just mopped up the 17 minutes he played. That’s his role, but he won’t be getting any gold stars here for simply “not being a liability.”
LOU AMUNDSON 0/3 FG \| 0 PT \| 2 RED \| 3 PF \| +4 Unquestionably the best 9 minutes ever recorded in a debut performance by a Pacer who scored zero points. It’s tough to read much into +/- over one game, but his efforts helped him be the only reserve on the positive side of the ledger. He had a huge block, took a charge, saved a ball on a hustle play and — unofficially — threw a “Foster-level” of elbows.

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DARREN COLLISON 3/7 FG \| 10 PTS \| 12 AST \| +16 We saw some flashes in the playoffs but there have been more downs than ups during Collison’s days as a Pacer. Tonight wasn’t perfect (PnR decisions need to come quicker, half-court D lacked focus late), but 12 dimes from a guy who only recorded double-digit assists four times last season are cause for celebration.
PAUL GEORGE 5/11 FG (4/7 3PT) \| 18 PTS \| 4 REB \| +4 George was aggressive — and accurate — again. He appeared to be the only guy to make it through Customs in the first half. Had it not been for him drilling his first 4 three-point attempts, his teammates’ late-game heroics may not have been enough.
DANNY GRANGER 8/19 FG \| 21 PTS \| 8 REB \| 3 STL \| +6 Danny struggled early. But he COMPLETELY REDEEMED himself late, canning two big threes that set up West’s game-clincher. In all, he scored 9 of Indiana’s final 13 points and for the first time showed the rest of the league how much more potent he can be as a late-game weapon if he isn’t the only weapon.
DAVID WEST 6/12 FG (2/4 FT) \| 14 PTS \| 6 REB \| +8 It looked like it was going to be another tough shooting day for West. Then came the third quarter — during which he proceeded to get buckets in the paint with his deceptively unstoppable offensive arsenal. And when it really came time to put this game away, there was David. Shooting. From 18 feet. Like an assassin.
ROY HIBBERT 6/11 FG \| 12 PTS \| 10 REB \| 5 TO \| +0 Hibbert now has two double-doubles in as many games. That is the type of consistency that Pacers fans have wanted for years. Now, they are hoping it isn’t fleeting.

TYLER HANSBROUGH 2/7 FG \| 8 PTS \| 8 REB \| -4 Aside from the back-to-back jumpers he hit out of pick-and-pops on consecutive possessions, it wasn’t a fruitful night for Tyler. He was active enough to grab 8 boards and get to the line for 4 freebies, but he struggled to provide much other than scrap in his 26 minutes.
GEORGE HILL 0/5 FG (3/3 FT) \| 3 PTS \| 3 ASTs \| -8 Hill again failed to effect the scoreboard, tallying just a few points at the line. But he did add enough intangibles, steadiness and defense to make this outing better than his 0-for from the floor would suggest. Still, Pacers fans are eagerly awaiting a break-out game from the hometown kid.
DAHNTAY JONES 2/6 FG \| 4 PTS \| -1 The bad news is that Dahntay shot 33% from the floor. The worse news is that he was the most potent offensive threat off the bench. He had one highlight dunk, but otherwise just mopped up the 17 minutes he played. That’s his role, but he won’t be getting any gold stars here for simply “not being a liability.”
LOU AMUNDSON 0/3 FG \| 0 PT \| 2 RED \| 3 PF \| +4 Unquestionably the best 9 minutes ever recorded in a debut performance by a Pacer who scored zero points. It’s tough to read much into +/- over one game, but his efforts helped him be the only reserve on the positive side of the ledger. He had a huge block, took a charge, saved a ball on a hustle play and — unofficially — threw a “Foster-level” of elbows.