Pacers edge out Toronto 98-82

INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana's slim playoff hopes are still alive.\nJermaine O'Neal scored 29 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and Brad Miller added 23 points and 11 rebounds as the Pacers beat Toronto 98-82 Wednesday night, snapping the Raptors nine-game winning streak.\nThe Pacers are now one game behind the Raptors and Milwaukee for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers play host to the Bucks on Friday. Milwaukee has won all three games against Indiana this season, clinching the tiebreaker.\nReggie Miller added 15 points and Jamaal Tinsley had 14 points and nine assists for the Pacers.\nAntonio Davis led the Raptors with 24 points and Morris Peterson added 22.\nTen times this season the Pacers have turned a double-digit lead into a loss. They appeared headed toward No. 11 when a 21-point lead was cut to three early in the third.\nThe Raptors outscored Indiana 24-8 during the second quarter to trail by five at halftime, and Keon Clark's layup 1 minute into the third made it 47-44. Knowing a loss would all but end their playoff hopes, the Pacers turned to Reggie Miller.\nMiller, the lone Pacer with considerable postseason experience, pushed the lead back to 11 with a couple of free throws. When the lead dipped to nine, he hit a 3-pointer that made it 62-50.\nA driving layup by Brad Miller gave Indiana a 68-52 lead -- its largest of the quarter -- with 3:31 remaining.\nThe Raptors never came closer than 12 in the fourth.\nO'Neal provided the Pacers, who had lost seven of their last nine, with a much needed jolt of energy to start. He scored 17 points on 5-for-7 shooting in the first quarter. He had a steal, then drove three-quarters of the court on a fastbreak. He missed his shot, but sank two free throws. He hit two more on the next possession for a 37-16 lead at the end of the first.\nThe Pacers could not maintain their momentum in the second quarter, a year-long problem and perhaps the biggest reason why they are fighting for a playoff spot. They made only three of 19 shots and matched a team-record for fewest points in a quarter with eight.\nTwo free throws by Davis sliced the deficit under 10 points and a 20-footer by Derrick Dial made it 45-40 at the half.\nNotes\nIU coach Mike Davis was at the game and received a standing ovation… Pacers forward Austin Croshere played four minutes after three straight DNP-CDs… Toronto point guard Chris Childs sat out with a strained right heel.