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Raptors beat Pacers to give Triano first win

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-11 14:14

TORONTO - The Toronto Raptors gave Jay Triano his first win as interim head coach by defeating the Indiana Pacers 101-88 on Wednesday.

Toronto Raptors head coach Jay Triano celebrates after his team defeated the Indiana Pacers after their NBA basketball game in Toronto December 10, 2008. [Agencies]

Sharp-shooting wing Jason Kapono scored a season-high 25 points to help snap a five-game skid for the Raptors (9-12), who had dropped three in a row since Triano replaced the fired Sam Mitchell last week.

Triano's victory was the first by a Canadian head coach in the NBA.

"Coach has done a great job," Kapono told reporters. "Obviously he's thrown into the fire, it's a tough spot to be in but everyone has to continue to work on things he wants us to do."

Toronto All Star Chris Bosh added 21 points and 10 rebounds and Jermaine O'Neal had 10 points and nine rebounds in his first meeting against his former team since being traded in the offseason.

O'Neal, 30, spent eight seasons in Indiana where he was a six-times All Star before a six-player deal brought him to the Raptors.

He entered the contest averaging just 12.6 points per game while shooting 43 percent, and has been plagued by knee trouble that characterised the end of his tenure in Indiana.

Still, O'Neal denied the significance of playing against his former team.

"There's no statement, the statement has to be made on a consistent basis every single night," O'Neal said. "If we can put together some wins, we can revisit that conversation at the end of the year.

"But right now, one win isn't enough."

Danny Granger scored a team-high 22 points, and Troy Murphy recorded 20 points and 20 rebounds for the Pacers (7-14), who shot just 34 percent from the field.

Pacers point guard T.J. Ford, who was also a part of the trade involving O'Neal, managed just four points as Indiana lost their fourth in a row.

The Raptors took control of the game with a 16-2 run early in the third quarter that broke a tie ball game and gave Toronto a 67-53 advantage.

Kapona scored five points and one of his three 3-pointers during the run. He started in place of guard Anthony Parker, who was out with a sprained ankle.

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