TORONTO — The Indiana Pacers learned plenty about what it takes to win close games during last season’s playoff loss to Chicago. Now, with David West on their side, they’ve got another option for those late-game situations.

Danny Granger scored nine of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and the Pacers held on to beat the Raptors 90-85 on Wednesday night, spoiling Toronto’s home opener.

Granger hit a key 3-pointer with 1:14 left and West followed with a fadeaway jumper to help stave off a Toronto rally.

“We have so many weapons down the stretch,” Granger said. “We have so many options. I think it’s going to be the mark of us being a good team.

Toronto coach Dwane Casey said his defense didn’t react quickly enough on either shot.

“Those two plays, with kind of hesitant rotation, really broke our back,” Casey said.

West, who scored 14 points, enjoys getting the ball with the game on the line.

“If there’s a play to be made, I’m just not going to back down from it,” West said. “That’s a situation I want to thrive in.”

Paul George scored 18 points, and Roy Hibbert had 12 points and 10 rebounds as the Pacers improved to 2-0.

Darren Collison became the fifth Pacers starter to reach double figures by making a pair of free throws with 2.5 seconds left. He finished with 10 points and 12 assists.

Pacers coach Frank Vogel has told his team to think back and take inspiration from last season’s Chicago series every time they go away from home this year.

“We treat it like a playoff game, quite frankly,” Vogel said. “We said in the pregame film session, if we’re going to be .500 or better on the road, we’ve got to come into these buildings and treat them like playoff games.”

Indiana’s road record will be tested early: This was the first game in a stretch that will see the Pacers play 15 of 21 on the road. But George is confident the lessons learned during last year’s postseason appearance will bear fruit.

“That playoff experience has definitely put us in the right mind on how hard we need to play,” he said.

Indiana, which beat Detroit at home on Monday, won for the seventh time in 11 games against Toronto, and snapped a streak of 11 straight victories by the home team in the series.

DeMar DeRozan scored 16 of his 22 points in the fourth and Andrea Bargnani finished with 21 for Toronto.

“(DeRozan) single-handedly got us back in the game offensively,” Casey said.

Jerryd Bayless scored 13 points and Amir Johnson had 10 rebounds for the Raptors, who won Monday’s season-opening game at Cleveland.

Indiana led by as many as 14 points in the fourth before Toronto came back. A 3-pointer by DeRozan and three-point play by Jose Calderon cut it to 80-74 with 3:26 left, forcing the Pacers to call timeout.

Granger’s 3-pointer made it 83-75 with 2:19 to play, but Toronto wasn’t done. DeRozan hit a 3 and Bargnani followed with a three-point play, cutting it to 83-81 with 1:35 remaining.

Once again, a long-range shot from Granger gave Indiana some breathing room, with his 3-pointer from the wing pushing it to 86-81 with 1:14 left.

Calderon answered with a layup for Toronto but West’s fadeaway jumper with nine seconds to play restored Indiana’s five-point cushion.

“We’ve got a lot of guys on the team that can hit big shots,” Collison said. “When you add D-West, it just gives us so many more options.”

The Pacers led 38-34 at the half.

NOTES: Indiana outrebounded Toronto 41-39. … The Raptors had won five straight home games against the Pacers. … Toronto made 19 turnovers while Indiana had 16. … For the second straight game, Raptors backup C Aaron Gray was kept out as a precaution because of a rapid heart rate. … Pacers C Jeff Foster (back) did not travel with the team to Toronto. … Raptors F James Johnson had six steals, a career high. … It’s the first time since 2000 that the Raptors have lost consecutive home openers. They were beaten by the New York Knicks last season. … Canadian pop star Justin Bieber watched from a courtside seat.

Granger hit a key 3-pointer with 1:14 left and West followed with a fadeaway jumper to help stave off a Toronto rally.

“We have so many weapons down the stretch,” Granger said. “We have so many options. I think it’s going to be the mark of us being a good team.

Toronto coach Dwane Casey said his defense didn’t react quickly enough on either shot.

“Those two plays, with kind of hesitant rotation, really broke our back,” Casey said.

West, who scored 14 points, enjoys getting the ball with the game on the line.

“If there’s a play to be made, I’m just not going to back down from it,” West said. “That’s a situation I want to thrive in.”

Paul George scored 18 points, and Roy Hibbert had 12 points and 10 rebounds as the Pacers improved to 2-0.

Darren Collison became the fifth Pacers starter to reach double figures by making a pair of free throws with 2.5 seconds left. He finished with 10 points and 12 assists.

Pacers coach Frank Vogel has told his team to think back and take inspiration from last season’s Chicago series every time they go away from home this year.

“We treat it like a playoff game, quite frankly,” Vogel said. “We said in the pregame film session, if we’re going to be .500 or better on the road, we’ve got to come into these buildings and treat them like playoff games.”

Indiana’s road record will be tested early: This was the first game in a stretch that will see the Pacers play 15 of 21 on the road. But George is confident the lessons learned during last year’s postseason appearance will bear fruit.

“That playoff experience has definitely put us in the right mind on how hard we need to play,” he said.

Indiana, which beat Detroit at home on Monday, won for the seventh time in 11 games against Toronto, and snapped a streak of 11 straight victories by the home team in the series.

DeMar DeRozan scored 16 of his 22 points in the fourth and Andrea Bargnani finished with 21 for Toronto.

“(DeRozan) single-handedly got us back in the game offensively,” Casey said.

Jerryd Bayless scored 13 points and Amir Johnson had 10 rebounds for the Raptors, who won Monday’s season-opening game at Cleveland.

Indiana led by as many as 14 points in the fourth before Toronto came back. A 3-pointer by DeRozan and three-point play by Jose Calderon cut it to 80-74 with 3:26 left, forcing the Pacers to call timeout.

Granger’s 3-pointer made it 83-75 with 2:19 to play, but Toronto wasn’t done. DeRozan hit a 3 and Bargnani followed with a three-point play, cutting it to 83-81 with 1:35 remaining.

Once again, a long-range shot from Granger gave Indiana some breathing room, with his 3-pointer from the wing pushing it to 86-81 with 1:14 left.

Calderon answered with a layup for Toronto but West’s fadeaway jumper with nine seconds to play restored Indiana’s five-point cushion.

“We’ve got a lot of guys on the team that can hit big shots,” Collison said. “When you add D-West, it just gives us so many more options.”

The Pacers led 38-34 at the half.

NOTES: Indiana outrebounded Toronto 41-39. … The Raptors had won five straight home games against the Pacers. … Toronto made 19 turnovers while Indiana had 16. … For the second straight game, Raptors backup C Aaron Gray was kept out as a precaution because of a rapid heart rate. … Pacers C Jeff Foster (back) did not travel with the team to Toronto. … Raptors F James Johnson had six steals, a career high. … It’s the first time since 2000 that the Raptors have lost consecutive home openers. They were beaten by the New York Knicks last season. … Canadian pop star Justin Bieber watched from a courtside seat.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

INDIANAPOLIS —
After Monday’s season opener for the Indiana Pacers, it’s hard to argue with coach Frank Vogel’s early assessment.

“First impressions are we have a really good frontcourt,” he said.

The trio of Roy Hibbert, Tyler Hansbrough and first-year Pacer David West each had double-doubles in Indiana’s 91-79 victory over the Detroit Pistons at a sold-out Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Hibbert led the Pacers with team-highs of 16 points and 14 rebounds. Hansbrough led the second unit with 15 points and 13 rebounds and West made his Pacers debut, contributing 11 points and 12 rebounds.

The frontcourt heavily impacted the Pacers winning the rebounding battle 53-40 and provided 18 offensive rebounds.

First impressions of West—Indiana’s major free agent addition in the shortened offseason—were all positive and reinforced why he signed with the Pacers.

“I want to win. I don’t know how many guys played tonight but we still have more. Jeff (Foster) wasn’t in the there, Lou (Amundson) wasn’t in there, there’s a lot here,” he said. “There will be nights when one guy isn’t going or two guys isn’t going, this team is deep enough to pick up the slack. If we can just continue this passion about enjoying playing defense together, enjoying being unselfish offensively, the sky is the limit for this group.”

For being a part of a new team, in a shortened training camp because of the delay brought upon by the NBA lockout, the eight-year pro seemed to fit right in with the Pacers.

“My thing is just to make good basketball plays and try and play the game the right way,” West said. “I’m not going to reinvent the wheel or reinvent myself. I’m going to do what I’ve been doing in terms of the niche I’ve found myself in this league to be successful.”

While West did not have the best offensive performance, shooting 3-of-12 from the field, he took good shots and gave Indiana a solid post presence. There seemed to little transition for the two-time all-star.

“Guys are doing a really good job talking me through certain things, but it’s basketball ultimately,” West said. “Defensively we just have to continue to play together and enjoy helping each other and offensively, it’ll come.”

Tuesday’s game was West’s first regular season action since late March when he tore his ACL in his left knee. West said that the Pistons players were shocked with how well he looked in his return game.

“I felt great, I was amped up, I was hyper and I was just really excited to be out there, “ he said.

The trio of frontcourt players each spent time playing together in different combinations and like Coach Vogel said, the first impression is good.

“All three of us play together well, especially David, he’s very efficient and consistent so that’s an improvement,” Hansbrough said. “We had a good night tonight and hopefully we’ll keep it up and see what happens.”

Not playing for Indiana in the opener was 12-year Pacer center Jeff Foster (back) and newly-acquired 6-foot-9 Lou Amundson. Hansbrough feels that once those guys get integrated, it will make the frontcourt that much better.

“It’s very deep. Even when Lou gets a little more acclimated with the offense, he hasn’t been here long and he’s going to be helpful for us too,” he said. “And especially when Jeff plays, he’s a big asset to the team too.”

Third-year pro Hibbert spent his offseason all across the country working to try and improve his game. After one game, the 7-foot-2 center was satisfied with his performance.

“My main thing was defensively I keep those guys from scoring and I think I did a pretty decent job with that,” Hibbert said. “I have a lot of room to go but it’s a work-in-progress.”

Whichever combination of this trio of players is on the court provides a challenge for other teams. Though it is only one game into the 66-game shortened NBA season, the frontcourt has shown potential of the force they can become.

“We are continuing to learn each other to get that feel,” West said. “There will be times when Tyler and I play together, I feel like we can take advantage of that. Playing with a guy like Roy, getting him to be a little bit more selfish, when he gets that ball in the paint he’s looking to be a scorer. It’s going to take some time but we are going to learn it on the fly.”

It wasn’t just about loyalty. Indiana made the playoffs last season with a young team, then added versatile guard George Hill on a draft-night trade with San Antonio and later picked up former All-Star forward David West.

Foster compares the Pacers to stock that is rising in value.

“I’m excited to be a part of a great opportunity,” he said. “Basketball’s back on the front page again. It’s something we haven’t had in years, and it’s an exciting time to be a part of basketball in Indiana.”

New coach Frank Vogel has stirred the pot since he took over, winning over fans with his positive attitude and brash proclamations. As interim coach last season, he led the team to a 20-18 record and a playoff berth.

He’s looking for more this season.

“I want expectations,” he said. “I want them having the bar set high. This team is capable. We’ve got pieces in place to do some really special things and to take this league by storm.”

All the elements to the team that pushed Chicago in the playoffs are back. Danny Granger, at 28 the oldest member of the young core, averaged 20.5 points per game last season. Last season’s other starters, center Roy Hibbert, point guard Darren Collison, shooting guard Paul George and power forward Tyler Hansbrough, all are back, too.

“I see talent,” George said. “I see All-Star potential at almost every position on this team, and that’s big.”

West, a two-time All-Star in New Orleans, averaged 18.9 points and 7.6 rebounds last season before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in a victory at Utah on March 24. The 31-year-old had surgery on April 12.

Foster, for one, is glad to see him as a Pacer.

“I’ve had the opportunity to guard the best power forwards in this league for years, and in my opinion, he’s one of the toughest covers there is,” Foster said. “He can score on the block, he can knock down the mid-range jumper, he hits his free throws. He’s a complete player.”

Granger, who has been the focus of opposing defenses for several years, is glad he’ll have an equally dynamic weapon on the floor.

“It makes my job a lot easier,” he said. “I think it makes everyone’s job a lot easier. When you have another threat on the court, especially a scoring threat like David West, you have to honor everyone. That’s hard for defenses to do.”

Hill averaged 11.6 points and 2.5 assists last season. He played for San Antonio for three years, learning under star point guard Tony Parker.

Hansbrough emerged after coach Jim O’Brien was fired and Vogel committed to playing him. He averaged 11 points and 5.2 rebounds per game last season. Hibbert, a 7-foot-2 center, averaged 12.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks last season. Collison averaged 13.2 points and 5.1 assists.

George gained the starting job at shooting guard late last season and played a key role in slowing down Chicago point guard Derrick Rose in the playoffs. The second-year player, listed at 6-foot-8, says he grew two inches and gained eight pounds of muscle in the offseason.

Dahntay Jones and A.J. Price add quality depth in the backcourt.

Vogel believes the very nature of the condensed post-lockout schedule, with some instances of games on three consecutive nights, plays into Indiana’s hands because of its depth.

“Teams that are old are going to struggle. We have a team that most of our guys are in their prime or entering their prime and we have the depth to sustain this type of schedule,” he said.

Vogel said his players came back ready to run, and that will make an immediate difference. He has pushed them hard in the early practices, and they have responded well.

Vogel said part of the growing process was competing well in the playoffs against Chicago. The Bulls won the first-round series 4-1, but Indiana lost the first three games by a combined 15 points. The Pacers squandered double-digit leads in the first two games and a five-point lead in the fourth quarter of Game 3.

“They left that series feeling like we should have won,” Vogel said. “That’s an exciting thing.”

Foster began his NBA career with the Pacers in 1999. He has seen it all with the franchise, from a trip to the NBA finals in 2000 to the brawl between Pacers players and Detroit fans in 2004 and a painful rebuilding process. Now, as the only remaining Pacer from the team’s better days, he sees opportunity.

“There’s a buildup,” Foster said. “There was a three-year period where our goal was to win a championship. Obviously, we’re not at that point yet, but we have a goal to make the playoffs, to continue to get better, and hopefully that goal of winning a championship comes sooner rather than later.”

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Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cliffbruntap

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Jeff Foster could have retired or finished his career somewhere other than Indiana.

The 34-year-old free agent decided that staying with the Pacers was the best choice.

It wasn’t just about loyalty. Indiana made the playoffs last season with a young team, then added versatile guard George Hill on a draft-night trade with San Antonio and later picked up former All-Star forward David West.

Foster compares the Pacers to stock that is rising in value.

“I’m excited to be a part of a great opportunity,” he said. “Basketball’s back on the front page again. It’s something we haven’t had in years, and it’s an exciting time to be a part of basketball in Indiana.”

New coach Frank Vogel has stirred the pot since he took over, winning over fans with his positive attitude and brash proclamations. As interim coach last season, he led the team to a 20-18 record and a playoff berth.

He’s looking for more this season.

“I want expectations,” he said. “I want them having the bar set high. This team is capable. We’ve got pieces in place to do some really special things and to take this league by storm.”

All the elements to the team that pushed Chicago in the playoffs are back. Danny Granger, at 28 the oldest member of the young core, averaged 20.5 points per game last season. Last season’s other starters, center Roy Hibbert, point guard Darren Collison, shooting guard Paul George and power forward Tyler Hansbrough, all are back, too.

“I see talent,” George said. “I see All-Star potential at almost every position on this team, and that’s big.”

West, a two-time All-Star in New Orleans, averaged 18.9 points and 7.6 rebounds last season before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in a victory at Utah on March 24. The 31-year-old had surgery on April 12.

Foster, for one, is glad to see him as a Pacer.

“I’ve had the opportunity to guard the best power forwards in this league for years, and in my opinion, he’s one of the toughest covers there is,” Foster said. “He can score on the block, he can knock down the mid-range jumper, he hits his free throws. He’s a complete player.”

Granger, who has been the focus of opposing defenses for several years, is glad he’ll have an equally dynamic weapon on the floor.

“It makes my job a lot easier,” he said. “I think it makes everyone’s job a lot easier. When you have another threat on the court, especially a scoring threat like David West, you have to honor everyone. That’s hard for defenses to do.”

Hill averaged 11.6 points and 2.5 assists last season. He played for San Antonio for three years, learning under star point guard Tony Parker.

Hansbrough emerged after coach Jim O’Brien was fired and Vogel committed to playing him. He averaged 11 points and 5.2 rebounds per game last season. Hibbert, a 7-foot-2 center, averaged 12.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks last season. Collison averaged 13.2 points and 5.1 assists.

George gained the starting job at shooting guard late last season and played a key role in slowing down Chicago point guard Derrick Rose in the playoffs. The second-year player, listed at 6-foot-8, says he grew two inches and gained eight pounds of muscle in the offseason.

Dahntay Jones and A.J. Price add quality depth in the backcourt.

Vogel believes the very nature of the condensed post-lockout schedule, with some instances of games on three consecutive nights, plays into Indiana’s hands because of its depth.

“Teams that are old are going to struggle. We have a team that most of our guys are in their prime or entering their prime and we have the depth to sustain this type of schedule,” he said.

Vogel said his players came back ready to run, and that will make an immediate difference. He has pushed them hard in the early practices, and they have responded well.

Vogel said part of the growing process was competing well in the playoffs against Chicago. The Bulls won the first-round series 4-1, but Indiana lost the first three games by a combined 15 points. The Pacers squandered double-digit leads in the first two games and a five-point lead in the fourth quarter of Game 3.

“They left that series feeling like we should have won,” Vogel said. “That’s an exciting thing.”

Foster began his NBA career with the Pacers in 1999. He has seen it all with the franchise, from a trip to the NBA finals in 2000 to the brawl between Pacers players and Detroit fans in 2004 and a painful rebuilding process. Now, as the only remaining Pacer from the team’s better days, he sees opportunity.

“There’s a buildup,” Foster said. “There was a three-year period where our goal was to win a championship. Obviously, we’re not at that point yet, but we have a goal to make the playoffs, to continue to get better, and hopefully that goal of winning a championship comes sooner rather than later.”

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Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cliffbruntap