Paul George can't play any better. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan can't play any worse going a combined 17-for-63 shooting from the floor for 27 percent.

Yet this Eastern Conference series is tied 1-1 after the Raptors got their confidence back and halted their playoff woes with a 98-87 victory this past Monday.

The Raptors had lost seven playoff games in a row prior to that win, including Game 1 at home. Toronto was under a lot of pressure in that opening home playoff game, being the higher seed and with that playoff losing streak hanging above its head. Now that the Raptors have excised their playoff demons, I'm expecting another big performance.

There are reasons for this. Toronto tied for the best road record in the Eastern Conference at 24-17. The Raptors have covered eight of the last nine times at Indiana, too.

Even if George maintains his elite play, the rest of the Pacers aren't good enough to keep up. Toronto has outrebounded Indiana, 96-71, and outscored the Pacers by 32 points in the paint. Center Jonas Valanciunas has been dominant stepping up to average 17.5 points and 17 rebounds per game in the series. Indiana starter center Ian Mahinmi is bothered by a lower back injury and is questionable for today's game.

All-Stars Lowry and DeRozan are too good to keep shooting this bad. They're due. Defensive ace DeMarre Carroll is working his way back from a knee injury. He's improving with each outing. This will be his sixth game since returning to the lineup. It's an added bonus if he can slow down George.

This is a case of laying a nickel higher juice to get the superior Raptors at a pick price with their stars overdue for a big game and their frontcourt dominance well established.