George scores 33 as Pacers top Raptors in playoff opener

If it’s an NBA playoff series opener, it must be a loss for the Toronto Raptors.  Described as “tight” and “tentative” by their coach, the second-seeded Raptors lost Game 1 at home for the third straight year Saturday, dropping a 100-90 decision to the seventh-seeded Indiana Pacers in their Eastern Conference first-round series.  Paul George scored 33 points for the Pacers, who took control in the second half, pulled away down the stretch and handed the Raptors their seventh straight postseason loss.  “It’s nothing to be worried about, honestly,” said Raptors All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan, who made just 5-of-19 shots. “We just had a bad game.”  Toronto has been in eight playoff series in franchise history and lost the opener in every one. In 2013, the Raptors lost Game 1 at home to Brooklyn, eventually losing in seven games. Last year, they lost the home opener en route to being swept by Washington.  This season, Toronto won a franchise-record 56 games but again gave away home court advantage. The Raptors shot just 38 per cent (30-of-79) from the field, including 4-of-19 from three-point range, and committed 20 turnovers.  “I knew we were gonna have some (jitters),” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. “I knew we were gonna be a little tight, just because the playoffs are here. I hadn’t seen us play that tentatively on the offensive end all year.”  The Raptors also lost track of George, the All-Star forward who led the Pacers to the conference finals in 2013 and 2014 before suffering a gruesome leg injury playing for Team USA and missing lost of last season. He made 12-of-22 shots - including 4-of-5 from the arc - and added six assists and four steals.  “I know it’s going to be hard. That’s the given. It’s not going to be easy to score,” George said. “But I’ve played this game my whole life and it’s going to come down to me being able to make big shots.  Offensively, I have to trust myself.” “Defensively, we held them long enough, and then all at once Paul George gets going,” Casey said.  George scored 17 points in the third quarter, which ended with Indiana holding a 70-67 lead. The Pacers never trailed again, although the Raptors forged a 76-76 tie on two free throws by Congo native Bismack Biyombo with 6:46 to play.  George made a three-pointer and jumper to give Indiana an 84-80 lead and trigger a 16-4 run. Rookie Myles Turner had a couple of buckets before George added a jumper and Monta Ellis drained a three-pointer for a 95-82 bulge with 1:49 left. The Raptors had one basket and four turnovers during that stretch.  “Paul’s shot-making late in the game was spectacular,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. “It’s been a long road for him. Before his injury, we were in the conference finals.”  “We didn’t play well,” said Raptors All-Star guard Kyle Lowry, who made 3-of-13 shots and committed five turnovers.  Ellis scored 15 points, Solomon Hill added 13 and Turner 10 with five blocks for the Pacers, who shot 43 per cent (34-of-79) and committed 13 turnovers.  Canada’s Cory Joseph scored 18 points and Lithuania’s Jonas Valanciunas grabbed 19 rebounds for the Raptors, who will try to get even in Game 2 on Monday.  “We didn’t play to our identity,” Casey said. “I know Monday night we’ll play more to our identity.”  Elsewhere:  Golden State Warriors 104, Houston Rockets 78: Superstar Stephen Curry scored all 24 of his points in the first half before suffering a right ankle injury for the top-seeded Warriors, who took the opener at home in their Western Conference first-round series. Klay Thompson scored 16 points and Draymond Green added 12 and 10 boards for the defending champions, who led by as many as 27 points.  All-Star James Harden was limited to 17 points and no free throws for the eighth-seeded Rockets, who will try again Monday in Game 2.  Atlanta Hawks 102, Boston Celtics 101: Dominican Republic native Al Horford scored 24 points and Jeff Teague added 23 and 12 assists for the fourth-seeded Hawks, who squandered a 19-point lead at home but recovered to win the opener of their East series. Isaiah Thomas had 27 points and eight assists for the fifth-seeded Celtics, who lost starting guard Avery Bradley to a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter and will try to get even in Game 2 on Tuesday.  Oklahoma City Thunder 108, Dallas Mavericks 70: Russell Westbrook collected 24 points and 11 assists and Kevin Durant sdded 23 points as the third-seeded Thunder sped to a 26-point halftime lead and cruised to a home win in their West series opener.  German juggernaut Dirk Nowitzki scored 18 points for the sixth-seeded Mavericks, who shot just 26 per cent (11-of-42) in the first half and never recovered, suffering the second-worst playoff loss in franchise history. They get another shot in Game 2 today.