TORONTO - The Toronto Raptors are a team, at least on one end, built around the exploits of two players — Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. While the two all-stars create their offence in different ways, they are equally important to the team's attack.

It is tough to envision the Raptors without either on the floor, but it happened.

In the fourth quarter of Toronto's 98-87 Game 2 win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night, DeRozan was on the bench. He came into the fourth quarter having played 30 minutes, and that is where he finished.

As Lowry and four reserves, a lineup that has been so successful for the Raptors, blew the game open, DeRozan watched. It guaranteed he would finish with career playoff lows in both minutes and points (10), and yet another awful shooting night.

"It's funny, a lot of people think I feel a certain way, that I didn't go back in the fourth," DeRozan said. "A lot of time I tell the coaches, 'keep going.' If the group of guys, whoever's in there, keep rolling. Roll with them until the seconds run off, if need be."

Casey did, and it was successful. The Raptors entered the fourth quarter with an eight-point lead, and it ballooned to 19 before the Pacers shaved some of that off in the waning minutes. It was still bizarre to see the Raptors without DeRozan down the stretch.

He shot just 5 for 18 from the field, a continued victim of the stellar defence of Paul George. At the moment, the comparison, with George brilliant on both ends, is not doing DeRozan any favours.

DeRozan shot zero free throws. It was the first game without a single free-throw attempt for DeRozan since the last game of the regular season last year, against Charlotte. He has shot worse than 50 per cent from the field in all but one of his 13 playoff games.

DeRozan was not worried about his poor shooting, saying he was happy with his aggressiveness, and that he just missed some shots in the paint that he often makes.

"I don't know if it's tightness or what it is," Casey added. "He was No. 2 or 3 in the league in getting to the free-throw line so I don't know if it's frustration.

"His teammates picked him up. He'll come around."

Lowry, who also struggled shooting the ball in Game 1, only managed to shoot 4 for 9 from the field in Game 2. However, he hit all 10 of his free throws, had nine assists and seven rebounds and had a collection of his normal hustle plays.

Meanwhile, DeRozan is still looking to find his groove in any aspect of the series.

"He'll get his rhythm again. He'll get going," Raptors reserve guard Cory Joseph said. "I'm not worried about DeMar. He's one of the guys, he has experience, too. He'll get going for sure."