The first was relatively simple by most standards but not something Bargnani is used to providing, a power move from the right block to the left side of the rim, an easy layup converted off the glass.

The second was more graceful and more typical but proof of the varied skills he possesses, a silky smooth three-pointer with a tiny, pesky defender in his face.

Two plays in an otherwise ho-hum 110-87 Raptors victory over the Indiana Pacers yesterday, but two plays that speak to Bargnani's development.

"He made a couple of tough shots and you can see how he's developed more to his game than whether it's just going to be a good night shooting for him," coach Jay Triano said of Bargnani, who provided 27 points and nine rebounds to Toronto's most lopsided victory of the season and one that snapped a seven-game losing streak.

"They went with a smaller lineup and he was able to go inside and take them inside and score with some post moves. He's just added more to his game."

The post move was relatively simple but relatively new to the 7-foot Bargnani. In the past, he has been more comfortable stepping away from the basket rather than going at it to score.

"I'm happy," said Bargnani. "I'm developing that game and that's a credit to my teammates. They keep passing me the ball, sometimes I make a mistake or I lose the ball, they still have trust in me, still pass me the ball, so that's their credit."

It was Toronto's play at the basket that separated them from the Pacers yesterday, and the athleticism of Shawn Marion and folk hero Pops Mensa-Bonsu turned the game into a rout in the second half.

Marion, who had looked at times disinterested and entirely underwhelming for the first half, had a thunderous dunk that awoke the crowd and put Toronto up eight with about six minutes left in the third quarter. And when Marion finished off a Jose Calderon lob for another dunk for a 10-point lead, the game was out of hand.

And that's when Mensa-Bonsu really went to work. The newly acquired forward, who seems to bring the same intensity and energy to every game - not a trait all of his teammates can say they have - finished with a career-high 21 points and eight rebounds.

"If he plays the way he's been playing, he'll get 20 minutes (per game)," Triano said of Mensa-Bonsu. "He's making it very difficult to take him off the floor. I think he's a quick energy guy, too; if you need two or three minutes, he can go in and get two or three rebounds for you and spell off some of our offence players, he can do that, too."

Mensa-Bonsu was afforded a long and loud ovation from the fans who were left when he conducted a post-game interview on the court.

"It was really touching," he said.

Chris Bosh, who started out 1-8 from the floor, finished it 5-8 for 15 points, a game-high 13 rebounds and an impact on Mensa-Bonsu.

"Chris Bosh, Chris Bosh, Chris Bosh," Mensa-Bonsu said when asked where his effort comes from.