The throws sent fans roaring to their feet each time
Posté: Lun Oct 31, 2016 10:28 amTORONTO - With his teammates primed to go their separate ways after Wednesdays game, many of them playing like it in the first half, DeMar DeRozan took one final opportunity to validate his upcoming trip to New Orleans. For the better part of the opening 24 minutes, the Raptors played like a team that was ready to start its long weekend one day early by succumbing to a popular pre All-Star break pitfall; the letdown game. "I think both teams were on vacation before the game started," Dwane Casey said of his teams flat start, hitting just one of 12 field goals at the outset of a crucial meeting with the Hawks and trailing by eight early, until DeRozan sparked the Raptors slumbering offence. Were the Raptors looking ahead to some much needed time off? "I wouldnt say that necessarily, we probably thought they (were)" replied DeRozan, who scored 14 of his game-high 31 points in the first seven minutes of the third quarter, spearheading a lopsided second half and leading Toronto to a 104-83 win over Atlanta. "We picked it up," he continued. "We understood they were going to come out play hard because we are neck-and-neck in the race in the conference. We understood how much this game meant." The Raptors overtook Atlanta for third place in the Eastern Conference standings last month and the Hawks have been knocking on the door ever since. With the victory, Toronto handed the Hawks - who now hold the fifth seed - their fifth straight loss and padded their own cushion over fourth-place Chicago going into this weekends All-Star festivities. At 28-24, the Raptors sit atop their division at the break for the second time in franchise history and first since they won the Atlantic in the 2006-07 season. "It means a lot to be where were at right now," DeRozan said, "but it really dont mean nothing unless we keep it up. Weve got to keep it growing, we cant be comfortable with it because teams in our division (are) definitely still coming." Leading by one at intermission, the Raptors outscored the struggling Hawks 59-39 in the second half, holding them to 30 per cent shooting and forcing eight turnovers while committing just one themselves. DeRozan made seven of his 10 field goal attempts, and all four of his free throws, in the half. Most importantly the Raptors executed their game plan defensively, rotating and closing out hard, limiting one of the better three-point shooting teams in the league to four treys on 20 attempts from beyond the arch. "We had to make sure we were there and the way the game started I (didnt) think we got the memo before the game," Casey said. "We continued to grind it, stuck with the game plan, guys stuck together and grinded it out." It wasnt their most ascetically pleasing victory but its one that fell right into the Raptors wheelhouse, one that played into the identity and personality Casey has urged his team to carry into the seasons unofficial second half. "Like I told our guys," he said, "the second half is going to be a grind. Its not going to be pretty (but) we dont want it to be pretty. Its going to be hard and everybody has to be committed in the locker room." The break comes at a perfect time for the Raptors. Although they go into it with confidence having won two straight, both at home - overall theyve won 10 of 12 at the Air Canada Centre - many of them could use the rest and relaxation time. For the second straight game Amir Johnson was a spectator - fashioning a personalized Raptors jersey on the back of his vest as he watched from the bench - still nursing a sore right ankle. Hell have over 10 days of rest before the team reconvenes in Washington for Tuesdays game against the Wizards. For the rest of the team this five-day layoff is an opportunity to heal various aches and pains that accumulate over a long season and refocus heading into the stretch run. "Me personally I need the rest," said Kyle Lowry, who had another double-double - 16 points and 13 assists - on Wednesday. "I know everybody needs the rest. You get to mentally relax and physically relax also and its always important to take care of your ....... at this time (of year). You rarely get a five-day stretch in the season so (we have to) take advantage of it." Paul George Pacers Jersey .3 seconds remaining, and No. 7 North Carolina held off a resilient No. 25 Virginia team, 54-51, on Saturday. John Henson contributed a double-double with 15 points to go with 11 rebounds for the Tar Heels (25-4, 12-2 ACC), who have won five straight and 10 of 11. Rodney Stuckey Pacers Jersey . "It was a little weird looking over and seeing all the green uniforms," he said of his first game against the Boston Celtics. http://www.shoppacersonline.com/womens-reggie-miller-basketball-jersey/ . If one fighter gases, he usually gets beat up pretty bad from that point on. Swingman Rodney Stuckey Jersey . -- Arkansas didnt need a spectacular dunk to beat No. Swingman Reggie Miller Jersey . 15-23, the Ottawa Senators will by hoping to avoid going five straight games without a victory for the first time since a 0-3-2 drought from Oct.OAKLAND, Calif. -- With the bat and with his arm, Yoenis Cespedes put on the best all-around performance of his career in front of a rare sellout crowd at the Oakland Coliseum. Cespedes finished a single shy of the cycle and threw out two runners at the plate, powering the Athletics past the Los Angeles Angels 11-3 on Saturday night in front of 35,067 fans. "I got a lot of motivation when I see the field like that," Cespedes said through an interpreter in Spanish. "The stands are full, the same thing when we were in the playoffs. It was sold out and they made me feel like a stronger mind and gave me a lot of motivation." In front of just the fourth sellout crowd of the season in Oakland, Cespedes gave quite a show. The reigning Home Run Derby champion doubled in the fourth, hit a triple in the seventh that scored the go-ahead runs and added a three-run homer in the eighth. He matched a career high with five RBIs to help the two-time defending AL West champions stretch their lead to 3 1/2 games over the Angels in the division. "No doubt about it," As manager Bob Melvin said when asked if Cespedes feeds off the roaring home crowds. "He just becomes a different player." Collin Cowgills three-run homer off Tommy Milone in the fourth accounted for all of the Angels runs. The As tagged Tyler Skaggs (4-3) with four runs and five hits in six-plus innings. Fernando Rodriguez (1-0) tossed one scoreless inning for the win. Milone allowed nine hits in six innings, striking out three and walking one. He laboured most of the way -- including escaping a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the first -- but got a big boost from his strong-armed, green glove-wearing left fielder on nearly identical plays in the second inning. Cespedes charged in and heaved a one-hop strike to catcher Derek Norris to nab Chris Iannetta and Kole Calhoun after line-drive singles. The throws sent fans roaring to their feet each time, and Cespedes received high-fives and head-pats from teammates and coaches in the dugout. &"He had a career night.dddddddddddd Im lucky that it was today," Milone said. Crew chief Fieldin Culbreth upheld the first call after a 2-minute, 30-second review to see if Norris illegally blocked the plate under the new collision rule. Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Iannetta didnt have a lane to slid and the rule needs to be more clearly defined. There was no review or challenge on the second play to get Calhoun. "Knew it was going to be bang-bang and hes got a great arm," Calhoun said. "I thought I had a good jump. I thought itd be closer than what it was, but that was a great play by him." Cespedes came back big time with the bat. He doubled with one out in the fourth for Oaklands first hit, and Norris drove in a run on a flyout for Oaklands first run. After Kyle Blanks solo homer and Josh Donaldsons RBI groundout tied the score in the seventh, Cespedes drive off reliever Joe Smith landed just over Calhouns glove in right to score the go-ahead runs. Cespedes later lined a three-run shot in Jarrett Grubes major league debut in the eighth. It was Cespedes 10th home run this season. He also had five RBIs at Cleveland on May 18. NOTES: The As honoured the 1974 World Series championship team before the game. Three World Series MVPs -- Gene Tenace (72), Reggie Jackson (73) and Rollie Fingers (74) -- threw out ceremonial first pitches. ... Angels All-Star CF Mike Trout was scratched from the lineup because of upper back stiffness. He was initially the designated hitter. ... As RF Josh Reddick was replaced by pinch-hitter Coco Crisp after hyperextending his knee catching a fly at the wall in the seventh. He is day to day. ... Oakland 1B Brandon Moss was not in the lineup. He will likely sit out again Sunday to give his nagging right calf additional rest. ... The Angels designated LHP Wade LeBlanc for assignment and called up Grube from Triple-A Salt Lake. ... Angels ace Jered Weaver (6-3, 2.99 ERA) starts against Oaklands Sonny Gray (5-1, 2.31) in Sundays series finale. Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '