PHOENIX - Three days removed from one of their worst losses in franchise history, the Raptors (6-11) hope to turn the page on Friday against the Phoenix Suns (10-9), one of the NBAs early-season surprises.
[b]Buy Air Max 97 Cheap[/b] . Catch the game, live from US Airways Center, on TSN2 beginning at 9pm et/6pm pt. Torontos 27-point collapse in Tuesdays 112-103 loss to Golden State was the largest comeback by an opponent in the Raptors 19-year existence. After allowing the Warriors to shoot 68 per cent and being outscored by 27 during the final 12 minutes, the Raptors aim to replicate their dominance through the first three quarters rather than the nightmare that occurred in the fourth. While the Raptors have dropped four straight - allowing opponents to shoot 50 per cent and giving up 104.0 points during that stretch - the Suns continue to defy the odds, winning five of their last eight games. Expected by many to be one of the worst teams in the league this season, Phoenix has started off strong, thanks in large part to their dynamic backcourt and improved offence. The Suns have been the leagues most improved offensive team over last season according to NBA.com/stats, scoring six points more per 100 possessions. Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe - who was acquired in an offseason trade with the Clippers - are both averaging career highs in scoring and have combined to contribute 36.7 points, 12.6 assists and 6.5 rebounds per contest, both shooting over 48 per cent from the field. "Theyre a little bit like the Phoenix teams of old as far as their running games concerned," Dwane Casey said following shootaround Friday afternoon. "Dragic does a great impersonation of [Steve] Nash. Hes playing very well right now, handling the basketball, hes the head of the snake so our work is cut out for us on the defensive end." Torontos guards, DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, accounted for 46 points in Tuesdays loss. DeRozan has led the team in scoring in six of the last eight games, pouring in 17 or more points in a career-high 11 straight contests. Meanwhile, Lowry has paced the club in assists in nine straight games, recording at least six dimes in each, also a career-best. Having swept the season series with Phoenix last year, the Raptors are looking to win four consecutive games against the Suns for the first time in their history. Trends and Tidbits The Raptors are 4-2 in games following a 20-point comeback by an opponent. Toronto has been outscored in the paint in each contest during its four-game skid and by 58 points overall (188-130). The team is averaging just 17.3 assists, committing 17.5 turnovers and is allowing opponents to shoot 40 per cent from three-point range over that stretch. What to Watch For Slowing down the Suns With Bledsoe and Dragic running the show, the Suns have been the leagues most lethal team in transition, scoring 20.0 fast-break points per game. Phoenix has tallied 20 or more fast-break points in 11 of 19 contests this season so keeping this young and athletic Suns team in the half-court will be a key to Torontos success. It should also be one of the Raptors biggest challenges. Defending the three-point line Although the Raptors contained Golden States sharpshooters through the first three quarters, holding the Warriors to 4-of-12 shooting from long distance, they got burned by the three-ball down the stretch. The Warriors went 8-for-11 in the fourth quarter with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson connecting on six of their seven attempts. Like the Warriors, the Suns are not shy from beyond on the arc. Phoenix attempts the fourth-most threes in the league on a per game basis and has drained seven or more treys in 11 straight contests. Who to Watch For DeMar DeRozan Even in embarrassing defeat on Tuesday, DeRozan has been the best and most consistent Raptor this year. Sitting 12th in the NBA in scoring at 21.8 points per game, DeRozan has been especially productive over the last eight contests when hes averaged 26.4 points on 50 per cent shooting from the field and 46 per cent from three-point range. DeRozan needs 18 points to reach 5,000 for his career, becoming the sixth player in franchise history to achieve that milestone, joining Chris Bosh, Vince Carter, Andrea Bargnani, Morris Peterson and Jose Calderon. His biggest challenge Friday will come on the defensive end where he will be assigned to one of Phoenixs point guards, Bledsoe or Dragic. "It gives us a different look but we have to adapt, we have to adjust," said Casey, who spoke about trying to exploit the Suns small lineup. "We want to try to make sure we make them pay on the offensive end with our size and our inside game." Eric Bledsoe After missing six games with a shin injury, then coming off the bench for two, Bledsoe has returned to the Suns starting lineup. With the increased playing time - 34 minutes per game, up from 20 with the Clippers last season - Bledsoe is averaging career highs in points (18.8), assists (5.9) rebounds (4.2) and steals (1.6). The Suns guard has already scored 20 or more points six times this year after doing so on four occasions in his first three NBA seasons. "Theyve made it work because Bledsoe is a tough little guy down in the post," Casey said of the Suns small backcourt. "A lot of teams have tried to post him and well probably try to do some of the same but he does a good job even though hes small. Hes strong, hes like a little fireplug. So weve got to do a good job of getting deep post position on him and try to make them pay for playing small." Injury Report Kyle Lowry was hit in the head late in the third quarter Tuesday but returned in the fourth. He was tested for a concussion on the bench before re-entering then again after the game, passing both. He practiced in full Thursday without experiencing any grogginess, per Casey, and will be active for Toronto in Phoenix.
[b]Air Max 97 Cheap Sale[/b] .twitter.com/TeZD3KOvlA — Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) September 24, 2014 Sorry for the delay, we just got back from lunch at Papa Vons #NBAFastFood pic.
[b]Air Max 97 Cheap China[/b] . The first baseman hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to lead the Mets to a thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.MIAMI -- LeBron James watched from the bench in a stylish grey suit, and with the game deadlocked at halftime, he took off his necktie. Soon the tie on the scoreboard was gone, too. Stout defence plus Chris Boshs outside shooting and a boost from Miamis reserves helped the Heat overcome the absence of their MVP on Sunday to beat the Chicago Bulls 93-79. "We were missing a pretty big man," Dwyane Wade said. "Theres nothing we can do to replace the best player in the world, but we just had to go out there and play team basketball on both ends of the floor." James was a late scratch after he broke his nose in Thursdays win at Oklahoma City, and his teammates picked up the slack. Former NBA No. 1 draft pick Greg Oden replaced James for his first NBA start since December 2009, and reserves Chris Andersen, Michael Beasley and Ray Allen helped the Heat pull away in the second half. "You dont want to see guys out," said coach Erik Spoelstra, who earned his 300th career victory. "But when guys are out, Im always curious to see how you respond as a team. Weve have several of these games that could have been excuse games, but guys have stepped up." Bosh tied a career high with four 3-pointers and had 28 points and 10 rebounds. Wade added 23 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, while Mario Chalmers contributed 12 points and nine assists. Defence did the rest against the offensively challenged Bulls. "Were starting to put it together defensively," Bosh said. "We got off to a slow start early in the season, but I think right now were starting to get it, starting to click." Like the Heat, the Bulls were also short-handed, with starter Jimmy Butler a late scratch because of bruised ribs. They shot 36 per cent, went 6 for 21 from 3-point range and were called for a 24-second violation at least six times, including twice in a row. "We werent playing with a good enough thrust," guard Kirk Hinrich said. "We were slow getting into our stuff. We didnt make quick decisions, and we got stuck fighting the clock." Joakim Noah had 20 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks for the Bulls, who had won five in a row. "Those guys have ended our seasons a lot," Noah said. "Youve got to hate playing those guys, and every time we play them our intensity has to be high. We did it in sspurts, it wasnt good the whole time, and thats whats disappointing.
[b]Air Max 97 Cheap Online[/b]. " Miami, playing at home for the first time in 20 days, extended its winning streak to five games. Wade sealed the victory by sinking a jumper with less than three minutes left, giving the Heat their first 18-point lead. Earlier two of his points came on free throws after he improvised a backward somersault when fouled hard in the lane. Otherwise there werent a lot of acrobatics from the typically high-flying Heat, who shot 42 per cent and had only seven fast-break points. Contributing to the workmanlike effort was the 7-foot Oden, playing his 11th game after being sidelined by knee trouble for 3 1/2 years. He had five points and five rebounds in 13 minutes. "Greg was great," Spoelstra said. "Hes an active player for somebody that big, and hes very intelligent. He has a good grasp of what we want to do." The stoic Oden shrugged off the milestone of returning to the starting lineup. "Im starting to feel a little more comfortable out there, and I think guys are starting to feel more comfortable with me," he said. "Its something we can build on. Being able to put me in that starting lineup showed some confidence in me." James, missing a game for only the second time this season, drew a big ovation when he was shown on the video scoreboard during an early timeout. During another timeout in the fourth quarter, when the Heat had built a big cushion, he danced to music blaring over the public address system while his teammates huddled. They scored on seven consecutive possessions during a 16-2 run at the end of the third quarter that put them ahead 65-52. The catalysts were unlikely: In quick succession, Andersen dunked on an alley-oop, Allen hit a runner and Beasley banked home a basket. "It doesnt matter if LeBrons out," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "Theyre a good team. That team has other players. Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade -- those are All-Stars, too. The bench is deep. Thats a championship team." NOTES: Spoelstra earned his 300th victory in his 448th game. Only five coaches reached the milestone more quickly, including his boss, Pat Riley, who did it the fastest at 416 games. ... Wades seven offensive rebounds were a career high. ... The Bulls fell to 24-6 when leading after one quarter. ... Miami improved to 8-1 in February. ' ' '
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