ar after the longtime Braves star r | Forum
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Dec 20 '17
Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork. Dan Marino Jersey .com) - The Toronto Raptors are off to their best start in franchise history. Kyle Lowry had a triple-double and DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points as the Raptors crushed the Washington Wizards on Friday, 103-84, sending a message to the rest of the Eastern Conference in the process. Lowry went for 13 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, posting a triple-double for the sixth time in his career. DeRozan shot 7-of-13 from the floor and made all 11 of his free throws, and Terrence Ross dropped 18 points for the winners. We played well from start to finish, said Lowry. There were a lot more positives than negatives this game. We can finally say that. The Raptors are 5-1 for the first time in team history. Washingtons starters shot 11-for-48, with none of them cracking double digits in the scoring column in the humbling setback. Otto Porter led three reserves in double figures with 13 points. We didnt come out with playoff intensity and obviously they did, said Paul Pierce. Toronto landed the first blow, jumping out to a 14-2 lead five minutes in. The spread reached 14 after DeRozans three-point play at 3:50, and it could have been worse had it not been for Washingtons bench. Porter and Drew Gooden made 5-of-6 shots combined off the bench, and it was 28-18 after one. Louis Williams helped Toronto rebuild a comfortable lead early in the second. Williams scored nine straight Raptors points during an 18-1 run that made it 48-25. DeRozan converted an alley-oop from Lowry at 5:37 to cap the flurry. Amir Johnsons hook shot just before halftime extended the lead to 59-35. Nene scored six points during Washingtons 10-0 run early in the third quarter. Marcin Gortats layup at the tail end of the surge had the Wizards within 18. John Wall cut it to 16 with a layup late in the third, but Washington never got over the hump. James Johnsons stepback 3-ball with seconds remaining made it 82-58 heading into the fourth. Game Notes Washingtons four-game winning streak was snapped ... Toronto welcomed back Johnson, who missed three games with an ankle injury, and Jonas Valanciunas, who missed a game with a hand injury ... Washington shot just 3-of-19 from behind the arc. Custom Miami Dolphins Jerseys . -- J.R. Sweezy was the one part of the Seattle Seahawks offensive line that had avoided injuries or having to change positions this season. Jay Cutler Jersey . Louis Cardinals a hard-fought victory. The Colorado Rockies intentionally walked Yadier Molina with one out and runners on first and third to load the bases for Kozma.ATLANTA -- Braves third baseman Chris Johnson gets to keep his dream job for another three years. Atlanta was the team he cheered for while growing up in South Florida, and he idolized third baseman Chipper Jones. "In this game, not many times does a team tell a player they want him to be around for a really long time," Johnson said. "Im excited they feel that way about me and have the confidence in me to be around for a little while. Now I just want to work as hard as I can to prove theyre right." After agreeing to a $23.5 million, three-year deal announced Friday, Johnson is under contract through 2017. The 29-year-old was among the teams biggest surprises last season. A supposed throw-in to the Justin Upton trade, Johnson ranked second in the NL with a .321 average. He had 12 homers and 68 RBIs. His agreement continued Atlantas recent trend of signing a core of players to long-term deals. First baseman Freddie Freeman ($135 million over eight years), closer Craig Kimbrel ($42 million over four years), pitcher Julio Teheran ($32.4 million over six years) and shortstop Andrelton Simmons ($58 million over seven years) agreed to long-term deals before or during spring training, and right fielder Jason Heyward struck a $13.3 million, two-year deal. General manager Frank Wren said Johnsons agent approached the team early last month to see whether the sides could work out a new deal. Wren said the Braves arent placing unrealistic expectations on their third baseman. Johnson is off to a slow start, hitting .255 with one homer and four RBIs in 26 games. "I think what we saw last year -- maybe hes not going to hit .320, but weve always felt he was somewhere in the .280-.300 range as a hitter," Wren said. "His career will tell you that." In the first 304 games of his career with Houston and Arizona, Johnson hit .276 and averaged eight homers and 43 RBIs. "I think as we go forward," Wren said, "thats the kind of player he can be -- somewhere in that . Nat Moore Jersey. 285-.300 range -- and hit 10-15 home runs, drive in 70 and play solid third base." Johnson was part of the trade that brought Upton, a slugging left fielder, to Atlanta and sent fan favourite Martin Prado, pitcher Randall Delgado and three minor leaguers to Arizona on Jan. 24 last year. "Theres not many people that are going to be traded with him that arent going to be the other guy, " Johnson said. "But Im fine with that. Its good because it doesnt bother me really to be the other guy. It kind of gave me the fire to prove I need to be here and was not just a name in the trade." Johnson is making $4.75 million this season under a one-year deal. The agreement includes salaries of $6 million next year, $7.5 million in 2016 and $9 million in 2017. Atlanta has a $10 million option for 2018 with a $1 million buyout. Wren is grateful that Liberty Media, the Braves owner, has committed the money to keep another part of the core group together as the team prepares to move into a new ballpark in suburban Cobb County in 2017. "You have to be careful," Wren said. "You have to have that combination of players and especially what we did all winter was looking at really high level young talent that was either pre-arbitration or first-year arbitration and extending them. It fits into that mould." Johnson, who would have been eligible for free agency after the 2016 season, met Jones was he played for Stetson and Jones father Larry was an assistant coach with the school. Johnson never imagined he would replace Jones the year after the longtime Braves star retired after the 2012 season. "Its nuts," he said. "Its crazy. I cant believe it. Its awesome, but Im going to try to make sure I keep grinding and keep working and try to get better every day." 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