a 21-14 lead in the second quarter.T | Forum
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Jul 18 '18
NEW YORK - Sometimes a little bit of confidence goes a long way. Julius Nattinen Jersey . Looking at the standings - where the Raptors sit atop the woeful Atlantic Division - wins in Dallas and Oklahoma City count just the same as less impressive victories over the 76ers and Jazz. Internally, those triumphs have meant everything to this young, impressionable Raptors team. Whether theyre facing a late-game deficit, protecting a lead, or staring down one of the leagues elite teams, the Raptors believe they can win. "It does give you confidence to know you went out and beat [some] of the best teams in the league on their home floor," Dwane Casey said before his team rallied back to defeat the division-rival Knicks, 95-83 at Madison Square Garden on Friday. "That should help us know that hey, you can do it." Having played 36 minutes of lackluster, uninspired basketball against an undermanned club that was nearly as lethargic, the Raptors looked like a team that believed, that knew they could flip on the switch when it mattered most. Trailing by as many as 12 points in the third quarter, Toronto held the Knicks to 5-of-19 shooting in the fourth, outscoring the home team 29-12 in the final frame. Once again, the Raptors showed supreme confidence in the face of adversity on the road. They found a way to win, a notable step for a franchise that has historically found creative ways to lose. "You definitely feel good once youre winning games," said DeMar DeRozan, who led the Raptors with 25 points, including eight in the pivotal fourth quarter. "You gain all the confidence game-in and game-out, especially playing all these teams, knowing we could beat them." "We understand were never out of the game until that last second runs out of the clock. It definitely helps, because last year we were in a ton of late-game situations we couldnt pull out. Wed kind of fold, get frustrated, let a big shot frustrate us. Now we dont let any of that frustrate us." The difference is noticeable. A year ago, the Raptors were 3-36 when trailing after three quarters. Two months into the season, they already have four comeback victories. Most impressively, Toronto is the NBAs third-best fourth-quarter team in terms of point differential. Outscoring opponents by 59 points in the final period, the Raptors rank behind Indiana and Miami, the cream of the crop in the Eastern Conference. “I think weve got some good closers," Kyle Lowry said after a 15-point, 11-assist performance, his 19th straight game with six or more dimes. "I think weve got guys who dont care about the moment, they just want to win games." Confidence has been the most crucial factor in the continued development of franchise centrepiece Jonas Valanciunas, who had a coming out party on the NBAs biggest stage Friday. Facing Tyson Chandler, one of the leagues toughest match-ups at his position, the Raptors sophomore registered a career-high 18 boards to go along with 16 points. Valanciunas was not fazed by the moment or his competition, he held his ground and played up to it as much or more than he has before. "JV just be all over the place," DeRozan said with a chuckle. "Sometimes weve just got to tell him to calm down. He just wants it that bad. Youve got to love having a guy like that on your team." Lowry has been as tough on the 21-year-old as anyone in the organization. Routinely reprimanding him after missed assignments or botched pick-and-rolls, even Lowry sees and applauds the growth of the Raptors prized second-year centre. "It just makes me proud because Im on him more than everybody but when he does well I congratulate him and I appreciate what he does," Lowry said of Valanciunas. "I just want to see him be the best player he can be." "Ill buy him dinner one day," the veteran point guard joked. For Valanciunas, it was a big night, whether he cares to admit it or not. The witty, albeit soft-spoken, seven footer refused to bite on questions regarding his individual performance after the game. "I was just playing my game, Im trying to help the team," he maintained. "Thats all I do every game." "Im not trying to show swagger or something. Im a simple guy and Im just trying to play hard." Like the sinking Atlantic Division itself, one of these teams was going to win this game and through three quarters, that seemed like a maddening thought. Both teams got off to a sluggish start, especially the Raptors, coming off a brief Christmas break earlier this week. Toronto shot 38 per cent from the field and committed 10 turnovers in the first half before tightening the screws in the third quarter and running away with the game in the fourth. "We were playing in mud in the first half," Casey said. "Our effort was there it was just one of those games where we couldnt get going and I think it was a little bit because of the break, coming back, trying to get things going. We turned it on in the second half and its good to be able to not play your best game and still come out with the win against a very powerful offensive team in New York." The Knicks are a sinking ship, desperately trying to stay afloat in the division for as long as injuries remain a viable excuse for their failures. Carmelo Anthony, the NBAs second-leading scorer, missed Fridays game with an ankle injury and will not travel to Toronto for the back end of a home-and-home set with the Raptors Saturday. In many ways, Fridays game was the epitome of what has become the leagues most ridiculed division. More often than not it was painful to watch. As the Knicks, last seasons division champions, were booed off their home court it became clear; these are two teams headed in opposite directions. One with more confidence than theyve had in some time, the other losing hope with each passing day. Jacob Larsson Jersey . Hoefl-Rieschs exit — from the downhill course into safety nets, then airlifted from the slope by helicopter — left Anna Fenninger of Austria favourite to win her first giant crystal trophy one month after becoming an Olympic champion. Corey Perry Jersey .ca. In addition to the game being aired in its entirety on CTV Two Vancouver Island and TSN.ca, TSN2 will also have coverage of Whitecaps FC immediately following NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Toyota Owners 400.MINNEAPOLIS - That sprained left ankle was not about to spoil Teddy Bridgewaters first career start for the Minnesota Vikings.Hes going to get an MRI, coach Mike Zimmer said, deadpanning, but I told him hes fine.Bridgewater didnt finish what he started, but he was good enough that his departure didnt matter. The rookie passed for 317 yards and a key 2-point conversion, and the Vikings rode a resurgent running game to beat the Atlanta Falcons 41-28 on Sunday.I was confident in the play calling. I was confident in the guys. And I felt that they were still confident in me, said Bridgewater, who completed 19 of 30 passes with no turnovers and ran five times for 27 yards and a touchdown.His last carry came early in the fourth quarter with the Vikings trailing by a point. Bridgewaters left foot rolled when he tried to cut as he was taken down at the 1-yard line. Matt Asiata scored on fourth down, and Bridgewater stayed in to zip a crisp pass to Rhett Ellison for the 2-point conversion to push the lead to 35-28.The first-round draft pick limped off the field and was taken for X-rays, which were negative. After the Vikings defence forced the Falcons to punt for a second straight time, Christian Ponder took over at quarterback. Minnesota moved into position for a 55-yard field goal by Blair Walsh, who was 4 of 5 on Sunday.That put the Vikings up by 10, and Harrison Smith intercepted Matt Ryan on the next drive to seal the victory. Bridgewater was back on the sideline before the end of the game and in good spirits afterward. Zimmers half-joking mandate that Bridgewater be ready to play the next game aside, the Vikings have only three days before they go to Green Bay on Thursday night.Bridgewater, though, hasnt been fazed by much. Asked if he worried about the injury as he was driven away on the cart, he said, Not at all.Was there a point during the game when he settled down and became more comfortable?Actually, before the ball was even kicked off, a smiling Bridgewater replied.Hiis counterpart on the other side was impressed. Custom Anaheim Ducks Jerseys. e came out and played about as good as you could ask for, Ryan said.The Falcons lost three offensive linemen to injuries and wound up sticking tight end Levine Toilolo at right tackle in the fourth quarter. Ryan was 25 for 41 for 298 yards and three touchdowns, but the defence let him down.With pass protection a problem in recent weeks, Vikings offensive co-ordinator Norv Turner devised a plan with a heavy dose of quick drops for drag routes across the middle and screens to either side. The Vikings piled up 351 yards by halftime, a total higher than half of the teams in the league averaged over the first three weeks, and finished with 558 total yards. The Falcons had no sacks for the third time in four games.Were all in it together, win and lose, Ryan said. Different games are going to shake out in different ways. Sometimes one group is going to be asked to carry the load. Its a long year.Another Vikings rookie, Jerick McKinnon, rushed 18 times for 135 yards. Asiata had 20 carries for 78 yards and three touchdowns, and all of a sudden Adrian Peterson, on paid leave while the child-abuse charge against him is pending, was an afterthought.Bridgewater dived head-first into the end zone to finish a 13-yard touchdown run for the first score of his career and a 21-14 lead in the second quarter.They did basically whatever they wanted to in terms of controlling the line of scrimmage. That is very alarming, Falcons coach Mike Smith said.Bridgewater had this game in control, too.Hes always got the same demeanour. Hes just amazing to be around, this kid is, Zimmer said. Im proud hes on my team.NOTES: Jarius Wright led the Vikings with eight catches for 132 yards, both career highs. ... Along with G Justin Blalock (back), T Lamar Holmes (foot) and C Joe Hawley (knee), Falcons S William Moore (shoulder) was injured and didnt return.___AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ;Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap Stitched Jerseys Wholesale NFL Camo Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Stitched Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Online ' ' '
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