just his third event in the last 14 months after battling tendinitis in both wrists.

TORONTO - 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. Filipe Luis Atletico Madrid Jersey .
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 body at this time
(of year). You rarely get a five-day stretch in the season so (we have
to) take advantage of it."

Miguel Angel Moya Atletico Madrid Jersey .
Penguins assistant Tony Granato, who stepped on the top of the side
boards and in between the two head coaches, was also fined $2,500.
The incident occurred at 18:57 of the third period. Fine money will go
to the NHL Foundation. Atletico Madrid Jersey Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (SportsNetwork.com) - Martin Kaymer overcame a pair of bogeys in his opening round Thursday as he fired an 8-under 64 to grab
a one-shot lead at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.
Kaymer, a three-time winner of this event, birdied three of his last four
holes to earn the first-round lead. He owns both the 36- and 72-hole scoring
record at this event.

Thomas Pieters opened with a 7-under 65 on the National Course at Abu Dhabi
Golf Club and is alone in second place. Branden Grace carded a 6-under 66 and
was joined in third place by Gregory Bourdy, Tyrell Hatton, Alexander Levy and
Mikko Ilonen.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy was tied for eighth place after he shot 67. Among
those tied with McIlroy was Rickie Fowler, who finished inside the top five at
all four majors last year.

It was good. To shoot 67 the first round of the year is nice. How I got to
that 67 wasnt quite as glamorous at times, admitted McIlroy. Theres a
couple of things I need to work on if I want to have a chance to win this
tournament. I need to drive the ball better for sure and I missed a few
opportunities on the greens as well.

Kaymer, the 2008, 2010 and 2011 winner, opened with a birdie at the first.
After three pars in a row, he moved to 2-under as he birdied No. 5. He
followed a birdie at the seventh with an up-and-down birdie at the par-5
eighth.

The German gave that stroke right back as he bogeyed the ninth, then erased
that mistake with a 5-foot birdie effort at 10. After a long birdie putt on
the 11th, he stumbled to another bogey at the 12th to dip back to minus-4.

Kaymer birdied the 13th and 15th, both from about 10 feet, to inch within
one of Pieters, the early leader. Kaymer grabbed a piece of the lead with a
20-foot birdie putt on the 17th.

At the par-5 closing holee, Kaymer reached the green in two. Gabi Atletico Madrid Jersey. His eagle effort missed short and right of the hole, but he tapped in for a closing birdie and
the slim lead.

I putted well. I made 10 birdies. Im not sure if I have ever done (that
before). I hit a lot of fairways, my irons were quite sharp and I putted well.
Its very difficult to shoot a bad score when you play like this, said
Kaymer. Now, the goal is not to compare myself tomorrow to the round what
happened today. Tomorrow will be a new start, but its a brilliant start to a
great tournament.

Pieters got on the board with birdies at the third and fifth. After a pair of
pars, he kicked off a hot stretch with a birdie on the par-5 eighth.

The 2014 Open de Espana runner-up also birdied the ninth to make the turn at
minus-4.

Pieters followed with birdies at 10 and 11 to make it four in a row. He
climbed to minus-7 with a birdie on No. 13. However, Pieters stumbled to a
bogey on the par-3 15th. He atoned for that mistake with a birdie at the last.

It was nice to start out the season with a 7-under round, so Im happy,
Pieters stated. I like the greens here.

NOTES: Along with winning this title three times in four years, Kaymer shared
second place in 2009 ... Miguel Angel Jimenez had a hole-in-one on No. 15,
while Tom Lewis aced the par-3 seventh ... Jimenezs ace was his eighth on the
European Tour, which moved him within one of Colin Montgomeries tour record
... Henrik Stenson, a two-time runner-up at this event, struggled to a 4-over
76, while former U.S. Open champion Justin Rose tripped to a 1-over 73 ...
Defending champion Pablo Larrazabal managed a 1-under 71, which left him tied
for 59th ... Alexander Noren, also tied at 5-under, is playing in just his
third event in the last 14 months after battling tendinitis in both wrists.

Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys'

'
'