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ORLANDO, Fla. -- After Toronto locked up its first post-season berth since 2008 last week, coach Dwane Casey cautioned the Raptors to not get complacent down the stretch with teams still vying for playoff position. Hes hoping that a nearly disastrous letdown against Orlando will send a stronger message. DeMar DeRozan had 28 points, Jonas Valanciunas added 20 points and nine rebounds, and the Raptors escaped with a 98-93 victory over the Magic on Sunday night. Toronto led by as many as 21 points before having to stave off Orlandos late charge. Trailing 96-93 with 8.9 seconds to play, the Magic had the ball and an opportunity to tie the game. But coming out of a timeout they failed to inbound the ball, turning it over on a 5-second violation. DeRozan was fouled and hit a pair of free throws to save the win. "They saw the 20-point lead and like any NBA team, they let their guard down," Casey said. "Thats a development weve got to have -- to keep the intensity, keep your foot on their neck and keep it down." Kyle Lowry added 16 points. The win was the Raptors third in a row and seventh straight over the Magic. Toronto swept the season series 3-0. "We still havent done anything yet in this league. We havent played a playoff game, we havent won a playoff series, we havent done anything, so we still have a long way to go and we understand that," DeRozan said. "Its time to take the next step, finish the season off strong, and then the next step will come after that." Nik Vucevic led the Magic with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Jameer Nelson and Victor Oladipo each added 16 points. Orlando shot 55 per cent for the game, but also had 19 turnovers that led to 19 Raptors points. DeRozan had more free-throw attempts (16) than the entire Magic team. Asked about the 27-14 discrepancy in attempts between the teams, Orlando coach Jacque Vaughn brushed it off. "Im just going to say the referees were great throughout the game. Ill leave it at that," Vaughn said. After struggling offensively for most of the second half, the Magic cut a 21-point deficit to 76-73 on a layup by Tobias Harris with 9:53 to play in the game. A driving layup by Oladipo a few possessions later tied it at 78. Orlando had a chance to take the lead, but came up empty on a pair of 3-pointers. The Raptors settled down and carved out an 87-80 cushion on a pair of free throws by DeRozan with 5:16 remaining. Harris trimmed it to 93-88 with 1:21 left, but DeRozan responded on the ensuing possession with a 3 to push it back to eight. It was 96-90 when a Toronto turnover gave the Magic the ball and some life with under a minute to play. Arron Afflalo took advantage with a 3-pointer to cut it to 96-93. Lowrys layup rolled off the side of the rim on the Raptors next touch, giving the Magic their chance to tie with 8.9 seconds remaining. But thats when Maurice Harkless failed to inbound the ball within 5 seconds. "Just good defence by Toronto, denying the basketball in," Vaughn said. "The good thing is well continue to be in those situations and well get better at accomplishing it." The Raptors led 57-38 at the half, but struggled to shake free of the Magic early on. Orlando led 20-18 in the first quarter before Toronto closed the period with a 9-2 spurt. It continued at the start of the second quarter with a 17-4 run that gave the Raptors an 18-point cushion. Valanciunas led the surge with 16 first-half points. Casey said his team needs to work on its mental approach before the playoffs. "Were still learning to put games away, (and) not make games interesting at the end," he said. "Weve got to learn to put them away so we wont be fighting so hard the last minute or two." NOTES: Vucevic recorded his 36th double-double of the season. ... Raptors F Patrick Paterson missed his 13th straight game with a right ulnar collateral sprain. ... G Greivis Vasquez returned to the game in the second half after receiving five stiches to his left cheek following a collision in the first half. St. Louis Rams Johnny Hekker Youth Home Jersey Eli... Navy Blue . Jones had to work hard against Korean skip Kim Jisun and didnt hold a lead until the seventh end. Jones, lead Dawn McEwen, second Jill Officer and third Kaitlyn Lawes were 8-0 going into the game and had already clinched a berth in the semifinals. St. Louis Rams E.J. Gaines Mens Home Jersey Game N... Navy Blue . Thea Culley, Brienne Stairs and Stephanie Jameson scored for the Canadians (1-1-3), who were already out of contention for a London Olympic berth in the six-country tournament. http://www.shopramsusjersey.com/St-louis-rams-rodg...nike290 727 . 10 shirt. The Japan forward was presented on Wednesday as an AC Milan player after signing a 3 1/2-year contract on a free transfer from CSKA Moscow. St. Louis Rams Throwback Kurt Warner Mens Alternat...Royal Blue . -- Kevin Pangos had 27 points and Drew Barham added 17 to lead No. St. Louis Rams Davin Joseph Mens Home Jersey Game ... Navy Blue .Y. - Centre Corban Knight scored 3:30 into overtime, and the Abbotsford Heat rallied to edge the Utica Comets 5-4 on Wednesday in American Hockey League play.SALT LAKE CITY - Gordon Hayward knows the Utah Jazz have their best chance to win when they play together and share the ball. Victories havent come easy for the Jazz during this rebuilding season. "We realize were not there yet individually, where we can just play for ourselves and still win. We need to play as a team," Hayward said. Alec Burks and Hayward each scored 21 points and the Jazz held off the New Orleans Pelicans 100-96 on Friday night to snap a five-game skid. The Jazz had 22 assists on their 33 baskets and several other unselfish passes led to 35 attempts from the free throw line. Burks had 12 of his points in the fourth quarter and Hayward added eight final-period points. The Jazz needed all of it to overcome the reeling Pelicans, who played without Anthony Davis down the stretch due to back spasms. "Alec attacks the rim and hes got to be one of the best in the league at driving to the basket," Hayward said. "He finishes so well that he scores or gets fouls almost every time." Two exceptions occurred in the waning moments â swarming Pelicans forced Burks to travel and then Greg Stiemsma blocked Burks layup. Anthony Morrow, who had a game-high 26 points, hit a 3-pointer to draw New Orleans within 95-93. Hayward made one of two free throws and the Pelicans drew a play that produced a wide-open shot for Darius Miller that rimmed out. "Thats exactly what we wanted. We had Tyreke (Evans) with the ball looking to find a shooter and he found Darius. It was the best look we could ask for, and it just didnt go in," Brian Roberts said. Roberts made another 3 with 1.7 seconds remaining, but Hayward and Burks each made two more free throws to clinch the victory for the Jazz. Burks made all 13 of his free throw attempts. Derrick Favours had 20 points and nine rebounds for the Jazz. He thrived without Davis playing at full strength. "There was more room in the post," Favors said. "We had people move around instead of standing still, so it was a big help." Roberts had 18 points while Davis finished with eight points and six rebounds in 23 minutes as the Pelicans dropped their fourth straight following a five-game win streak. The game waas tight throughout, but the Jazz extended their lead to double digits near the end of the third when Hayward hit a 3 and followed with another jumper to make it 73-63.dddddddddddd But the Pelicans responded despite playing an unusual lineup that was sitting at the end of the bench earlier this season before the team was decimated with injuries. Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson, Jrue Holiday and Jason Smith â a group that averages nearly 60 points a game combined â all are sidelined. New Orleans turned to Morrow, who trimmed the Jazz advantage to 82-79 on a jumper in the lane with 7:16 to play. Morrow also had a dozen points in the fourth quarter on 5-for-5 shooting to give the Pelicans a chance. The guard has scored at least 17 points in five of his past six games. The Jazz again built the lead to 10 points when Hayward made a pair of free throws. The Pelicans then made their last-gasp comeback that fell just short. On one play in the third quarter, Davis blocked Favours shot and then saved the ball from going out of bounds. But as the two big men pursued the ball, Davis was sandwiched between Favours and the fans courtside. Davis gingerly ran back on offence and soon after left the court to be evaluated. The training staff confirmed Davis had back spasms but he returned to play in the fourth quarter, but wasnt on the court when the Pelicans made their final push. "He wanted to play and I just said no. Were not in the playoffs. Every game for me is a championship game, but Ive got to be smart," Pelicans coach Monty Williams said. Davis played only 11 minutes against the Nuggets and his absence was felt as the Pelicans allowed season highs in points (137) and field goal shooting (56.5). After three days rest at home, the Jazz also took advantage with 51.6 per cent shooting. "We talked about being able to finish games and we still have the energy to compete. Its been a long year for these guys and weve been through a lot," Utah coach Ty Corbin said. Notes: Stiemsma got a technical foul for arguing with the officials midway through the third period. ... The Pelicans have lost 12 of 15 on the road. ... After a long slump, Hayward is averaging 21 points a game in his past six. cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' '
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