TORONTO -- For the second straight night, Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry stated his case as an NBA all-star.
Trevor Story Jersey . But even after pouring in a game-high 33 points in a convincing win over the Orlando Magic, Lowry was
managing expectations ahead of Thursdays announcement of the reserves for next
months game. "I would be very honoured. It would be a great individual
accomplishment," Lowry said when asked if the NBA coaches decision mattered to
him. "But at the end of the day, its just another day for me." Even though many
would argue Lowry deserves a spot in New Orleans, hes widely expected to be
snubbed, a victim of a perceived abrasive personality rather than anything to do
with his play. His play spoke volumes again Wednesday. Lowry had 11 assists to
go with his 33 points in the Raptors 98-83 win before 17,694 fans at Air Canada
Centre. It was Lowrys second consecutive 30-plus point performance -- a career
first. The feat is even more impressive because its come in the absence of
injured DeMar DeRozan, another potential all-star. "Hes stepped it up," Toronto
head coach Dwane Casey said of Lowry, who hit all five of his three-point
attempts in the first quarter as the Raptors built a 33-20 lead and led all the
way. "I keep my fingers crossed that the coaches voted him in because he
deserves it," Casey said. "I feel like both guys (Lowry and DeRozan) deserve it,
because right now hes one of the best point guards in the league." Lowry, who
had 31 points in a win over the Nets in Brooklyn on Monday, set the tone for the
night by opening the scoring with a 26-foot jump shot 58 seconds into the game
to make it 3-0. The Raptors led from there, winning their second straight game
and fourth in five. "Were just getting better and were grinding it out every
day," Lowry said. Amir Johnson added 22 points and 11 rebounds while
Jonas Valanciunas, the second-year centre picked earlier Wednesday to suit up in
the Rising Stars Challenge at the all-star weekend in New Orleans next month,
added 14 points and 15 rebounds for the Raptors. The win moved Toronto (24-21)
three games above .500 for the first time this season. The Raptors, who lead the
NBAs Atlantic Division by three games over Brooklyn, were 16-29 after 45 games
last season on their way to missing the playoffs for a fifth straight year. "We
are hungry and we want to win every game we play," said Johnson, who sat in
front of his locker after the game with each foot in a bucket of ice nursing an
ankle he rolled. "Nobody has an agenda on this team, everybody is sharing the
ball." Johnson said it would be "awesome" for Lowry to get his first career
all-star nod. "Hes become our all-star and one of the main reasons why we have
been so successful winning these games," Johnson said. Facing the NBAs worst
road team, the Raptors jumped on Orlando from the start. Led by Lowry, Toronto
matched a club record from November 2009 with eight three-pointers in a quarter
in the first, and hit 11 of their first 12 shots of the night from beyond the
arc. A stretch of nine straight was the first time the team made that many
consecutively since February 2005 against the Los Angeles Lakers. "We made
shots. We spaced the floor well," Lowry said. The Raptors led by as many as 19
points. Orlando (12-35) cut the lead to eight points with 7:20 to go in the
third quarter but thats as close as they got on the way to losing their 10th
consecutive road game. The Raptors now head out West on a tough, five-game road
trip starting Friday in Denver.
DJ LeMahieu Rockies Jersey . Nix is a career .218 hitter in 425 games over six seasons. The 31-year-old right-handed hitter
batted .270 with a homer this spring for Tampa Bay.
Todd Helton Jersey . Billy Hamilton finished off Cincinnatis biggest comeback of the season for a doubleheader
sweep.INDIANAPOLIS - Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri has broken the NFL record for
100-point seasons.He passed Jason Elam when he made an extra point early in the
fourth quarter of Sunday nights game against his former team, New England.
Vinatieri has scored 100 or more points 17 times in 19 seasons. Elam did it 16
times during his career.It was his second milestone of the night.
Charlie Blackmon Jersey. Earlier he joined Morten Andersen, Gary Anderson and Jason Hanson as the only players in league
history to reach 2,100 career points.The 41-year-old kicker has not missed a
kick all season, making all 28 field-goal attempts and all 34 extra-point
tries.___AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and
http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL
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