12-21-2015, 03:20 AM
TORONTO -- If the league-leading Indiana Pacers provided the perfect gauge for just how much the Toronto Raptors have improved, the answer was: plenty. Cheap Jerseys . DeMar DeRozan poured in 26 points to lead the red-hot Raptors to a resounding 95-82 win over Indiana on Wednesday, handing the Pacers just their sixth loss of the season. "We work extremely hard every day so that we understand that if we go out there and play with the same intensity that we do in practice, when were going at each other, we can beat anybody," DeRozan said. "Thats the mindset that we go in with when we play these opponents." The Raptors victory was their fourth in a row, eighth in their last 10 outings, and ninth in 12 games since the trade that sent Rudy Gay to the Sacramento Kings. Toronto also snapped Indianas five-game winning streak. Terrence Ross added 18 points for Toronto (15-15), while Kyle Lowry had a season-high 14 assists to go with 13 points, and Jonas Valanciunas scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds. "Everybody is playing for each other, nobody has any secret agendas, everybody wants the same goal," Ross said. "Were all on the same page, and thats something were getting better at." Raptors coach Dwane Casey had talked before the game about the chance for his players to test themselves against the best in the league, to see how much theyd improved and how far they still had to go. "We did a good job, the guys battled," Casey said afterward. "We came in hungry and fought for 48 minutes, stayed with the game plan and executed." Roy Hibbert scored 16 for the Pacers (25-6) before fouling out with 3:25 to go, while Paul George added 12 and Danny Granger finished with 11. The Raptors confidence was soaring going into Wednesdays game, and just a night earlier they were down by five heading into the fourth quarter at Chicago before rallying for an 85-79 victory over the Bulls. Theyd shown more fight in the past couple of weeks than in recent memory, and were making a habit of fourth-quarter comebacks. But they didnt need one Wednesday. The Raptors led by as much as nine points against a Pacers team that came into the game with a 9-0 record against Atlantic Division opponents, and fought back from a Pacers rally to lead 66-63 going into the fourth quarter. They found another gear down the stretch. Back-to-back buckets by DeRozan then a steal by Ross that turned into a Lowry basket with 2:54 to play had the crowd on its feet screaming and put Toronto up by 11. Afterward, Pacers guard George Hill said the Raptors "beat us at our own game." "They played better than us tonight," Hill said. "Normally we come out and have a tremendous third and fourth quarter but tonight they hit first." The thrilled Air Canada Centre crowd of 18,271 stood and cheered the Raptors off the floor after the final buzzer. The Raptors won with crisp ball movement, doling out 27 assists on 34 made field goals, against one of the best defensive teams in the league. They were also solid on defence. "It says a lot," DeRozan said on his teams defensive effort. "Were going to go out there and battle with the best of them night in and night out. We dont care who you throw out there in front of us, were understand theyre going to throw a punch, and were going to throw punches back." Lowry led the way in defensive play -- the point guard who tops the team in taking charges took one on Hibberts sixth foul. "You just sacrifice yourself for the benefit of the team. Thats what were all doing out here, sacrificing themselves and their game to be a better team," Lowry said. The players praised the noisy crowd that was on its feet for the final few minutes. "Honestly, it was probably the best crowd Ive seen since opening night of last year," Lowry said. "Thats what we need in this building. We want our fans to have a reason to cheer, and I think were giving them a reason to cheer." The Raptors opened with one of the best all-around quarters of the season, with 10 assists on 11 made field goals. They fell behind by six early but outscored the Pacers 24-8 to the end of the quarter to lead 26-18 heading into the second. A three-pointer by Raptors newcomer Greivis Vasquez gave Toronto a nine-point lead early in the second, but the Pacers parlayed 10 Raptors turnovers into nine points, and Indiana took a 44-40 lead into the dressing room at the break. The Pacers were the ones turning the ball over in the third, with the Raptors scoring 14 points on seven Indiana giveaways. Tyler Hansbrough tied the game with a dunk with 1:08 left in the quarter, then John Salmons drained a three to send the Raptors into the fourth up by three points. NOTES: The Raptors are in Washington on Friday to open a three-game road trip against three tough Eastern Conference teams. Theyll play at Miami on Sunday, then Indiana on Tuesday before returning home to host Detroit on Jan. 8. . . The Pacers beat Toronto 91-84 in Indiana on Nov. 8. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping . He was 26 years old at the time and coming off his best season in Philadelphia. But his faith had led him in a different direction, it led him to Sacramento. Cheap Jerseys From China . The midfielder had an operation on Saturday, and is set to miss seven Premier League games, the third round of the FA Cup and the semifinals of the League Cup. SUN CITY, South Africa -- The birdie celebrations were muted and the crowd a little quiet all though Friday. Gary Player cried on the tee before an early-morning round under grey skies and Ernie Els remembered the photo he has of himself and Nelson Mandela on his desk back at home in Florida. "It is a very sad day," Els said. "A very sad day for South Africa and the world." A sombre mood hung over the Nedbank Golf Challenge, South Africas first major sporting event since former president and anti-apartheid leader Mandela died late Thursday aged 95. Jamie Donaldson, wearing a black ribbon like all the players, emerged from the emotional day to go to 11 under and hold a three-shot lead over Ryan Moore and Henrik Stenson. The 30-man field spent around nine hours out on the course to make up for lost time when the first round was halted for lightning a day earlier. Donaldson had seven birdies and a bogey in a second-round 66 to go with his opening 67, with the Welshman saying he played "aggressive but not daft." Moore had a round-leading 65 having finished up a 71 in the first round in the morning for a share of second at 8 under with Stenson. The Swede moved back into contention with a 67 at the end of the second day. Thomas Bjorn and defending champion Martin Kaymer were tied for fourth another shot back on 7 under. Sergio Garcia had led after the first round before slipping down to a share of ninth with a 73. Perhaps struggling with the emotions, Els and the reest of the South Africans failed to shine, with Charl Schwartzel the leading home player on 6 under, five off the lead. Cheap NFL Jerseys China. Els has gone 75, 71 in the first two rounds. In the early morning, the players had stood with their caddies, some with caps removed, for a moments silence for Mandela before the first round restarted. Flags drooped at half-mast around the Gary Player Country Club. A hooter sounded to start the brief moment of reflection on the life of the beloved anti-apartheid leader. One of South Africas first sporting heroes under Mandelas presidency, four-time major winner Els had walked out of the players lounge a little after 6:30 a.m. to talk to reporters and share some of his precious memories of the time he spent with Mandela. Els said that since about 1996 and well into his old age, Mandela used to call the golfer every time he won a tournament. "They were special times and the little time we had together was very special. He was just the most amazing person I have ever met," Els said. Player, South Africas most successful golfer and whose career so often clashed with South Africas dark years of apartheid, said he and three friends had prayed and then cried together over Mandelas passing before playing a casual round first thing in the morning before the field went out. "We all had a tear in our eyes, but its also a day of celebration because hed want us to celebrate," Player said. "And weve got to celebrate for what he actually gave this country." cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '