Sonstieges » re-signed Tuesday after starter Max

TORONTO - With seven seconds remaining, the game all but wrapped up and moments after draining the biggest shot of the night, Kyle Lowry stepped to the line. As he recorded his 23rd and 24th points of the evening, a segment of the sellout Air Canada Centre crowd expressed their appreciation for the Raptors point guard with a smattering of MVP chants. Even Lowry, in the midst of a career and possible All-Star year, laughed it off. "If I win the MVP youll see pigs fly," he joked after leading his team to a bounce-back 94-89 victory over the Timberwolves Friday. Lowry connected on a season-best six three-point shots, none bigger than the one he hit from the corner with just under 15 seconds left to give the Raptors a seven-point lead and put the Wolves comeback hopes to rest. He wont be lifting an MVP trophy anytime soon - though he did ascend to 10th on NBA.coms "Race to the MVP Ladder" this week - but he is well on his way to representing the Raptors in New Orleans for next months All-Star Game. In nine games this month, the eighth-year vet is averaging 17.8 points and 8.0 assists while shooting a remarkable 52 per cent from long range. "Hes playing at a high level," Dwane Casey said. "This is the highest level hes played, the best I think hes played. I dont think hed tell you that." Casey was right, he wouldnt. "I feel good," Lowry responded, asked if hes playing his best basketball, also citing a productive half-season stretch he had with the Rockets in 2011-12. "Hes a tough competitor, plays hard all the time," said Rick Adelman, current Wolves bench boss and Lowrys former coach in Houston. "Hes jumped around to different situations but he was really good for us in Houston and it looks like hes playing that way now." Adelman, who Lowry called his favourite coach, gave the Philadelphia-native his first shot to start and play big minutes in the NBA. In Lowrys final season as a Rocket - with Kevin McHale replacing Adelman on Houstons bench - he appeared to be on the verge of a breakout. He averaged 15.6 points and 7.6 assists prior to the All-Star break and before a mysterious bacterial infection derailed the rest of his season. The Wolves coach said he never had a doubt that Lowry would get back to and even eclipse that level but still, many questioned whether he could be a positive leader at the point guard position. "Hes grown into that role of being a leader, hes matured as a man," Casey said. "Hes doing all the right things and those were the only question marks with Kyle as far as the other coaches are concerned." Lowry credits his personal success to his off-court growth as well as the work he put in during this past offseason. "Im just growing up," the 27-year-old said. "Ive got a son, a wife, a family, its one of those things where you just hit that moment and its just like, youve got to grow up sometime. This summer was a big summer for me. I got a chance to really work as hard as I wanted to and I got a chance to relax my mind and clear it and it seems to be working." With Rudy Gay - his best friend - in Sacramento, Lowry has finally found a balance between utilizing his ability as a scorer and facilitating a productive offence, also excelling on defence and leading the NBA in charges taken (he drew his 24th early in Fridays game). But more than anything else, its his leadership that continues to turn heads, rightfully so. "I didnt do nothing," Lowry said, asked about the teams performance against Kevin Love and Nikola Pekovic, one of the toughest frontcourt duos in the league. "The big fellas did a great job tonight, they redeemed themselves. JV, Amir, Chuck, Patt, those guys played huge tonight and all I can do is treat them to lunch one of these days on the road." Lowry, like the rest of the team, recognized the importance of this game following one of their most disappointing efforts of the season in Boston on Wednesday. "We definitely wanted to redeem ourselves after that Boston game," said Amir Johnson, who added 19 points and held Love to 16 on 7-of-19 shooting. "We made it a goal to get stops, get every rebound and we did that tonight." The Raptors allowed an opponent season-high 19 offensive boards in Boston and appeared to be headed for another long night against the one of the NBAs topped ranked rebounding teams. Minnesota grabbed 10 off the offensive glass in the first half but was held to just two the rest of the way as Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas battled Love and Pekovic, keeping them both in check. "We had a bounce-back as a team from the other night," Casey said. We were disappointed that we were ambushed in Boston." "[It was] just a bounce back game for us and we needed it," Lowry echoed. "Tonight we did a great job of bouncing back against a team thats really good, I mean theyre a talented team, well coached. We did a good job of executing our game plan, they made it close but we pulled it out." Wholesale Stars Jerseys . -- D.A. Points was disqualified Friday from the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am for using a training device while waiting to play the 18th hole at Pebble Beach. Cheap Dallas Stars Jerseys .Stanton suffered fractures in his face and other injuries when he was hit by a pitch Sept. 11. The Marlins are confident hell fully recover and be ready for spring training, and they hope to reach a long-term agreement with him. http://www.cheapstarsjerseys.com/. And former Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson certainly knows his pain. "Its pretty hard to coach there without allowing some of these things to kind of affect you," Wilson told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun in his ESPN. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . - Gary Kubiak is John Elways No. Cheap Stars Jerseys Authentic . - Steve Stricker usually doesnt show up at a tournament on Sunday.RENTON, Wash. - With an important matchup against the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals approaching on Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks are set to get a boost defensively with the return of middle linebacker Bobby Wagner to the lineup.Wagner missed the last five games after tearing the tendon that attaches his big toe to the bottom of his foot. He was initially told to expect to miss eight weeks with the injury. However, Wagners recovery has been substantially ahead of schedule and he will play Sunday against the Cardinals.Bobby is going to play. Were really excited to have him back, coach Pete Carroll said.Wagner had to have his foot in a cast for two weeks with his toe curled to allow the tendon to heal naturally. Then an additional three weeks were required for rehab before he was able to return to the practice field this week.I feel good. Im very excited to play. Ive had a great week of practice and Im just looking forward to getting back out there and competing with the guys, he said.Wagner compiled 50 tackles in just five games before suffering the injury in the first half against the Dallas Cowboys.Newly signed centre Lemuel Jeanpierre is up to speed and also ready to play this week. Jeanpierre was re-signed Tuesday after starter Max Unger suffered a high-ankle sprain last week against the Kansas City Chiefs.He came back really sharp, Carroll said. (It was) surprising that he was ablle to retain so much but he was on it.dddddddddddd Hes very confident and demonstrated that, so hes ready to go.Carroll wouldnt comment on whether Jeanpierre or Patrick Lewis would get the start Sunday against the Cardinals, but said both are ready to go if needed.Running back Marshawn Lynch returned to practice Friday after getting two days off to rest his ailing back. Carroll said Lynch should be ready to go and is listed as probable on the injury report.Hes made it through, Carroll said. Were adjusting the days (of practice) as we need to to accommodate and he got through it fine and he looks like hes ready.Carroll also took the opportunity to speak regarding questions that Lynch may not be back with the Seahawks next season.We want him around here for as long as he can play and theres never been any hesitation, Carroll said. Theres never been any thought of that. That came totally from somewhere else. Hes under contract next year. Well be thrilled to have him playing for us next year. So well do everything we can to get that done.The Seahawks officially ruled out Unger, linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis (shoulder) and cornerback Marcus Burley (hamstring). Defensive end Demarcus Dobbs is doubtful with a knee injury and guard James Carpenter will be a game-time decision after being held out of practice on Friday.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '