SuraClan » "Just the combination of power and command was impressive,

It wasnt long ago when the Toronto Raptors were riding high atop the Eastern Conference. Now theyre in need of a serious spark following another loss on a six-game homestand. But help is on the way with the return of second-leading scorer DeMar DeRozan. The All-Star shooting will be return and be inserted into the starting lineup as the Atlantic Division-leading Raptors try to avoid their sixth defeat in seven games Wednesday night against the improving Philadelphia 76ers. Catch all the action LIVE on TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5, and TSN GO with coverage beginning at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. DeRozan played a key role in Torontos 13-2 start, averaging 20.7 points over the first 15 games. However, he hasnt played since sustaining a tear to his left adductor longus tendon in a loss to Dallas on Nov. 28. The Raptors owned the Easts best record while winning 11 of their first 15 without DeRozan. Theyve lost five of six since then, however, giving up 112.8 points per game in the last five to fall behind Atlanta and Washington. A 114-11 loss to Detroit on Monday was Torontos second in three games on its homestand after a 14-3 start at the Air Canada Centre. The Raptors (25-12) rank among the leagues best with just 12.2 turnovers per game, but committed 19 against the Pistons. Kyle Lowry scored 10 on 3-of-12 shooting with seven giveaways Monday after averaging 24.8 points and 2.8 turnovers while hitting 22 of 54 (40.7 percent) from 3-point range over his previous eight games. Youre going to go through things and go through (bad) stretches in an 82-game season, coach Dwane Casey said. How we learn from it and how we bounce back from it is going to be huge. Caseys club, though, could get a boost as DeRozan returns from his 21-game absence against the 76ers (7-30). DeRozan had 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting as Toronto shot 56.6 percent while limiting Philadelphia to a 37.9 percent in a 120-88 home win Nov. 9. Hes averaging 27.0 points over a five-game winning streak in the series. The 76ers, who opened the season with 17 straight losses, have surrendered 113.0 points per game during their skid versus Toronto. They allowed an average of 92.3 points while winning three of four before Tuesdays 105-87 loss to the Hawks. To have to go on a plane and now go to Canada and play another hell of a team - thats the nature of our beast, coach Brett Brown said. Youve got to wake up and you have to back it up. Michael Carter-Williams, who had 20 points and nine rebounds, missed the first meeting with Toronto due to a shoulder injury. He totaled 39 points, 13 assists and 12 boards in the last two matchups last season. Tony Wroten, averaging a team-best 16.9 points, isnt expected to play after he suffered a right knee sprain against the Hawks. That certainly doesnt help matters for a Philadelphia team that hasnt reached 100 points in its last 14 games. I dont believe hell make the trip, so were reduced to Michael and Jakarr (Sampson) and off we go, Brown said. Torontos Jonas Valanciunas looks to stay hot after scoring a career-best 31 on 14-of-15 shooting Monday. The big man has averaged 19.3 points on 67.3 percent shooting over his past four games. Cheap Carolina Panthers Gear .com) - Matt Beleskey has helped give the Anaheim Ducks some scoring depth and hell look to stay hot on Wednesday night when his club hosts the struggling Philadelphia Flyers. Authentic Carolina Panthers Jerseys . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. http://www.cheappanthers.com/67l-cheap-custom-jersey-panthers.html . Specifically, thumbs up to the Canadian-based teams in the NHL, or at least most of them. Carolina Panthers Jerseys China .C. -- The shot that would have beaten No. Carolina Panthers Jerseys Outlet . -- Josh Smith made a 3-pointer as time expired and finished with 20 points to lift the Detroit Pistons to a 99-98 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night in both teams exhibition finale.BOSTON -- Jon Lester didnt feel very good warming up before the game. He couldnt have done much better once it started. The lefty struck out a career-high 15, allowing one hit over eight scoreless innings and pitching the Boston Red Sox over the Oakland Athletics 6-3 on Saturday. "Its probably the worst cutter Ive thrown in a bullpen in a long time, but I dont take much stock in my bullpens anymore," Lester said. "Youre down there to get loose. I think the biggest thing for me is just getting on the mound and getting that adrenaline going." He faced 26 batters and just nine hit the ball in fair territory. The only As to reach base against him were Craig Gentry on a leadoff single in the third and Derek Norris on walks to start the fifth and eighth. "Just the combination of power and command was impressive," Boston manager John Farrell said. "He was locked in seemingly from the first pitch." Lester (3-4) got plenty of support on a grand slam by Jonny Gomes and solo homers by David Ortiz and David Ross in Bostons second straight win after losing a day-night doubleheader to Tampa Bay on Thursday. But Oakland scored three runs off Chris Capuano in the ninth and had the tying run at the plate before Koji Uehara struck out Alberto Callaspo and retired Brandon Moss on a fly to right, securing his seventh save in seven opportunities. "I knew we had it the whole way," Lester said. "Weve got the best closer in baseball out there." The only hit off Lester was Gentrys bloop single in the third over the head of second baseman Dustin Pedroia. "Thats the best performance Ive seen him have," Oaklands Nick Punto said. Lester rebounded from taking the loss in his previous two games by striking out nine of his first 13 batters. His previous strikeout best was 13 on July 24, 2010, in a 5-1 loss at Seattle. "He looked pretty cozy out there," Gomes said. Lester, who threw a no-hitter on May 19, 2008 against Kansas City, struck out every hitter in the Oakland lineup, fanning Josh Reddick three times and Punto, Callaspo, Coco Crisp aand Josh Donaldson twice each.dddddddddddd Gomes hit the fifth slam of his career one day after Pedroia hit one. Tommy Milone (0-3) allowed Gomes homer after Pedroia walked, Xander Bogaerts singled and Ortiz walked. "It always seems that every time you walk somebody they have a tendency of scoring," Milone said, "so it just took that one big hit from Gomes to set the tone." Milone struck out the next four batters but ran into trouble again in the third when Ortiz led off with his sixth homer of the year. Ross started the fourth with his third homer. Lester threw 119 pitches before being replaced by Capuano to start the ninth. In his previous two starts, Lester threw 118 pitches in a 7-2 loss to the New York Yankees on April 22 and 122 in a 4-1 loss at Toronto last Sunday. Punto started the ninth with a double and took third on a single by Crisp. Both scored when Jed Lowrie doubled and left fielder Gomes threw wildly to the plate for an error. After Donaldson was hit by a pitch, Uehara walked Yoenis Cespedes. Norris hit into a forceout at home, but catcher Ross throw to first went wild, allowing a run to score before Uehara ended the threat. "Its easy to just cash it in after youve struck out 15 times in eight innings and hadnt had too many good swings and youre frustrated," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said, "and then to get those kind of at-bats in the ninth inning, its good." NOTES: Capuano hadnt allowed a run in his other 12 outings this season. ... Pedroia has reached base 35 times in his last 17 games. ... The Athletics have scored no runs while Milone was in the game in his three losses. ... Sonny Gray (4-1) pitches for Oakland in the finale of the three-game series against John Lackey (4-2) on Sunday. ... The crowd cheered each time a Red Sox worker walked along the left-field warning track to change the number next to the Bruins name on the scoreboard after each of their last three goals in Game 2 of their playoff series against Montreal. Boston was trailing 3-2 in the third period then scored three goals in the last six minutes to win 5-3 and even the series at 1. 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