Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - James Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas each scored eight of their 15 points during the pivotal third quarter, and Toronto snapped its four-game skid by pulling away for a 109-96 victory over the Boston Celtics at Air Canada Centre. Kyle Lowry and Lou Williams had 19 points apiece, and Johnson pulled down 10 rebounds. Amir Johnson scored 15, and Patrick Patterson totaled 10 points and nine boards for the Atlantic Division leaders, who beat the Celtics for the fourth straight time. I thought our defensive mojo was back, Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. We were doing the things we needed to do with activity and anticipation. Kelly Olynyk had 23 points for Boston, which has dropped nine of its last 11 games. James Johnson and Valanciunas combined to shoot 8-of-9 from the floor in the third quarter, when the Raptors turned a 2-point deficit early in the period into an 82-65 cushion going into the fourth. Amir Johnsons layup to start the quarter expanded Torontos lead to 49-43, but Boston surged in front and gained a 55-53 edge on Jared Sullingers jumper with 8:47 left. The Raptors responded with a 15-2 run with Valanciunas scoring six of those points. Pattersons short jumper at the horn to end the period extended Torontos lead to 17, and the hosts lead never dipped under eight points in the fourth. Lowry scored 10 in the final stanza. Avery Bradley had seven points in the first quarter to help the Celtics grab a 26-19 lead by the end of the period. The visitors used a 13-2 run during the quarter, which was capped by Bradleys layup for a 17-9 edge. Brandon Bass dunk extended Bostons lead to 40-31 with 5:35 remaining in the half, but the Raptors scored the ensuing 12 points. Greivis Vasquez started the burst with a 3-pointer and James Johnson finished it by sinking 1-of-2 free throws with 1:28 left. Williams slam with 17.7 seconds left brought the Raptors lead to 47-43 at the break. Game Notes The Raptors are 6-0 against the Atlantic Division this season ... Toronto hasnt lost five in a row since Nov. 26 - Dec. 6, 2013 ... Raptors forward Terrence Ross went 2-of-4 from 3-point range, part of Torontos 13-of-30 effort. He has made at least one 3-pointer in a career-best 13 consecutive games ... The Raptors still have the Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Pelicans left on this six-game homestand ... Bradley had 17 points ... Celtics forward Jeff Green didnt play amid rumors that he was being traded to Memphis. . Los Angeles announced its new deal for Kupchak late in the fourth quarter of a 145-130 loss to the Houston Rockets. Kupchak had one year left on his current contract. . The (35-35-10) Jets have 80 points and are also playing .500 hockey on home ice this season with a 17-17-6 record. Michael Hutchinson will start his second straight game in goal.
http://www.wholesalenikeshoesclearance. ... -plus.html. Bryce Harper? He also came into Wednesday without a long ball and hadnt driven in a run. He was hitting .160, had nearly three times as many strikeouts as hits and was dropped to seventh in the batting order. . The result means Atletico Madrid now tops the table, with Madrid level on points in second and Barcelona a point behind in third with nine games remaining as the title race shapes up to be the closest in years. .James scored 29 points, including 16 in the first quarter, and the Cleveland Cavaliers broke a four-game losing streak with a 106-74 win over the Orlando Magic on Monday night.CHICAGO - Alexei Ramirez is finding different ways of helping the White Sox earn dramatic victories. Ramirez scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning on a throwing error and the Chicago White Sox edged the Boston Red Sox 2-1 on a frigid Tuesday night. Tied at one, Red Sox reliever Burke Badenhop (0-2) allowed a one-out single to Ramirez. After Tyler Flowers struck out, Chris Capuano replaced Badenhop. Capuano walked Adam Eaton to move Ramirez to second. Then with a 3-2 count, Marcus Semien hit a grounder to Xander Bogaerts at shortstop, who one-hopped his throw to first baseman Mike Carp. Carp wasnt able to scoop the throw and Ramirez, who was already running on the pitch never stopped when rounding third and scored without a throw. "There were two outs so I was going all the way with two outs, so my idea was to go ahead and get to home plate regardless of what happened," said Ramirez, who also beat the Cleveland Indians with a two-run homer in the ninth inning on Sunday. Bogaerts was disappointed with his throw to Carp. "Its cold weather, but thats no excuse for that play. Thats a ball I shouldve thrown right at the chest to him," Bogaerts said. "I knew it was going to bounce, it took a weird bounce, but I should have thrown it at his chest to Carp and gone into extra innings." The Red Sox didnt think Semien checked his swing on a 2-2 pitch that wouldve sent the game into extra innings. "Yes. The check swing from the open side clearly looked like — given some of the other check swings that were called here tonight — it was more extensive than some other ones. But we dont get the call, Red Sox manager John Farrell said. White Sox reliever Daniel Webb (1-0) got one out in the ninth for the victory. The temperature at first pitch was 40 degrees. All the players except for White Sox starter Erik Johnson and Eaton wore long sleeves under their jerseys and the upper deck was closed because of ice on the ramps. Adam Dunn homered for the White Sox, who have won four of their past five games and two straight in their final at-bat. The White Sox are off to a surprising 8-6 start after losing 99 games last season. Dunn is pointing to their patience at the plate as one of the reasons. "For the most part all year, weve had really good at-bats. I think thats why. It seems like were in (teams) bullpens seems early in each and every game. That take a toll," Dunn said. Daniel Nava homered for Boston, which has lost three straight. First baseman Mike Napoli left in the top of the ninth inning after injuring his left ring finger sliding into second base. With two outs, Napoli advanced to second on Donnie Veals wild pitch. Napoli slid head first into second and dislocated his left ring finger against the base. X-Rays on Napolis finger was negative. "Yeah I really dont do it often. But on a play like that when I dont know what kind of throw or whats going to happen and I see Alexei coming across.dddddddddddd Its my first instinct to try and get to the bag as quick as possible," Napoli said. Red Sox starter Jake Peavy allowed one run and three hits in six innings on 113 pitches against his former team in his third straight no-decision. He struck out eight and walked four. Johnson pitched 6 2-3 innings and struck out a career-high nine in his eighth career start. The 24-year old right-hander allowed one run and three hits with two walks. Before the game, the White Sox paid tribute to the one-year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings. The White Sox players wore "Boston Strong" T-shirts during pregame and there was a video montage along with a moment of silence. In the second inning, White Sox manager Robin Ventura challenged a call by first base umpire Cory Blaser. Ventura challenged that Napolis foot was off the base when he fielded Bogaerts throw to get Jose Abreu. The replay was ruled inconclusive so Blasers call was upheld. Dunn followed with his third homer of the season. "Obviously it is fun to compete against a guy like that," Dunn said of facing Peavy. "A lot of times you will be on the short end of it, but its fun stuff." Peavy actually heard Dunns bat break on the home run. "His bat broke. We broke his bat. Normally youll take your chances when that happens. Most people arent as strong as he is. He always used to say this ballpark played big to fair. "Im going to go on record and have fun with him tonight and tell him in big to fair ballparks, a broken-bat homer doesnt get out," Peavy said. "A good hitter getting a pitch he can get up in the air and thats what he does. He hits the ball out of the ballpark." David Ortiz was called out on strikes in the fourth inning on an appeal to third base umpire Doug Eddings. Ortiz was livid after Eddings ruled that the slugger didnt check his swing. Farrell had to intervene to prevent Ortiz from being thrown out of the game. With two outs, Nava tied the game with a solo shot to right. It was his second homer of the season. NOTES: Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia hopes to be back in the lineup on Wednesday night. Hes been out with a sore left wrist and received a cortisone shot on Monday after MRI tests came back negative. He entered the game as a pinch-runner for Napoli in the ninth and stayed in the game at second base. ... Red Sox closer Koji Uehara threw a bullpen session before the game and is expected to throw another bullpen session on Wednesday. Farrell expects to have Uehara available on Thursday. ...Red Sox OF Shane Victorino is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with one of the clubs minor league affiliates later this week. ... White Sox 2B Gordon Beckham, who is with Double-A Birmingham on a rehab assignment for an injured oblique, was 0 for 6 with a walk and a run in a doubleheader. ' ' '
