The Indiana Pacers remain on top of the TSN.ca NBA Power Rankings, ahead of the usual suspects, the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. With eight wins in the past nine games, the Pacers have displayed their outstanding defence, allowing 82 or fewer points in five of those eight wins. Its been a while since the last update (due in part to holidays and technical issues with a location move), so there have been some dramatic moves, highlighted by the Toronto Raptors vaulting from 28 all the way up to 10. That the Raptors have gone 10-5 in the past 15 games, with entirely respectable losses at Miami and Indiana most recently, is one thing, but the softness of the teams below the top tier is what makes it possible for such a huge move up the list. Suddenly, though, a season that had talk about lottery picks and Andrew Wiggins is steering in the direction of a playoff spot, and possibly homecourt advantage in the first round. Other teams moving up include the New Orleans Pelicans, with a healthy Anthony Davis, going from 16 to 11 and, also getting healthier, the Washington Wizards are up from 17 to 12. The Sacramento Kings, with solid play from small forward Rudy Gay move from 26 to 20. Heading the other direction, the Los Angeles Clippers drop from six to 13, due largely to Chris Pauls shoulder injury. The Detroit Pistons have lost seven of eight and fall from 15 to 22; the injury-ravaged Los Angeles Lakers have lost eight of nine games and sink from 18 to 23 while the Orlando Magic have lost seven of nine, as well as starting centre Nikola Vucevic, and land at 29, from 19 in the previous update. . Cammalleri suffered a concussion in the Flames 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. The 31-year-old forward did not travel with the team to Carolina. . It was a loss. But it was also a learning experience. Deron Williams and Joe Johnson had 24 points each to lift Brooklyn to a 94-87 win over the Raptors, making their first playoff appearance since 08. "I thought we played a little bit as expected as it is our first playoff game," Toronto coach Dwane Casey said.
http://www.rockiesgearproshop.com/Rocki ... ds-Jersey/. It was the most lopsided loss in Lakers history. Darren Collison had a team-high 24 points while starting at shooting guard for the injured Jamal Crawford. Chris Paul added 13 points and 11 assists for the Clippers, who apparently are trying to make up for decades of humiliation at the hands of the Lakers all in one season; theyve won the last two meetings by a combined 84 points. . Even that couldnt slow them down against the New Orleans Hornets. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook scored 31 points apiece and the Thunder overcame injuries to two key backups to beat New Orleans 101-93 Monday night for their 10th straight home win. .com) - The surprising Calgary Flames host the winless New Jersey Devils at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Friday.The Texas Rangers are taking a chance on Tommy Hanson. According to MLB.com, the Rangers and Hanson agreed to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training, pending a physical. The deal is worth $2 million plus incentives according to CBS Sports Jon Heyman. Hanson, 27, went 4-3 with a 5.42 earned-run average and a 1.55 WHIP in 15 appearances with the Los Angeles Angels in 2013. A veeteran of five MLB seasons, Hanson has posted a 49-35 career record between the Angels and Atlanta Braves.dddddddddddd He possesses a 3.80 career ERA and a 1.28 career WHIP, striking out an average of 8.2 batters per nine innings. The Rangers will need at least short-term help in their starting rotation, with lefty Derek Holland having undergone surgery on his left knee in January. ' ' '
