BOSTON -- DeMar DeRozan understands that a playoff berth for the Raptors has meaning beyond Torontos locker room. Frank Gore Jersey . Terrence Ross scored 24 points, Kyle Lowry 23 and the Raptors edged closer to their first playoff spot since 2008 with a 99-90 win over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night. "Not just the franchise, the whole city of Toronto and Canada," said DeRozan, sitting at his locker with his left foot in a bucket of ice. "Ive been here five years and see how passionate the fans are. It definitely means a lot. We feed off them, the energy they bring every single night. That would be great for the city and we have to take advantage of the opportunity." DeRozan added 20 points for Toronto, which increased its Atlantic Division lead to 2 1/2 games over Brooklyn. The Raptors could have clinched a playoff spot if the Knicks lost at Sacramento later Wednesday, but New York beat the Kings 107-99. It was Lowrys eighth straight game of 20 or more points and helped the Raptors snap an 11-game losing streak in Boston. "Im not going to lie," Lowry said. "I think everybody tonight is rooting for that Western Conference team over there." The Raptors are also chasing a division title. They face Boston in the back end of a home and home on Friday. "We cant be satisfied just making the playoffs," DeRozan said. "We could go out there and play four games and be home. Weve worked too hard to get to this point just to slow down and pace ourselves. Weve got a long, long way to go." Jared Sullinger led Boston with 26 points, going 4 of 6 from 3-point range, and Avery Bradley scored 16. Boston lost for the seventh time in eight games. "Sully got hot and I thought even though we were really undersized we played pretty well in that time," Boston coach Brad Stevens said. Toronto captured its 19th road win, one off the club record set 2000-01. Boston guard Rajon Rondo was cut on the forehead midway into the third quarter and received nine stitches. He returned to the bench early in the fourth quarter with a bandage that ran from the bridge of his nose straight up to his forehead and he re-entered the game with 8:05 to play. He finished with 15 assists and nine points. "I think it obviously says a lot," Stevens said. "He wants to play and I think the most important part about it is he came back in and guarded DeRozan. He went after it and I think he did a pretty good job on him." The Raptors had opened a 79-64 lead early the fourth quarter, but Boston went on a 9-0 run. Toronto pushed it back to 85-75 before Sullinger nailed consecutive 3s 34 seconds apart, narrowing it to four points with just under 6 minutes to play. "I saw that Rondo went down so I saw that we needed production, so I took it upon myself and just tried to get the best shots possible," Sullinger said. Chris Johnsons basket -- on an officials reviewed goaltending call -- closed it to 93-90 with 1:49 left, but Lowry and Ross hit consecutive 3s on the next two possessions to send the Raptors to the victory. In the third quarter, Lowry nailed consecutive 3s on Torontos first two possessions, pushing the Raptors lead to 61-46. They held at least a nine-point lead for the rest of the quarter, opening it to 77-62 after Ross nailed a 3 at the buzzer. Toronto, which blew an 11-point second-quarter lead in less than 2 minutes, held a 55-46 advantage at halftime. NOTES: A few minutes before the opening tip-off and about 10 after the National Anthems were completed, the Celtics asked the crowd to rise for a moment of silence to honour two Boston firefighters that were killed battling a fire in the citys Back Bay section -- about three kilometres away. ... Stevens praised Raptors G Lowry before the game. "(He) is playing terrific," Stevens said. "He was arguably an All-Star earlier. He makes a lot of plays that dont go talked about." ... Sullinger had 25 points and 20 rebounds when the Celtics beat the Raptors at home on Jan. 15. He had eight boards on Wednesday. Frank Gore Colts Jersey . -- Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Sidney Rice tweeted an apparent goodbye after a report about his pending release. Andre Johnson Colts Jersey .J. - Starting isnt an issue for New York Giants running back Andre Brown.CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona has said all season that Carlos Santana will hit. That faith is finally being rewarded. Santanas leadoff homer in the fourth inning lifted Cleveland to a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night and continued a hot June for a hitter who struggled for the first two months. "It was inevitable," Francona said. "Hes too good a hitter." The win, which was also sparked by Asdrubal Cabreras two-run homer in the first, moved the Indians (36-35) over the .500 mark. Although Santana is hitting .191 for the season, hes batting .333 (13 for 39) with three homers and nine RBIs in June. "The good thing is, its not just singles, hes going to hit home runs and get extra base hits," Francona said. "We survived to a point with him really being cold and as hes getting hot its going to help our offence." Both home runs came off Jered Weaver (7-6), who lost for the first time in 10 career starts at Progressive Field. Weaver was 6-0 and allowed 11 earned runs in 60 1-3 innings in nine starts at the Indians ballpark going into the game. The Indians managed to win despite having a thin bullpen, forcing starter Trevor Bauer (2-3) to throw 119 pitches -- a season high for Cleveland -- in 6 2-3 innings. With closer Cody Allen and setup man Bryan Shaw both unavailable after pitching the last three days, Carlos Carrasco worked 2 1-3 innings for his first career save. "Carlos pitched really well, that was a huge lift for us," Francona said. "The way he was pitching I didnt want to take him out, and there was no reason to take him out." Indians left fielder Michael Brantley left the game in the fifth for precautionary reasons after receiving a blow to the head and neck area while trying to break up a double play in the third. "He banged the side of his head on that slide," Francona said. "He passed all the concussion tests, which is good. His neck is a little stiff. Well see how he is when he comes in (Tuesday)." The Angels have lost four of five since winning five straight. Weaver allowed four runs in six innings. The right-handers 1.64 ERA going into Monday was the lowest in ballpark history with a minimum of 50 innings pitched, acccording to STATS LLC. T.Y. Hilton Womens Jersey. . Weaver had allowed three earned runs in 43 innings over his last six starts in Cleveland before losing Monday. "I know that Ive thrown well in this park but I didnt know that it was that good," he said. "Nothing else to say, just cant stay away from the homer." Bauer, who pitched around trouble all game, allowed three runs for his first win since May 20 and wasnt bothered by his high pitch count. "I can go 130, 150 or 200," he said. "I did that in college. Im used to throwing." Carrasco, who was moved to the bullpen last month after pitching poorly as a starter, struck out Howie Kendrick to end the seventh and worked around a walk and a single in the eighth. He retired Mike Trout and Albert Pujols to start the ninth and struck out Josh Hamilton on three pitches to end the game. "I want to help the team whether its starting or in the bullpen," Carrasco said. "Right now the bullpen is where I am." Cabreras homer gave Cleveland the lead, but Chris Iannetta tied the game with a two-run double in the second. After the Indians went ahead again on Brantleys RBI single in the third, John McDonalds sacrifice fly in the fourth tied the game. Santana homered deep into the seats in right field on a 2-2 pitch. The switch-hitter is 10 for 19 with two homers lifetime against Weaver. Cabreras drive cleared the 19-foot wall in left field. Angels manager Mike Scioscia came on the field to speak with the umpires, but the call was upheld after a crew chief review. McDonald started at shortstop in place of Erick Aybar, who has a sore left hip. Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving took batting practice with the Indians and threw out the first pitch. NOTES: Aybar had a pinch-hit single in the eighth. ... Francona said RHP Zach McAllister (sore back) will start Thursday. McAllister has been on the 15-day DL since May 22. ... LHP Tyler Skaggs (strained right hamstring) will pitch a simulated game Tuesday. ... The Indians signed LHP Justus Sheffield, the 31st overall pick in the draft. Sheffield, 18, turned down an offer from Vanderbilt to sign with Cleveland. ... Angels RHP Matt Shoemaker (3-1) faces RHP Josh Tomlin (4-3) on Tuesday. Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Cheap MLS Soccer Jerseys ' ' '
