MIAMI – The Toronto Raptors havent defeated the Miami Heat since January 27, 2010, less than five months before the Big Three joined forces in Miami. [url=http://www.thebroncosstoreonline.com/Youth-Brandon-Mcmanus-Broncos- Jerseys/]Brandon McManus Jersey[/url] . Thats 14 consecutive losses to the two-

MIAMI – The Toronto Raptors havent defeated the Miami Heat since January 27, 2010, less than five months before the Big Three joined forces in Miami. Brandon McManus Jersey . Thats 14 consecutive losses to the two-time defending champs, and most of them were over before they even began. Result notwithstanding, Sundays game had a very different feel to it. The Raptors believed they had a chance, they felt like they should win and to their credit, they nearly pulled it out. The mentality has changed and so too have the expectations, evident in the visitors locker room after the teams 102-97 loss at AmericanAirlines Arena. "I like the way our guys fought," coach Dwane Casey said after the loss, his teams first in six games. "But, again, you dont get a win or any medals or anything for losing." "I like what our guys are building. I know where we are. Ive said it, I havent wavered from it. I like the direction were going. Were building something [but when] youre playing against the best, youve got to do the little things and there cant be any slippage." Riding a five-game winning streak, which included an impressive victory over the conference-best Pacers, the Raptors never looked out of place against the second-place Heat. They led by as many as nine in the third, up five going into the fourth quarter and had a chance to tie when Kyle Lowry missed a step-back triple with four seconds remaining. The performance validated the legitimacy of their recent success and proved they can compete with the leagues best. That may be a revelation to those who are just tuning in but it comes as no surprise internally, as Lowry firmly pointed out. "We played the Pacers a couple games ago and played them tough, we played the top two teams tough, theres no moral victories at all," said the Raptors point guard, who had 14 points and nine assists in the loss. "We just know we can play with anybody, weve been saying that for a long time. We could play with anybody." "It says a lot," added DeMar DeRozan after scoring a game-high 26. "It says no matter who we play were going to go out there and play hard. People are going to have to worry about us when we come in their building or they come in our building. Were not no scrub team." DeRozan - who was spectacular in the first half, shooting 8-of-10 - made just two of his eight fourth-quarter attempts, forcing tough jumpers. As a team, the Raptors shot 29 per cent in the final frame and went an uncharacteristically terrible 12-of-21 from the line on the night. LeBron James, who was guarded primarily by sophomore Terrence Ross, went off for 30 points on just 18 shots. They gave up 14 offensive boards - including three on one possession - to the worst offensive rebounding team in the league. A month ago Casey may have focused on the positives, the fact that his team hung in with the champs. Its a process, he would say. Now he expects more, a true indication of their evolution and how far theyve come since they dropped a pair of games to the Heat at home in November. "You shoot 57 per cent from the free throw line, youre not going to beat too many people, I dont care if its [the] Miami Heat or Miami-Dade High School," he said. "The 30th offensive rebounding team in the league and they get 14. Thats not acceptable for us. Our interior people have to do a better job of finding bodies." He was especially critical of 21-year-old Jonas Valanciunas, who held his own in the second half after getting off to a slow start against a smaller Heat lineup. "Second half he played much better [but] first half he didnt do anything," Casey said. "A lot of those offensive rebounds were coming over his back. Hes got to dominate, especially against a smaller centre to be effective, to stay in the game." Still, Valanciunas was on the floor down the stretch, along with Ross and the rest of the Raptors starters. Casey comfortably stood his ground, forcing Miami to match-up with him rather than the other way around. Finally, the Raptors are well on their way to developing and, most importantly, maintaining an identity. "Weve all noticed," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Torontos improvement before the game. Theres no such thing as a "moral victory" in the NBA. In fact, Casey and company couldnt bear to hear the term after the loss but if Sundays game was a litmus test, as Torontos coach suggested pre-game, than the Raptors came out in pretty good shape. "Were a different team than when we played them before," Casey said ahead of Sundays meeting. "But still, we have to have a healthy amount of respect for the Miami Heat." "Were not thinking that were at the level of the team [we played] tonight, were not there yet, but that is our goal. Were striving to be like the Heat." Menelik Watson Jersey . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Demaryius Thomas Jersey .com) - The Milwaukee Bucks will try to get another win on this homestand Thursday night when they welcome the Utah Jazz to the Bradley Center. http://www.thebroncosstoreonline.com/Youth-Emmanuel-Sanders-Broncos-Jerseys/ . Watching them over the past year - and in some cases, two years - has given us a starting point for this seasons Craigs List.NEW YORK -- Frustrated with the lack of playing time in his first year in the NBA last season, Brooklyn Nets reserve forward Mirza Teletovic stayed composed and patient. Now with a chance to contribute, Teletovic is coming up big for the Nets. Teletovic scored 24 of his career-high 34 points in the second quarter and the Nets held on to beat the Dallas Mavericks 107-106 Friday night for their fourth straight win. "Confidence is very important. With the confidence its so much easier to make shots, to move around, to play and do anything on the court," said Teletovic, who shot 12 for 18 from the field including 7 of 11 beyond the 3-point arc. "I think its very important to have patience and wait for your moment. You have to be ready when your name is called. If youre not ready, you cant do anything." The Nets improved to an NBA best 9-1 in January. "I think just the opportunity for him playing, but also his work ethic," coach Jason Kidd said. "He just doesnt show up on game day shooting. Hes been working extremely hard at this game. I think also, a big credit goes to his teammates because they believe in him. As much as coaches believe in him, his teammates in that locker room believe that hes going to do the right thing when he has the ball." Paul Pierce had 12 points and Kevin Garnett added 10 points and 11 rebounds for Brooklyn, which has won seven straight at home, a season-high. Former Net Vince Carter had 19 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 18 points for the Mavs, who lost their second straight game. Brooklyn almost blew a 11-point lead after Teletovic hit a 3-pointer to make it 100-89 with 4:35 left in the fourth quarter. Dallas then mounted a late rally, going on an 11-5 run to close in within two points with 8.1 seconds left in the game. Deron Williams, who came off the bench for the third straight game and posted 18 points and dished out 11 assists, hit one of two free throws to extend the Nets lead to 103-98 with 27.3 left. The Mavs cut the lead down to 103-100 after Donta Ellis made a layup and Brooklyn was able to quickly increase it to 105-100 after Ellis sent Pierce to the free throw line for a pair of successful shots. Shawn Marion managed to bring Dallas withhin three points after two free throws with 10. C.J. Anderson Jersey. left to make it 105-102. Nowitzki then got fouled by Pierce. He hit the first free throw that made it 105-103 but missed the second attempt. Pierce and Andrei Kirilenko each hit a pair of free throws to make it a 107-103 game before Ellis hit a 3-point before time expired. Brooklyn forced 15 turnovers and scored 23 points off of them. "When you give up 23 points off turnovers in a one possession game, its another story teller of the reason we lost," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "We were just poor defensively. Mirza Teletovic hit his first couple of shots and we just let him keep going and you just cant do that." Nowitzki shot 5 for 15 from the field and hit just two 3-pointer in eight attempts, crediting his former teammate, Kidd, who was on the 2011 Dallas championship team, with the game plan that had him off throughout the night. "They didnt stop me from getting the ball but once I got it they double-teamed me pretty good", Nowitzki said. Teletovic and Williams got it going for the Nets in the second quarter after they trailed 21-18. The reserve forward Teletovic tied it 23-all with the first of six 3-pointers he made in the period. He scored 19 of the Nets 23 points in the first six minutes to give them a 41-33 lead with 5:51 left. For Williams, it was his third straight game off the bench since returning to the Nets from a left sprained ankle. The Nets point guard had only one turnover in 35 minutes. Williams understood the tough time that Teletovic went through last season and commended him for the way he handled the tough situation. "It speaks a lot about him. (He was) definitely frustrated a lot last year with his lack of playing time. Mirzas a competitor and hes been one of the top players in Europe for a long time," he said. NOTES: Ever since Kidd switched to a starting lineup of Pierce, Garnett, Joe Johnson, Alan Anderson and Shaun Livingston, the Nets have gone 7-0 this season. All seven wins have come during their last eight games. . Garnett and Pierce travel to Boston for their first game there Sunday night. Both players did not play when the team travelled there for a preseason game in October. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '