Off Topic » lurching 31-foot buzzer-beater just before halftime

TORONTO -- Kyle Lowry scored on an awkward, lurching 31-foot buzzer-beater just before halftime Wednesday, a circus shot that left him sprawled, grinning on his stomach on the Air Canada Centre floor. The Raptors very nearly spoiled what was the point guards finest performance -- in a playoff series full of them -- while holding on for a 115-113 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Lowry poured in 36 points in the victory that gave the Raptors a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series. "He is great, he did a great job," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "But this game tonight, we have got to learn from it because there are so many learning experiences from tonights game. Having the lead, (handling) prosperity, embracing the pressure. "Kyle. . . 36 points is huge. Huge for us." DeMar DeRozan added 23 points, while Jonas Valanciunas finished with 16 and Greivis Vasquez added 15. Amir Johnson chipped in with 11 points for the Raptors who gave up a 26-point lead in the fourth quarter, making for some tense moments at the ACC, but held on for the victory. When asked to describe the emotions of a fourth quarter that saw the Nets score 44 points, Casey answered: "You wouldnt want to hear it." The series heads back to Brooklyns Barclays Center for Game 6 on Friday, and a victory there would send them to a second-round series against the Miami Heat. A Game 7, if necessary, would be Sunday in Toronto. The Raptors controlled the game through the second and third quarters, when it seemed they could do no wrong, and led by 26 points twice late in the third. They headed into the fourth up 91-69 and appeared poised to cruise to an easy victory, but the Nets had plenty of fight left, tying the game at 101 on a three-pointer by Joe Johnson with 3:16 to go, stunning the crowd. Lowry drained the go-ahead three and then scored on a driving hook shot to put Toronto up by three points with 27 seconds left. A three and foul shot by Anderson pulled the Nets to within a point, but Andray Blatche -- with Lowry running right at him -- turned the ball over on a backcourt violation sealing the Raptors victory. "Hes a helluva player," DeRozan said of Lowry. "Its just that dog in him. . . Every time hes out there on the court, understand, Im going to give my best effort, because I know hes going to do the same." Lowry, playing with his right knee in a protective sleeve after injuring it in Game 3 in Brooklyn, has been solid all series, but took it to another level Wednesday, providing all kinds of highlight-reel plays. There was the diving three at the halftime buzzer. There was the 85-foot outlet pass that found an unmarked Terrence Ross under the basket. But the point guard was particularly big down the stretch, taking charges and slicing through the Nets defence for tough buckets. "When we needed a big shot, No. 7 came through. Kyle was unbelievable," said Raptors forward Chuck Hayes. "Theres nothing more you can say. Hes doing it at the right time on the biggest stage. "We need an answer, we call Kyle. Kyle will figure it out." It was the kind of game the Raptors would have coughed up down the stretch last season, and Casey said the team does take something from holding on for a win. "But we cant live that way. Our history has been pretty good in the fourth quarter, but tonight, for whatever reason, they flipped the switch and flipped the script," the coach said. Joe Johnson led the Nets with 30 points, while Mirza Teletovic added 17, and Deron Williams and Alan Anderson finished with 13 apiece. The teams split the first two games in Toronto, and did the same in Games 3 and 4 in Brooklyn. A Game 7, if necessary, would be Sunday in Toronto. "One game at a time and we have to take care of home," said Pierce. "I think we will play better on Friday at home and we will see them back here on Sunday." The capacity ACC crowd of 20,393 that included Drake and rapper 50 Cent -- who dipped his head when the camera was on him to show fans his "Northern Uprising" hat -- was loud all game long, from the moment the fans sang along to O Canada to the final buzzer. The arena was a sea of white, as fans wore their white "We The North" T-shirts. They mocked the Nets by chanting "Broo-klyn!" the traditional chant at the Barclays Center. The Nets even took note, posting on the teams official Twitter account: ".Nets fans take note- this is what a playoff crowd sounds like..set your DVD and take notes .RAPTORSvNETS." Despite the rain and chilly temperatures, some 4,500 fans jammed into Maple Leaf Square outside the ACC to watch the game on the big screen. They were given rain ponchos. Some 1,200 fans were also given black and gold OVO/Raptors lint-rollers, a nod to Drake using a lint-roller while sitting courtside during Game 2. An array of Toronto sports celebrities took the stage, including Toronto FCs Jermain Defoe, Michael Bradley and Julio Cesar, and former Raptors Morris Peterson and Jerome Williams. "Ive never seen support like this. This is special," Defoe said in an on-stage interview. Cesar, wearing a No. 7 Raptors jersey, yelled "Lets go Raptors!" This series has been spirited from Day 1 when Raptors GM Masai Ujiri took the stage and dropped his famous F-bomb about Brooklyn. An enterprising man outside the ACC on Wednesday was selling F--- Brooklyn buttons, three for $5. Fans were wearing the same on T-shirts at the game. Johnson led the way with nine points for Toronto in a first quarter that saw neither team lead by more than six. The Raptors ended the quarter with a 10-2 run capped by a Lowry three-pointer that put Toronto up 28-25 going into the second. The Raptors trailed by four points with just over five minutes to go in the second, but finished the quarter on a 26-4 run capped by Lowrys three, part of a 13-point performance in the quarter for the point guard. The Raptors went into the locker-room at halftime buoyed by a 62-44 lead. The third quarter has been the Raptors nemesis in this series, but not so on Wednesday. They didnt take their foot off the pedal, shooting 58 per cent to twice go ahead by 26 points. Toronto went into the fourth with a 91-69 lead. New Orleans Saint Chauncey Gardner-Johnson Jersey .com) - The Carolina Panthers won for the first time in seven games last week, were without Cam Newton due to a car accident this week, but somehow sit atop the much-maligned NFC South. Cheap New Orleans Saint Jerseys Online . Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. Defensive Depth TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun is reporting the Toronto Maple Leafs have considerable interest in unrestricted free-agent defenceman Dan Boyle. http://www.cheapsaints.com/ . Its a blessing and a burden for nine sons of former NHL players who are all expected to be taken in the first four rounds of the draft this weekend. Cheap New Orleans Saint Gear .com) - The Columbus Blue Jackets rewarded starting goaltender and pending restricted free agent Sergei Bobrovsky with a four-year contract extension on Friday. New Orleans Saint Jerseys Outlet . The Twins announced Thursday the 28-year-old Albers cleared waivers. He will join the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization.NEWARK, N.J. - Before heading to a shootout, New Jersey Devils coach Pete DeBoer took some advice from veteran forward Patrik Elias and inserted little used reserve Jacob Josefson into the lineup.It paid off and ended a whole lot of frustration.Josefson scored the lone goal in the shootout and Cory Schneider made it stand up as the Devils earned a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night.The Devils had dropped an NHL-record 18 straight shootouts, including all 13 last season and one more this season.Hes been really good in the shootout in practice, DeBoer said of Josefson. Patrik keeps bringing up his name and said that he has a knack of scoring in practice. He threw Jos name up there, saying Jos been good.So DeBoer went with it and was rewarded.Michael Ryder forced overtime for New Jersey, scoring the tying goal with 3:27 left in regulation.The Devils hadnt won in a shootout since March 2013, also against Winnipeg.It was our first shootout win in what seems like 10 years, DeBoer said. It was big for us. To say that it lifted a huge weight off my shoulders would be an understatement.We felt that if we could tie it, we had a chance. Im always confident in our players. I knew we were going to win shootouts this year. Im always trying to instil confidence in this group.Josefson, the Devils second shootout shooter, lifted a shot over sprawling goalie Ondrej Pavelec.He was under a lot of pressure, and he made a great shot, DeBoer said of Josefson.New Jersey earned its first home victory in four games this season and snapped the Jets two-game winning streak.Blake Wheeler, who led the Jets with 28 goals last season, netted his fourth of the season in the first period. Wheeler took a great pass from Toby Enstrom as Pavelec headed to the bench during a delayed penalty.We honestly deserved better, Wheeler said. We couldnt capitalize on our opportunities and lett them hang around.dddddddddddd They found a way to tie it up and then won. Its too bad.The Devils tied it when Ryder stole the puck and fired a shot past Pavelec during another delayed penalty. It was Ryders second goal of the season.I managed to get the turnover there, and got it to my stick, Ryder said. I was going to try to go around him (Pavelec), but I was able to get it up high.That set up the shootout dramatics.It was a big play, DeBoer said. We really needed that. It was a big play at the right time. We need our forwards to step up and finish some chances.Pavelec was outstanding in making 27 saves.We should have been able to close this out, Pavelec said. We should find a way to win this.Jets coach Paul Maurice wasnt too upset with the result.It was a pretty good, grind it out type game, Maurice said. It was a pretty solid road game. We didnt give up much. Mistakes happen, and we have to learn from them.Schneider stopped 24 shots through overtime and then three more in the shootout.He was outstanding, DeBoer said. If he doesnt play as well as he did, we wouldnt have anything. After they got the first goal, he was the difference. He gave us a chance to come back and turn it around.In the third period, Winnipegs Mark Scheifele had a breakaway that was stopped by Schneider. Soon after, Wheeler skated in on Schneider and had him beat, but his backhand attempt went wide.NOTES: Jets LW Evander Kane returned after missing eight games with a knee injury. No question, we missed him, Maurice said. He was itching to get back last week, but were glad to have him back today. ... The Devils were without leading scorer Mike Cammalleri, who sustained a jaw injury earlier this week. ... The Devils placed Martin Havlat (lower body) and Jordin Tootoo (foot) on the injured list. ... Jets LW Andrew Ladd recorded six points (four goals, two assists) in the previous four games. Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '