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CLEVELAND - With just over a minute remaining in a three-point contest, Kyrie Irving, Clevelands lethal late-game weapon, barrelled into the lane as Kyle Lowry stood in his way, positioned above the restricted area. Mired in an offensive slump, Lowry - the NBAs leader in taking charges this season - did what he has learned to do best, standing his ground and drawing a crucial offensive foul on the Cavaliers all-star point guard. Fast forward 30 seconds to the Cavs next possession, with the home team still trailing by three, Spencer Hawes - one of the leagues best passing big men - threw an interception, intended for Tyler Zeller and picked off by DeMar DeRozan. The Raptors two best players, their two leading scorers, made the two most important plays of Tuesdays 99-93 win over Cleveland. That much is not unusual. Of note though is both of those plays came on the defensive end. "Those defensive plays are deflation plays for the opposition," said Lowry, who struggled with his shot, hitting just three of 15 attempts from the field and misfiring on all nine of his jumpers from three-point range. "Its definitely fun to step up for the team in those situations." Lowry didnt think twice when faced with a split-second decision, one hes made time and time again in high-pressure situations during his breakout campaign. "Those are winning plays," he said, asked about the art of drawing a charge, crediting the tutelage of former teammate Shane Battier, whom he called "one of the best charge takers" in the league. DeRozans steal was just as vital, if not more so, to the teams sixth win in the last seven games and second over Cleveland in a span of five days. "He was like a free safety out there," Lowry said, shortly before DeRozan - in conversation with the media - made yet another reference to Seahawks cornerback and fellow Compton-native Richard Sherman. "I kind of anticipated it, I read the play a little bit," said DeRozan, who also made his share of big offensive plays, scoring 16 of his game-high 33 points in the fourth quarter, adding six assists without turning the ball over. "They ran it earlier in the game. I knew they were going to look for it and I just went for it." Toronto, and DeRozan in particular, has come up short when faced with one final possession, one final shot in the past. Both guards heeded their coachs direction this time around. It didnt come down to a last-second heave. The Raptors won with timely defence. After enjoying a much-improved first quarter following a series of slow starts, the Raptors struggled on both ends of the floor during the meat of the game. Nothing was falling for Lowry - a 39 per cent three-point shooter on the season - and the team was accumulating sloppy turnovers at an uncharacteristically alarming rate for the second straight contest. Almost foreshadowing the nights eventual result, Casey was asked how to prevent his team from allowing its offence to dictate defensive effort prior to the game. "I havent discovered it yet in my 30 years of coaching," he responded. "Its the same in college, [in the] pros and its been that way for a long time. A lot of guys have to see the ball go through the basket to get themselves going on the other end, which you dont want, you preach against but I think its human nature." For at least one night, his team and his point guard bucked that trend. "That was one example of a guy not letting his offence dictate his defence," Casey said of Lowry, who also added nine assists, made all seven of his free-throw attempts and could have drawn a couple more charges if not for a pair of close calls that didnt go his way. "Thats how you have to play," Lowry added. "Youre not going to have great games all the time. Youre not going to shoot 10-for-12 every night or 20-for-30. Youre always going to have some sort of off game but you cant let that stop you from helping your team win a game." Terrence Ross bailed him out offensively, scoring what DeRozan called a "quiet 19 points", knocking down five of his eight shots from long distance. With the win, the Raptors climb seven games above the .500 mark for the first time in six years. It ensures theyll have a winning record for a third consecutive month, accomplishing that feat for the first time since 2007. Adam Duvall Jersey . Hoffman, the former star closer, will evaluate and help co-ordinate all pitchers at Double-A, Triple-A and the big league team. Byrnes says Hoffman "will be a key part of finishing the development of our younger pitchers. Cliff Pennington Jersey . Early in the first period, Stuart pinched in from the blue line, hit Nash and was assessed a minor penalty for elbowing. Nash remained in the game for the rest of the first period, but did not return for the second. http://www.redsgearshop.com/Reds-Tom-Seaver-Kids-Jersey/ . 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. Chris Sabo Jersey . Chris Heisey connected for his first grand slam and Devin Mesoraco homered and drove in a career high-tying four runs as Cincinnati took advantage of Tampa Bays depleted pitching staff for a 12-4 victory on Sunday. Anthony DeSclafani Jersey . Cornet won six straight games to rally from a 2-0 deficit and take the first set. The 25th-ranked Frenchwoman broke back twice in the second set before Bacsinszky saved a match point at 5-4.CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks knew their Friday night game with the Anaheim Ducks was a marquee matchup, and they came out ready. Marian Hossa scored two goals, and Kris Versteeg and Bryan Bickell also tallied to lead Chicago past Anaheim 4-2 to end the Ducks eight-game winning streak and hand them only their second loss in the past 20 games. Despite scuffling along at 1-1-3 in its past five games, defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago entered the game with the NHLs second-best point total. And through most of the showdown against league-leading Anaheim, the Blackhawks were a step quicker and more determined physically. "We knew wed be facing the hottest team in the league," Hossa said. "We knew we had to stop them somehow. "We got scored on the last few minutes, but we still got the two points, which is important." With Chicago cruising 3-0, Anaheims Ryan Getzlaf scored on a wrist shot to cap an odd-man break with 6:13 left in the third to end Corey Crawfords shutout bid. Then Kyle Palmieri connected on a 40-foot shot 53 seconds later to make it close before Hossa scored into an empty net with 7.6 seconds left. Crawford made 19 saves to help the Blackhawks end a five-game losing streak against Anaheim -- including three straight in Chicago -- and beat the Ducks for the first time since December 2011. And Chicago made its statement. "Everybody comes into this building and playing us as the defending Stanley Cup champion, everybodys got their game high," Hossa said. "Now were playing the team in first, and everybody in the dressing room can feel the intensity. "Everybody prepared really well. We always have trouble playing this team. Thats why the win is big." Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville liked what he saw for most of the game. "We had a good purpose, it seemed, every shift," Quenneville said. "All of a sudden its 3-2 and anything can happen at the end. "But we got out of this one, but for the most part, the other 54 minutes, we played the right way." Anaheims run of 18 wins in 19 games began with a 3-2 shootout victory at Chicago on Dec. 6. It was the longest span of one-loss play since the 1967-68 Montreal Canadiens won a record 20 of 21. "I think we were ready, but we were really tentative," Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said. "We were sitting around and watching them as though we were watching the Stanley Cup champions rather than playing. "Maybe with all the pressure weve gotten in the last two days, some guys maybe werent ready for this," he added. "Its a learning experience. To be on top theres a commitment you have to make or you dont stay they very long." Anaheim goalie Jonas Hiller was sharp and made 31 saves, but his 14-game winning streak ended..ddddddddddddThat run tied him for second-longest in NHL history with four other goalies. Hiller hadnt lost since a shootout defeat to Los Angeles on Dec. 3. "I think it was definitely not our best game," Hiller said. "If you play a team like the Blackhawks, you cant just try to work for half a period or one period and hope you win." Chicago outshot the Ducks 35-21. Versteeg collided with Bickell behind the Anaheim net at the end of the second period and didnt skate in the third. Hes out day to day with an upper-body injury. Chicago outshot Anaheim 15-8 in the first period and led 2-0 after 20 minutes. The Blackhawks dominated early, and Hossa opened the scoring with a short-handed goal at 10:34. Toews skated quickly out of the Chicago zone and sent the puck to Hossa on right wing. As Toews streaked down the slot, Hossa faked, used Anaheim defenceman Cam Fowler as a screen and fired a low shot under Hillers pads. It was the first time the Blackhawks had opened the scoring since Jan. 3, a span of six games. Versteeg made it 2-0 with 2:54 left in the period when he batted in a loose puck that two Ducks players couldnt handle. Anaheims Matt Beleskey knocked the puck away from Versteeg as he tried to cut in from the right corner, but it deflected off defenceman Sami Vatanen and toward the net. Versteeg got a piece of the flipping puck and directed it past Hiller. Crawford made a point-blank pad save on Corey Perry with 1:13 left to maintain Chicagos two-goal lead. He stopped Saku Koivu on a short-handed 2-on-1 break early in the scoreless second. Aided by three power plays, Blackhawks outshot the Ducks 11-3 in the middle period. Bickell made it 3-0 at 10:13 of the third. He gained a step on Anaheim defenceman Ben Lovejoy, plowed down the slot and fired. Hiller got a piece of the shot, but it rolled over him and into the net. After Getzlaf cut it to 3-1 with 6:13 left, Palmieri fooled Crawford on a low 40-foot shot from the slot 53 seconds later to set up a wild finish. The Ducks pressured and pulled Hiller for an extra attacker with 1:10 left, but couldnt tie it. NOTES: The Ducks announced D Sheldon Souray will miss the season after another operation on his right wrist. Souray, 37, was injured during summer training and he never got on the ice in his second year in Anaheim. ... Ducks D Bryan Allen returned after missing five games with a lower-body injury. ... Chicago leading scorer Patrick Kane has no goals and just three assists in nine games following a career-high 14-game point streak during which he had eight goals and 17 assists. ... Anaheim sent top goalie prospect John Gibson back to the minors without making his NHL debut and assigned long-injured D Luca Sbisa to the AHL on a conditioning loan before Fridays game. 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