oss hitting three of four attempts and DeRozan, as well

MINNEAPOLIS - Less than 15 minutes after the final buzzer sounded, Kyle Lowry, originally surprised to learn he had recorded his fifth career triple-double and second of the season, lamented his recent shooting slump. "Lately my shot has been off," said Lowry, fresh off a 20-point, 12-rebound, 11-assist performance in the Raptors 111-104 victory over the Timberwolves. "Ive been in a crazy slump for me. Imma find my way out of it." Demanding the best from himself and his team has become the norm for a player that led Toronto in more ways than one on Sunday. Lowry shot just 5-of-13 from the field but it didnt seem to matter much because he did almost everything else. The Raptors point guard knocked down nine of his 10 free throws, netted a couple of steals, found teammates for big shots throughout the evening and helped change the game with his rebounding. As a team, it was their hot shooting that kept the Raptors afloat in the first half, even leading by one at intermission. However, that lead seemed unsustainable at the rate in which Minnesota dominated the trenches. Late in the third quarter, as Lowry wrestled the ball from Nikola Pekovic - a ferocious rebounder with 80 pounds and nearly a foot on the Raptors guard - to give his team another possession, it was clear the momentum had swung. "He did a good job of getting in there, penetrating, finding people," Dwane Casey said of Lowry. "We needed all of his rebounds, especially with the way they crash the boards. He just had an all-around game." After giving up 10 offensive rebounds in the first half - it was the 12th time theyve surrendered at least 10 offensive boards in the last 17 games - the Raptors allowed just six in the seconds half, doubling Minnesotas efforts on the boards, 28-14. Lowry, who had nine rebounds in the final 24 minutes, and his nose for the ball seemed to rub off and inspire his teammates. "Its crazy," DeMar DeRozan said of Lowrys effort. "We all look at one another and realize, what can I do to help him out?" "Just seeing him going there, sometimes he comes out of nowhere and you see him snatch a ball out of a bigs hand, or coming over the top like he has a 42-inch vertical or something. Thats just Kyle, man. Hes hungry for the ball every time the ball goes up." His passion, like his tenacity, has been contagious and his backcourt partner appears to have caught the bug. With just over a minute to go and the shot clock ticking down, up seven, DeRozan took a pass from Lowry. Situated in the left corner, with the Wolves Corey Brewer in his face, he drained the dagger, a three-pointer to put the Raptors up 10. On his way to the Raptors huddle, Minnesota having just called a timeout, a fired-up DeRozan turned to the Wolves bench and shouted a couple of R-rated words that did not sit well with coach Rick Adelman. "They got a little hyped when they made a couple of buckets," said DeRozan, who finished with 25 points. "I kind of got it from Greivis (Vasquez). When he hits a big shot, he always shows off a little bit. Its the competitive level thats in all of us when you hit a big shot." "I like the passion," Casey added. "I think all of our guys are playing with passion, we have to channel it and get it going in the right direction, at the other team. I do like that." It was a rare showing of on-court emotion for the quiet all-star guard but something weve seen a lot more of over the last few weeks. Lowry, who is known for wearing his heart on his sleeve, approves. "When youre an all-star, youre growing up, your true self starts to come out a little bit," he said of his teammate. "Hes a quiet guy but when youre winning and youre a leader, youve got to do it." Listed at a generous 6-feet, Lowry is averaging just under five rebounds per game, good for fourth among NBA point guards, behind only Russell Westbrook, Michael Carter-Williams and Rajon Rondo. Lowry is shooting just 32 per cent from the field, 29 per cent from three-point range - down from 39 per cent on the season - over his last eight games. Its barely affected his overall value to the team and it certainly hasnt hurt the bottom line. Toronto has won six of those eight games and nine of its last 11 contests, surpassing last seasons win total with its 35th victory on Sunday. Without sixth-man Patrick Patterson in the lineup - the Raptors learned he will miss at least 7-10 days with a ligament injury in his right elbow before the game - Steve Novak and Chuck Hayes stepped in and filled that role seamlessly. Hayes strength and on-the-ball defence came in handy against all-star forward Kevin Love - who just missed out on a triple-double, with 26 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists - and Novak knocked down five of his six shots from beyond the arch, contributing 15 points in 19 minutes off the bench. As a team, the Raptors shot 14-of-24 from long distance, with Terrence Ross hitting three of four attempts and DeRozan, as well as Vasquez each drilling a couple threes. The victory was Torontos 18th in its previous 19 meetings with the Wolves, sweeping the season-series for the eighth time in the last 10 years. Now nine games above the .500 mark for the first time this season, the Raptors will travel to Brooklyn to face the Nets - who sit four games back for top spot in the Atlantic Division - in the second night of a back-to-back, for both teams, on Monday. Terrell Edmunds Steelers Jersey . Steve has built a solid reputation throughout the years - first as a hockey player, then as an NHL general manager and now as a scout. Terrell Edmunds Jersey .C. -- The Edmonton Oilers used a late-power-play goal to get a hard-fought road victory. http://www.steelersrookiestore.com/Steelers-Mason-Rudolph-Jersey/ . LOUIS -- The St. Chukwuma Okorafor Steelers Jersey . Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane wanted to stay in Chicago and the Blackhawks wanted to keep the high-scoring forwards in the only NHL uniform they have ever known. Custom Pittsburgh Steelers Jerseys . Better still, its in the same team and there are 13 races left for it to develop.Charlie Daniels says it is essential Bournemouth hang onto manager Eddie Howe in order to keep progressing as a club. Howe has guided the Cherries past the 40-point mark in their debut campaign in the top-flight and, with only four matches remaining, are almost certain to be playing Premier League football next season. When asked what the club would need to do to keep on progressing, Daniels told Sky Sports Now: We need to keep Eddie Howe at the club. He is at the forefront of what this club is about. His philosophies and everything that goes with it is based around the family club that we have and the team spirit that we have in the team. Daniels has been in fine form this season and was linked with an England call-up And if we can stick with him and bring people in that work with our philosophies and have the same confidence and personality already in the squad, theres no reason why we cant progress.He added: Two years before I signed, the club were close to going bust. They were completely gone and it was only through the fans and a couple of local people that actually put their hands in their pockets and actually gave money to the tax man that kept the club going. Is Howe due more credit? Does Eddie Howe deserve more credit for the job he has done at Boournemouth? Thankfully weve grown from then and the fans have grown with us.dddddddddddd The strides we have made each season is really for them. The way the club is growing on and off the pitch, the new stadium, a new stand is going to be built come the end of the season, weve got a new training ground and hopefully, if we can keep things going and progressing in the Premier League, we can make it into a big club. Daniels has scored three times in 33 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth Left-back Daniels, who joined Bournemouth from Leyton Orient in 2011, has enjoyed a fine debut season in the Premier League, leading to speculation he could receive an England call-up ahead of this summers European Championships in France. But Daniels, who is preparing to get married in the summer, says his focus was always on Bournemouth. It was just nice to be linked with England and to be talked about, the 28-year-old said. There was a few things in the papers and little things like that.But for me, it was about fully concentrating on playing for Bournemouth and picking up points because we were on a good run and were close to breaking that 40-point barrier. Also See: Liverpool win at Bournemouth Elphick: Bournemouth aiming high Howe to be patient with Wilson Is Howe due more credit? 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