Brandon Pirri scored in a shootout to lift
TORONTO -- Patrick Patterson knows his role and, usually, its making an impact off the bench. But on Monday, the back-up forward got his first start since coming to Toronto two months ago and made the most of it, pouring in a season-high 22 points as the Raptors defeated New Orleans 108-101. "My role doesnt change whether its starting, or whether Im coming off the bench," said Patterson, who learned earlier in the day he would join the starting five in place of Amir Johnson, sidelined with a right ankle injury. "Setting screens, rebounding, shooting my shot, running the floor in transition and making my teammates better." Patterson, who came over to Toronto from the Sacramento Kings on Dec. 9 in a seven-player trade that sent Rudy Gay West, did all of that Monday in his first start in 30 games as a Raptor. He was a tidy 7-for-11 from the field -- including 3-for-5 from three-point range -- had six rebounds and added two assists. In his fourth season in the NBA, Patterson had 54 career starts, the majority with the Houston Rockets, coming into Monday night. He had started just six games this season, all with Sacramento. "Its all about making sure I have a positive role," Patterson said his rare start. Pattersons 22 points was one more than he had for the Kings against the Los Angeles Clippers Nov. 23. "Fifteen deep. Thats how we play. Thats how we role," starting point guard Kyle Lowry said of Pattersons ability to step into the line-up. "We won. Everybody stepped up." Lowry had another complete performance, scoring 19 points, doling out 12 assists and grabbing seven rebounds while DeMar DeRozan added 22 points as the Raptors (27-24) snapped a two-game losing streak before a crowd of 17,596 at Air Canada Centre. With the win, the Raptors, returning home from a five-game road trip out West, widened their lead over the Brooklyn Nets atop the NBAs Atlantic Division to three games. Toronto, 8-2 at home since Jan. 1, plays seven of its next nine at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors host the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday in their final game before the All-Star break. "We want to get both wins at home, protect home court and go into the break with a great conscience and try to hit the stretch run running," Lowry said of the teams approach to this weeks two games. The Raptors squandered a 15-point lead in the second quarter to go into halftime tied at 49. They then built up an 18-point edge in the third but again saw the Pelicans (22-29) battle back. Tyreke Evans had a game-high 23 points and 10 assists to lead New Orleans. Anthony Davis added 19. New Orleans went on a 16-5 run over the opening 5:10 of the fourth quarter to cut the Toronto lead to 87-86. But the Raptors responded with an 11-3 run over the next 2:30 to pull away for the victory. "For whatever reason, we are losing our leads with our second unit," said Raptors head coach Dwane Casey. "What its doing is putting a lot of pressure on our starters and them in big minute situations." DeRozan logged 40:21 and Lowry put in 38:48 to lead in court time among all players. "Taking Patrick Patterson off the second unit hurts them a bit," Casey said. "But still we have to get a rhythm with that second unit so we can rest our starters." Cheap Lions Jerseys .A. Happ? Happs seven wins are second on the staff to Mark Buehrles 10. Win-loss record is an antiquated stat, sure, but win total is generally an indication of a pitchers ability to work deep into games, enough to be personally affected by the result. Tracy Walker Stitched Jersey .com) - The Winnipeg Jets got over one hurdle by snapping their longest losing streak of the season. http://www.officiallionsnflauthenticsho ... ed-jersey/. On Tuesday, the star questioned whether that was still the case. Speaking to reporters at a charity event, Johnson said: "I just kind of wonder sometimes: Is this still the place for me?" Johnsons comments came after he was asked why he recently skipped a voluntary minicamp. Tyrell Crosby Stitched Jersey . Today, well look at five frontcourt players today, here from the Bay Area. 1. AMIR JOHNSON (Raptors): I cant figure out what the issue or problem is, but based upon what Im seeing, hes not right. Kerryon Johnson Stitched Jersey . And former Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson certainly knows his pain. "Its pretty hard to coach there without allowing some of these things to kind of affect you," Wilson told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun in his ESPN.SUNRISE, Fla. - Roberto Luongo helped the Florida Panthers rally for a win. Vincent Trocheck and Brandon Pirri scored in a shootout to lift the Florida Panthers past the Ottawa Senators 3-2 on Tuesday night. Trocheck also scored in regulation and Sean Bergenheim scored a goal for the Panthers. Luongo made 37 saves. "Some nights you see the puck better than others, and tonight was one of those nights," Luongo said. Clarke MacArthur and Mark Stone scored for the Senators and Robin Lehner stopped 39 shots. Trocheck moved the puck back and forth in front of Lehner before slipping it past him in the shootout. "Thats my go-to move," said Trocheck, who scored his third goal of the season since making his NHL debut on March 6. "Luckily theres no video of me doing it in the NHL. I pull that move almost 90 per cent of the time." Kyle Turris scored in the shootout for Ottawa, but Luongo turned aside attempts by Jason Spezza and made a glove save on Milan Michalek to seal the win. "We go over every shootout before the game. That was one of his moves he likes to make, and as soon as he brought it to his backhand, I just slid hard knowing he was going to try and put it over my glove," Luongo said. The Panthers snapped a three-game losing streak. The Senators have lost nine of 10. "Goaltending was on display tonight," Senators coach Paul MacLean said. "Both goaltenders dictated the game and what the result was going to be." Three goals were scored in the final four minutes of the second, two by Florida. Trailing 2-0, the Panthers scored two goals 23 seconds apart. Bergenheim made it 2-1 wwhen his one-timer from the bottom of the right circle hit the post and went in at 17:32.dddddddddddd. Trocheck tied the score at 2. He took a pass from Scottie Upshall in front and his wrist shot beat Lehner on the glove side at 17:55. Aside from that lapse to end the second, Lehner was solid in goal. "We had a few minutes in the second where we got away from our structure a bit, and they capitalized," Lehner said. "We regrouped in the third and played solid." The Senators went ahead 2-0 on MacArthurs power-play goal. Patrick Wiercioch fired a shot from above the left circle and MacArthur was able to tip it past Luongo at 16:11 of the second. Ottawa took a 1-0 lead in the second period on the goal by Stone. Stone took a pass from Erik Karlsson low in the left circle. His wrist shot got past Luongo at 11:34. It was the second goal of the season for Stone, who was recalled from AHL Binghamton for the second time this season on March 23. Luongos play even impressed the Senators. "You could tell he was in a zone tonight," Turris said. "We gave them those quick ones (in the second) to tie it and let them back in it. ... Luongo made some unbelievable saves to keep them in it and took it through overtime." Bergenheim thought he had a goal in the first period but officials blew the whistle before the puck hit the net. NOTES: MacArthur has 10 points (four goals, six assists) during a seven-game streak against the Panthers. ... Senators forward Bobby Ryan missed his second consecutive game with a lower-body injury. ... Panthers forward Jesse Winchester returned after missing eight games with a lower-body injury. 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