Anti-Spam Discussion Forums

[linchao]

TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors already have the most regular-season wins in their history and will finish first in the Eastern Conference [url=http://www.washingtoncapitalsteamshop.com/authentic-riley-sutter-jersey]Riley Sutter Capitals Jersey[/url] , but hope to accomplish more.

The Raptors defeated the Indiana Pacers 92-73 on Friday night to earn their 57th win of the season, which surpasses their previous best of 56, and clinched first place in the conference for the first time.

“It’s gratification but you are not satisfied, I guess is how I would like to put it because we haven’t got to our ultimate goal,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said.

The Raptors (57-22) conclude their home schedule Sunday when they play the Orlando Magic (24-55) at the Air Canada Centre. They have two more road games to complete their regular season and will have the home-court advantage through the Eastern Conference playoffs.

“It is a feeling of gratification in the fact of where we started,” Casey said. “Seven years ago, at the bottom of the conference so to speak, bottom of offense, defense and the building process. … DeMar DeRozan coming from a young skinny kid at USC to where he is now. Kyle Lowry coming in and Jonas (Valanciunas) coming from Lithuania and growing, going through his growing pains.”

The Raptors, who have set a team record with 33 home victories, have won 17 of their past 20 games against Orlando [url=http://www.redskinsfootballauthentics.com/pernell-mcphee-jersey-authentic]Youth Pernell McPhee Jersey[/url] , including both meetings this season. Toronto has swept the season-series with the Magic four times in team history, most recently in 2014-15.

While Toronto is hoping for a long playoff run, Orlando is looking at a possible lottery pick in the NBA draft.

The Charlotte Hornets defeated a depleted Orlando lineup 137-100 on Friday night.

Injuries have beset the Magic. Evan Fournier and Terrence Ross have been out with knee injuries and Jonathon Simmons also missed his ninth straight game with a right wrist contusion. Aaron Gordon (sore right calf) and Nikola Vucevic (tight lower back) also were scratched from the lineup Friday.

Talented rookie Jonathan Isaac will miss his fourth straight game Sunday with a sprained left ankle and his injury-plagued season could be over.

“Unless he turns a corner, there is a good chance he doesn’t play again this year,” Magic coach Frank Vogel said. “The emphasis of his offseason will be to strengthen his lower extremities.”

The Magic had four G-League callups in the lineup Friday and the team had a slow start, forcing Vogel to call two timeouts before eight minutes had been played.

“Our four young guys, they got opportunities to play extended minutes and earn jobs and make a name for themselves, and they did not take advantage of that opportunity tonight,” Vogel said.

The Raptors, meanwhile, hope the end of the regular season is just a beginning.

“I mean it just shows you once you put your mind to something to work towards, a goal [url=http://www.authenticsnewyorkgiants.com/cheap-will-hernandez-jersey]Will Hernandez Color Rush Jersey[/url] , it can be accomplished,” DeRozan said. “We did that, now you know we have another goal that we want to reach as well, so it just gives us that confidence to know we can do it and take it to another level.”

Added Lowry: “This year we didn’t know what to expect. We knew things were going to be different and once we got into the season, we started playing well and kept going.”

On the night of Feb. 27, it became clear just how much fun a postseason meeting between the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators could be.

Putting on what amounted to a track meet on skates, Winnipeg and Nashville swapped goals all night long at Bell MTS Place. The Jets twice took two-goal leads, but the Predators rallied, winning 6-5 when trade deadline acquisition Ryan Hartman scored in the last minute.

The Central Division rivals, who finished with the two highest point totals in the NHL, will start what figures to be a high-scoring Western Conference semifinal series Friday night at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

“They’re obviously a really dangerous team offensively [url=http://www.steelerscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-terrell-edmunds-jersey]Authentic Terrell Edmunds Jersey[/url] , but there were some fun games,” Predators captain Roman Josi said of the Jets. “They’re a great team. They have a lot of firepower up front, they’ve got a great goalie, great defense. It’s going to be a fun series and I’m really excited for it.”

Nashville had to wait a bit longer than anticipated before it could start preparing for Winnipeg. It had to go six games before eliminating Colorado, doing so emphatically Sunday with a 5-0 decision that included Pekka Rinne’s fourth career playoff shutout and three points for the first time in 81 postseason games for center Nick Bonino.

Winnipeg took care of business against Minnesota, sending the Wild to the golf course in five games. Its 5-0 victory in Game 5 on April 20 included a second consecutive playoff shutout for Connor Hellebuyck, as well as Mark Scheifele’s fourth goal of the series and two assists for Dustin Byfuglien.

In five regular-season meetings, Nashville and Winnipeg combined for 42 goals, the Predators scoring 22. Nashville won three games, taking two of the three matchups at home.

“It’s a high-event game. There’s lot of action all the time,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said. “The game doesn’t really slow down when we play. There aren’t blocks of time where teams are just dumping pucks and playing the same game. It’s very intense and very exciting for the full 60.”

Kevin Fiala and Kyle Turris each scored three goals against Winnipeg to lead Nashville.

Nikolaj Ehlers was the Jets’ top goal-scorer against the Predators with three. Nashville center Ryan Johansen tallied nine points in the season series, collecting eight assists [url=http://www.brownscheapstore.com]Youth Cleveland Browns Jerseys[/url] , and Kyle Connor and Blake Wheeler led Winnipeg with six points each.

As befits a matchup of the teams with the league’s top point total, there simply isn’t much difference across the board.

The Jets were second in the NHL in goals and the Predators were seventh. Nashville was second in the league in fewest goals allowed and Winnipeg was fifth.

Simply put, this has the earmarks of a long series, one that could feel like a Stanley Cup final two rounds early.

“They’re a skilled group, they’re a fast group,” Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm said of the Jets. “We can’t be worried too much about what they’re going to do. We have to be worried about the way we approach games.

“If we can keep playing like we did in that last game in Colorado, I think we have a good chance.”

.