Eastern Conference playoff picture. B

WASHINGTON -- It took the Toronto Raptors a little while to get going in their first game since the All-Star break. Guard Kyle Lowry eventually provided a jump start. Lowry had 24 points and 10 assists as the Raptors broke open a close game in the third quarter and held on for a 103-93 win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night. "He took the game over in the middle of the third quarter and willed us to a win," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. Leading by six at halftime, the Atlantic Division leading Raptors pushed the lead to 17 as DeMar DeRozans driving layup started a 15-2 run midway through the third quarter. Lowry scored nine of the 15 points with a variety of shots, including a driving lay-up, a short fall-away jumper and a corner 3-pointer that made it 78-61 late in the period. He played the entire 12 minutes scored 14 points in the quarter. "I just was getting more looks, trying to attack a little more" said Lowry, who wasnt named an All-Star, but came in averaging 16.7 points 7.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. "That first game out of the break is always tough and I didnt want to let that be an excuse for us to lose the game." Five Raptors joined Lowry in double figures, including Amir Johnson, who returned after missing two games with a sore right ankle. He scored 14 points. The Raptors, who have won three straight, also got 14 from Greivis Vasquez and DeRozan, who addressed the team before the game. "Just (told) everybody to be focused," DeRozan said. "Each and every single game matters from here on out especially if we want to do something special. We cant take any nights off. These thirty games are going to be big and we have to start tonight." The Raptors led by as many as 20 midway through the fourth quarter, before being held without a field goal for the final 7:36. The Wizards pulled to within 99-90 on a 3-pointer by Martell Webster with 2:04 left. Following a steal, Nenes layup made it 99-92. After John Wall collected a steal, Nene made one of two free throws with 1:32 left, but Lowry hit a pair of free throws, however, to make it 101-93 with 1:02 left. Toronto shot 57 per cent from the field (42-of-74) for the game, and finished with 60 points inside. "We had trouble guarding off the dribble tonight," Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. "We defended pretty much a lot of their sets and then it gets down to seven, eight seconds on the shot clock and they break you down off the dribble. Thats how they get 60 points in the paint." Wall led the Wizards with 22 points, but went 0-for-7 from the field in the second half, and Marcin Gortat added 18 points and 11 rebounds. Washington has lost three straight and five of six. The Wizards are 0-3 against Toronto, and fell to 13-14 at home this season. "They stayed with it," Wittman said of the fourth quarter rally. "We got the floor spread, made some shots. Uncharacteristically, (we) turned some shots down tonight. I thought we werent as aggressive from our perimeters with Brad (Beal), Trevor (Ariza) and Martell. Beal played nearly 37 minutes and went 2-of-10 from the field, finishing with nine points, while Webster finished with seven and Ariza six. "I was just taking what they were giving me. I found my teammates open," Beal said. "We just didnt make shots and thats all it was. Did I have a few? Maybe. But Im the one whos taking them and feeling comfortable and I didnt feel comfortable taking them." The post All-Star Break opener paired the teams currently in third place (Toronto) and sixth in the Eastern Conference when play began. The score was tied after one, but reserves Tyler Hansbrough and Vasquez (four points each) manufactured an 8-2 Toronto run early in the second quarter. The Raptors scored 38 of their 55 first-half points in the paint, on 19-of-26 shooting. Wall, coming off a win in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest and 12 points in his first All-Star Game, kept the Wizards close. After scoring 10 points in the opening quarter, he added nine more in the second, hitting 9-of-12 field goals in the half. NOTES: Wittman was ejected after picking up two second technical fouls with 4:39 remaining and Washington trailing 98-82. . Wizards F Al Harrington, who has missed the last 46 games (right knee), practiced for the first time Monday. . The teams final meeting is Feb. 27 in Toronto. Carter Hart Flyers Jersey . Fifth-seeded Cilic gained his fourth title in Zagreb and became the third Croat overall to win at least 10 career titles. Cilic also lifted his career record in Zagreb to 22-4, winning 20 of his last 21 matches at the event. Sean Couturier Flyers Jersey . You can watch the game on TSN at 7pm et/4pm pt and listen to the game on TSN Radio 690 in Montreal. After starting the month of November on an 0-3-1 slide, the Canadiens have recorded wins in three of their last five outings (3-1-1). http://www.nhlflyersproauthentic.com/jakub-voracek-hockey-jersey/ .com) - The Vancouver Canucks hope an upcoming stretch of home games will be enough to get the club into the postseason. Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys . According to a report from the Hamilton Spectator, Infrastructure Ontario has informed the City of Hamilton and the Tiger-Cats the stadium may not be ready by the June 30 deadline. Dave Schultz Jersey . Her return engagement begins tonight as TSN presents Day 1 coverage of the 2015 event from Melbourne. Watch Eugenie Bouchards opening round match at the Australian Open live tonight on TSN5 at 3am et/Midnight pt.The NHLs Mar. 2 Trade Deadline is approaching and teams are making decisions on whether to buy, sell and decide which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value. Check out todays trade rumours and speculation from around the NHL beat. And follow TradeCentre on TSN and TSN.ca through Deadline Day for all the updates. Flying South? The Dallas Stars have some veteran pending UFA players that they may consider moving at the trade deadline, but could the teams bigger priority be adding a Toronto Maple Leaf to its blue line? Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News reported Sunday that while the likes of Erik Cole and Shawn Horcoff could be on the way out, the team might also want to bolster its back end for a playoff run this season. Listed amongst possible trade targets that might appeal to the Stars are pending UFA Cody Franson as well as Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf. Fransons point production and right-hand shot make him a coveted addition, according to Heika, who had the following to say of Phaneuf: Toronto’s captain has six years left on a contract extension that averages $7 million and would require a lot in return, so you have to be sold on the 29-year-old. But he’s a big (6-3, 218) lefty who might be the No. 1 defenceman the team craves. Heika also dropped pending UFAs Marc Methot and Zbynek Michalek. End Goal The Vancouver Canucks are rumoured to be in the market for a top-six forward to slot in behind their top line of the Sedins and Radim Vrbata. Bruce Garrioch of The Ottawa Sun believes that they may be willing to dangle goaltending help in order to add a piece up front. Vancouver has depth in net with back-up Eddie Lack and Jacob Markstrom enjoying a fine season with the AHLs Utica Cometts.dddddddddddd Meanwhile, Garrioch believes rugged forward Zack Kassian is also in play as the Canucks seek scoring in hopes of a deep playoff run. Garriochs Saturday piece also hit on the Leafs getting calls on some key pieces as well as the Arizona Coyotes potentially entertaining the idea of moving captain Shane Doan. Not Flying Anywhere The Philadelphia Flyers entered the All-Star break well out of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. But with the team 12th in the East and a dozen points back of the nearest wild card spot, will GM Ron Hextall look to blow things up? The answer, for now, is no. “There’s not going to be a fire sale,’’ Hextall told The Burlington County Times. “We don’t have the so-called UFAs (unrestricted free agents) ... if something makes sense for us to do, long term and this year, we won’t hesitate to do it. The article went on to point out that the Flyers have a few difficult contracts to deal with including veteran pieces like Vincent Lecavalier, R.J. Umberger and Andrew MacDonald, as well as underperforming younger bodies like Matt Read and Luke Schenn. D-troit The Red Wings, meanwhile, are another team that appear to be looking for blue line help. Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press writes that the teams prospect ranks are not going to provide any solutions in the immediate future, which could force the team to look at making a deal. She, too, makes mention of Franson as well as the Capitals Mike Green, Buffalos Tyler Myers and Carolina D-man Justin Faulk. However, the cost to the Wings for that group could be steep, St. James speculating that teams will want either Tomas Tatar or Gustav Nyquist or Anthony Mantha or Dylan Larkin, plus a higher-round draft pick. ' ' '