Subject :pass in his first five NFL seasons. He started 16 games last season and
SACRAMENTO, Calif. cheap jerseys . -- Rudy Gay said he didnt harbour a sense of revenge Wednesday night facing his former team -- the Toronto Raptors-- for the first time since a December trade. His numbers said it all. DeMarcus Cousins had 25 points and 10 rebounds, Gay added 24 points and 10 rebounds, and the Kings held off the Raptors in the fourth quarter for a 109-101 victory. The Dec. 9 trade brought Gay, Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray to Sacramento in exchange for Patterson, John Salmons, Greivis Vasquez and Chuck Hayes. The trade has worked well for both teams. Since the shake-up, the Raptors have compiled an 18-11 record and own the third best overall record in the Eastern Conference. They had an 8-12 mark before the deal. Gay has thrived in his role as a key figure offensively. The versatile forward has averaged 20.7 points and shot 53 per cent in his first 25 games with the Kings. Gay wasnt nearly as effective with the Raptors, shooting just under 39 per cent in his second season in Toronto. "It was great to see Rudy have such a successful game tonight," said Gray, who didnt play. "No matter what the scenario, its really important when you go against your ex-team. You always want to show them what theyre missing. I think Rudy did that." Toronto coach Dwane Casey wished his team was a little more focused on effort rather than the socializing that took place between the two teams. "I just thought our whole disposition was off. Were out there hugging and giving out fives and all that," Casey said. "Well, this is a business. I didnt think our disposition at the beginning of the game was in fighting mode or hungry mode. We havent done anything, Ill keep repeating this, we havent done anything in this league yet." The Kings led by 20 points going into the final quarter, when Toronto got going offensively and cut the lead to five points with under a minute to play. But the Kings converted six consecutive free throws in the final minute to seal their second straight victory after losing seven straight. "I think we kept our composure, were very poised down the stretch, and came out with a good home victory," Cousins said. Kyle Lowry had 21 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for the Raptors, who had won four of their last five. Demar DeRozan scored 18 points, Patrick Patterson 14 and Steve Novak 12, all in the fourth quarter. DeRozan, who entered the game averaging 22 points, shot 5 of 17. He added six rebounds and four assists. Novak played only 34 seconds through three quarters, but in the fourth he hit three three-pointers, helping the Raptors outscore the Kings 29-17. "The game was bizarre; we made it interesting," Kings coach Michael Malone said. "Im glad they didnt play Steve Novak more or it would have been a long night." Isaiah Thomas added 23 points for the Kings and guard Marcus Thornton had 12, all in the first half. Thornton hit the floor hard at the offensive end late in the second quarter and didnt return. He bruised hip and knee in the fall, but X-rays were negative. He may get an MRI on Thursday. New NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who took over for David Stern on Saturday as the leagues fifth commissioner, attended the game. He drew a standing ovation when he was introduced to the sellout crowd Before the game, Silver toured Sacramentos planned downtown arena and sat with the Kings new ownership group during a portion of the game. NOTES: The Kings played without reserve forward Derrick Williams, who was out with a strained right foot. ... Despite shooting 37.5 per cent in the first quarter, Sacramento still led 30-23. ... Lowry was called for a technical midway through the second quarter. ... Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former NBA star, sat courtside with William Bell, the mayor of Birmingham, Ala. cheap nfl jerseys . The 27-year-old Niskanen, the more offensive-minded of the pair of defencemen joining the Capitals, got a $40.25 million, seven-year contract. "Its a very big commitment from Washington. Thats no small thing. Youre talking a seven-year commitment for a very substantial amount of money," said Niskanen, who got married Saturday. cheap jerseys from china . - Once Gerald Green gets going, he doesnt think he can be stopped.DETROIT -- The Lions re-signed tight end Brandon Pettigrew on Friday, keeping one of Matthew Staffords top targets and a player who can potentially make defences regret focusing too much on Calvin Johnson. "The key is to be able to keep your good players," new Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. "And, I think anytime you can do that in an organization, its great. It doesnt always work out for you, but when you can, and a guys been productive for you, I think its huge." Pettigrew will get a $16 million, four-year contract with half of the money guaranteed, according to a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke Friday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because terms were not announced. "Obviously, this is certainly a long-term commitment from both sides and were certainly looking forward to that," Caldwell said. The Lions drafted Pettigrew with the 20th overall pick in 2009, the same year they selected Stafford first overall in the NFL draft. The native of Tyler, Texas, has 284 receptions for 2,828 yards and 16 touchdowns in five NFL seasons. Pettigrew said part of the reason he wanted to stay was because hes in "a groove," with teammates such as Stafford. "We got drafted together," he said. "Weve already got that going, and I think thats important. I love the city. Im grateful for being able to be here. The city is going through change, as is the organization. Its just an honour to be a part of that." He tested the market as a free agent before deciding to stay in Detroit. "Of course, the pursuits were real because thats just part of the business," Pettigrew said. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Pettigrew is yet another weapon for Stafford, who already has Johnson and will now have receiver Golden Tate next season. Detroit, with a solid offensive line, should be able to strike a balance in the running game with Reggie Bush in his second season paired with Joique Bell, who was re-signed with a $9.3 million, three-year deal earlier this week. "He gives you a guuy that really is a dual threat in terms of being able to handle the end-line blocking on the line of scrimmage, which he does very well," Caldwell said. wholesale jerseys. "Also, obviously, hes a threat in the passing game. When you look at whats going to happen in most cases with the guys that we have on the outside, our inside receivers are going to certainly become a bigger part of our game." Pettigrew is coming off a relatively disappointing season, which probably cost him some money on the market. He had 41 receptions for 416 yards and two TDs, his lowest numbers in each category since he was a rookie. When Pettigrew was at his best in 2001, he caught 83 passes for 777 yards and five TDs -- all career highs -- and helped the franchise end an 11-year post-season skid. Pettigrew said he spoke to some members of teams new staff, including Caldwell. "Hes already told me he wants me to step up and be in that role of a leader and coming out to accept that," Pettigrew said. "Ive been here long enough, and I agree with him. He seems like a great guy. So, Im looking forward to getting back." The Lions next significant move may be finding a starting safety to play alongside Glover Quin, who was signed last year as a free agent, to replace Louis Delmas. They seem to be interested in adding veteran safety James Ihedigbo, but he left team headquarters without a contract after a visit Thursday. Ihedigbo made 99 tackles last season, ranking second on the Baltimore Ravens, and had three interceptions after not picking off one pass in his first five NFL seasons. He started 16 games last season and 12 games in 2011 for the New England Patriots and ranked fifth on the team in tackles. He spent his first three seasons in the league with the New York Jets after making the team in 2008 as an undrafted rookie. Detroit, desperate for success with only one playoff victory since 1957, also hopes Ndamukong Suh will sign a new contract to avoid having the defensive tackle count more than $20 million against the salary cap in 2014. wholesale jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
