PORTLAND - DeMar DeRozan validated his newly minted All-Star title, spearheading the Raptors comeback on Saturday but theres one play hed like to have back. With just under five seconds remaining - the Raptors having clawed back from a 19-point deficit and pulled within one - DeRozan took the handoff from Chuck Hayes. As he tried to create space, turning the corner with Blazers guard Wesley Matthews draped all over him, the first-time All-Star fumbled the ball off his calf. His reaction was instant and said it all. He knew he, quite literally, dropped the ball. "I lost the ball, I put that one on me," DeRozan said, owning up to the miscue. "Ive got to keep the ball in my hands and not turn it over, at least give us a chance to get a shot off." Fact is the Raptors had that opportunity, a shot to steal a game they had no business hanging around in, because of DeRozans heroics. DeRozan, like the rest of his teammates, came out flat in the first half. Coming off a win in Denver the night before, Toronto shot 35 per cent from the field in the opening 24 minutes, misfiring on all eight attempts from three-point range. As a team they couldnt execute, missed makeable shots and left their defensive effort in the Mile High City. It was ugly. "The first half, we came out with a typical back-to-back approach," said coach Dwane Casey, who was critical of his team after they let up in the fourth quarter of Fridays double digit victory over the Nuggets. "It wasnt us." DeRozan, playing in his second game after missing two with an ankle injury, had just six points, shooting 2-of-8. Whatever was said at the break seemed to wake up the fifth-year guard. DeRozan could do no wrong in the second half, where he scored 30 of his game-high 36 points and recorded 10 of his career-best 12 assists. "I mean, hes an All-Star. Yall see it," said Kyle Lowry, who should be joining DeRozan in New Orleans later this month. "Hes an All-Star for a reason. He did an unbelievable job of making shots, getting to the line and just getting it going. We know. Weve seen it before so its no surprise to us." Lowry, like his backcourt comrade, was also much better in the second half - he had 23 points and eight assists on the night - as were subs Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes, who came in and helped the Raptors find themselves defensively. The resilient Raptors dug deep once again - something weve become accustomed to seeing after slow starts this season - and when it came down to one final possession, there was never a doubt who the play was being drawn up for. "[DeRozan] wanted the ball and when your best player, your All-Star wants to the ball you give him the ball," Lowry said. "They did a good job defensively and [Matthews] is strong enough to do that but Im still getting the ball to [DeRozan] every single time in that position." Within seconds of losing the ball, DeRozan walked off with both hands on his head in disappointment. He tapped his chest as if to say, "my bad" and lifted the jersey over his head. "We put ourselves in that position," Casey said, stressing the poor start. "[DeRozan] wanted the ball, we gave it to him, but I give him props for getting us to that point." "I commend DeMar for carrying us. He put us on his shoulders and took us down the stretch and put us in a position to win. Thats all you ask." The loss - Torontos sixth straight in Portland - said a lot about how far the Raptors have come, how far DeRozan has come. If there was ever any doubt about DeRozans All-Star candidacy or his growth as a leader, Saturdays game served as a silencer. He had his full arsenal on display, demanded the ball with the game in the balance and when it was all said and done he took responsibility for his blunder. No excuses, he pointed the finger at himself. Meanwhile, his team fought the good fight, something they failed to do when they last visited Portland. A year ago, the Raptors experienced the absolutely lowest point of an already low season, dropping an embarrassing 92-74 contest to the Blazers on Dec. 10, 2012, the finale of a winless five-game road trip. They lost Lowry and Andrea Bargnani to long-term injuries in the game, while Amir Johnson was ejected for uncharacteristically tossing his mouth-guard at an official. Their skid in Portland continues, they havent won in The City of Roses in seven years, but theyre not the same team that left the city in turmoil 13 months ago. "We put ourselves in a position to win the game even after all that," Casey said. "So thats what you have to ask for." Tigers Jerseys 2019 . Assistant coach Glen Gulutzan said Thursday that Edler, who played Tuesday in Nashville, is out indefinitely. Detroit Tigers Shirts . The third-seeded Bouchard, from Westmount, Que., was coming off a semifinal appearance at the French Open. She took the opening set before the unseeded American came back for the 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory. https://www.cheaptigers.com/. The government says top golfers are expected to compete in the PGA Tour event at the Ashburn Golf Club in the suburb of Fall River from July 3-6 and again next year. Custom Detroit Tigers Jerseys . But its also a smart game. Theres more to the Kings than banging bodies. They take a toll mentally on their opponents. Fake Tigers Jerseys . "It feels good, Ive never had one before, not even in College," Hagelin said after the Rangers outgunned the Jets 4-2, behind some solid goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist following a pretty wide open first period.RENTON, Wash. -- Richard Sherman does not believe in video game curses. The Seattle Seahawks All-Pro cornerback will have his image plastered on the front of the next version of EA Sports popular "Madden" football game. Its an honour thats allegedly been fraught with peril for some past recipients who have either had subpar seasons or suffered injuries the year they were on the cover. "I dont think about anything like that. Its just something thats been fabricated, I think," Sherman said Monday. The video game cover, the result of winning an online vote, is just another byproduct of whats become an off-season of accolades for Sherman. Whether it was new endorsements or a contract extension that made him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, there have been plenty of opportunities for Sherman to become distracted from his job. Yet, whenever the Seahawks were holding a session as part of their off-season program, Sherman was there. Seattle coach Pete Carroll noted Monday that Sherman has missed "maybe a day" of the voluntary off-season program. "Its voluntary but Im a ball player. What else am I going to be doing? When youre a ballplayer at the heart and this is what you sleep, breathe and eat, this is where you want to be," Sherman said. "I couldnt imagine myself being anywhere else because you just feel the itch to be back on the field, to be back with your teammates, to be back out there getting better." Thats not to say Sherman hasnt enjoyed being a Super Bowl champion. The perks have been plentiful, from endorsement deals to a contract that will keep him in Seattle through the 2018 season and pay him $40 million in guaranteed money. But thats meant little on the practice field during OTAs, other than pproviding fodder for teammates to joke with their star cornerback.dddddddddddd "I think its more about love for the game that allows us not to get complacent," Sherman said. "Thats why youve got All-Pros and Pro Bowlers are out here every day of OTAs playing like theyre still fifth (round) and undrafted players trying to fight for a job. Thats how its always going to be." Carroll said he believes Sherman has handled the off-season hoopla as well as possible while maintaining his commitment to the team. Part of that commitment means educating the younger players Seattle has drafted or signed in the hopes of finding another gem in the draft like Seattle did getting Sherman in the fifth round. "Thats the kind of program we run here. You can show them better than you can tell them, with your actions. You fly to the ball, you play hard, you play disciplined, sound football and when they have questions youre there to answer their questions and you push them and make sure they know their assignments," Sherman said. "Its not like a lot of other programs where you are closed off and cant talk to anybody. We make sure were open books." NOTES: Carroll said LB Bruce Irvins hip surgery last week was successful and the team believes hell be back by the start of the season. Carroll said it was an issue that had been bothering Irvin for some time. ... Rookie second-round draft pick WR Paul Richardson sat out practice as a precaution after landing on his shoulder last week. ... RB Robert Turbin had his knee "cleaned up" during the off-season and Carroll said that has helped Turbin stand out during OTAs. Turbin and Christine Michael have gotten the majority of the work with Marshawn Lynch absent. ' ' '