ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- From his catchy nickname to his sturdy performance on the field, Calvin Johnson often seems indestructible. So it was a bit startling when the star wide receiver was limited by injuries toward the end of last season, finally sitting out the finale after his Detroit Lions were eliminated from playoff contention. Johnson had surgery in the off-season on a knee and a finger, both of which caused problems for him in 2013. He still put up terrific numbers for the Lions, but he was held under 100 yards in the last three games he played and couldnt prevent the collapse that kept Detroit out of the post-season. On Tuesday, "Megatron" was out on the practice field, preparing for what he hopes will be a healthier, more successful season. "It feels great to be out here playing with the guys," Johnson said. "I missed a lot of practice time last year before games. You definitely feel like you need that practice time before a game, just to get on one accord with your quarterback." Johnson caught 84 passes for 1,492 yards last season -- great stats for almost any player, but his worst output in both categories since 2010. It was never entirely clear how much Johnsons knee was bothering him, but then-coach Jim Schwartz conceded in late December that the star receiver was nowhere near 100 per cent. "It was bad enough where I had to get it drained every week," Johnson said. "The finger, it was stuck at 90 degrees. Its good to have those things freed up." The Lions fired Schwartz and replaced him with Jim Caldwell in the off-season, meaning Detroit is implementing a new offence. Quarterback Matthew Stafford will be under pressure to limit the mistakes that plagued him last year -- and he should have an easier time if Johnson is back at full strength. Although Johnson missed only two games last season, he wasnt able to practice all that regularly. That time is valuable even for a veteran who will turn 29 in September. "You kind of lose your wind a little bit. You know the plays, but I feel that you have to go out there and practice to be able to play at your best," Johnson said. "Im a firm believer in that. I had experience in the offence, therefore I was able to go out there and still play, but Im a firm believer that being out there during the week definitely improves your performance on Sunday." With Nate Burleson no longer on the Lions, Johnson is now the elder statesmen of Detroit wide receivers, and hes always led by example. Its easier to do that, of course, when hes healthy enough to practice. "Its nice to have him back and working at full strength. Im so happy for him," centre Dominic Raiola said. "The guys so tough. Its hard to get him out of there. Hell play through anything. For him to be healthy right now and being out there with the team, thats big time." NOTES: Caldwell said injured CB Chris Houston has been excused from practice. Rookie WR T.J. Jones, the teams sixth-round draft pick, was also excused Tuesday. ... Caldwell joked a bit about his reputation for remaining even-keeled. "Theres no need for a whole lot of cussing, screaming, yelling and all that kind of stuff," Caldwell said. "Its a mini quiz out here. I never had any of my professors yelling in my ear when I was sitting at the desk filling out those multiple-choice questions." Best Cheap Fake Shoes .C. -- Carter Ashton had a pair of goals and added an assist as the Toronto Marlies downed the Charlotte Checkers 5-2 on Saturday in the American Hockey League. Authentic Shoes For Cheap . Billy Hamilton finished off Cincinnatis biggest comeback of the season for a doubleheader sweep. http://www.cheapshoes.us.org/. The Kings paraded the Stanley Cup through downtown Los Angeles on Monday to celebrate their second NHL title in three seasons. Wholesale Shoes China Free Shipping .Y. - DeMarre Carroll felt as though he couldnt miss in the second quarter as he outscored the Brooklyn Nets 14-13 all by himself. Shoes From China Wholesale .com) - Kam Chancellor bobbed his head in celebration as he crossed the goal line on his game-clinching 90-yard interception return. PHILADELPHIA -- The 76ers have a catchy anthem they play at every home game, a decades-old tune with a chorus the fans belt out: "1-2-3-4-5-Sixers." Now, they can count all the way to 19. The Sixers losing streak goes on, and a dubious franchise-tying skid is just a defeat away. Paul George scored 25 points and David West had 18 to help the Indiana Pacers beat Philadelphia 101-94 on Friday night, sending the 76ers to their 19th straight loss. With a loss to Memphis on Saturday, the Sixers can tie the franchise record for consecutive defeats in a single season. The Sixers lost 20 straight games from Jan. 9, 1973-Feb. 11, 1973 in a 9-73 season. The NBA record for consecutive losses in a season is 26 set by the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers. "We need every break we can get if we are going to beat a team," first-year coach Brett Brown said. The Sixers last won on Jan. 29 on Evan Turners buzzer-beater at Boston. Turner was traded to the Pacers at the Feb. 20 deadline and is now a key reserve on a team expected to make a deep run in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Pacers boast Turner, Lavoy Allen and Andrew Bynum, all former Sixers who were expected to turn the franchise into contenders last season. When that plan backfired, the Sixers decided to rebuild, cleaning house of most of their rotation players and set their aim on the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft. Thaddeus Young led the Sixers with 25 points on 10 of 31 shooting and had 10 assists. Unlike the 76ers, the Pacers have tons of talent and the top spot in the East. They raced to a 17-point lead in the first half, then held off a spirited run by the Sixers that saw the lead sliced to five midway through the fourth. The Sixers came up empty on five straight possessions before Young hit two free throws to make it 87-84. Young, the longest-tenured Sixers player, made it 93-90 on a jumper that put them on the brink of ending their losing skid. George, though, hit a tough, driving layup and George Hill buried a baseline 3-pointer for an eight-point cushion, and the Pacers averted the upset. "This game could have easily been a blowout-type of game," George said. "Youve got to give them credit, they kept battling." The PPacers are happy to have the ex-Sixers trio aboard, strengthening a bench that needed some offensive punch.ddddddddddddBynum sat out Friday night to rest his achy knees, the same ailment that cost him all of last season with the Sixers. Hundreds of fans turned out to the National Constitution Center for Bynums public press conference after he was acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers in an August 2012 trade. He was supposed to be the missing piece for a franchise coming off a run to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Bynum was a bust, the first string pulled in the unraveling of a franchise. Bynum had eight points and 10 rebounds in a win Tuesday against Boston -- his first game in nearly 2 1/2 months. "I finally got on the court with him," Turner said. "It was like the 80th-something attempt since I met him. Im glad hes halfway healthy. Had he played (in Philly), we probably would have still been rocking." Bynum wants to be a factor in the post-season, so hell rest against teams like the Sixers. "I need to get game minutes, obviously," said Bynum, Indianas 7-foot centre. "But I dont want to miss four or five consecutive days. The whole point is to stay around and play as many games as possible." Allen scored a season-high 13 points on 6-of-6 shooting and Turner had two points. Hill had 14 points and Lance Stephenson had 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Pacers. Indiana was 39 of 67 from the floor compared to Philadelphias 35 of 90. "I think were playing some pretty good basketball," George said. Turner, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 draft, earned a video tribute and a smattering of applause when he checked into the game. Turner was never a difference maker for the Sixers, and his failure to make a significant impact could serve as a scary reminder that team president/general manager Sam Hinkies plan to rebuild through the draft could hit some significant potholes. "Youve got to have a plan," Turner said, "and to do that in Philly takes guts." And a whole lot of losses. Notes: The 76ers signed G Darius Johnson-Odom to a 10-day contract. They also waived G Lorenzo Brown. ... Bynum hopes to play Saturday when the Pacers are at Detroit. ' ' '