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  • August 20, 2019
    HOUSTON -- High-scoring DeMar DeRozan knows hes going to start getting some new looks and will have to find ways to make an impact when defenses are focusing on him.On Wednesday night, he found that opening in the third quarter, scoring 21 of his 24 points in the period to help the Toronto Raptors beat the 115-102 to snap a two-game skid.DeRozan ranks second in the NBA behind Russell Westbrook by averaging 30.5 points a game.He discussed the adjustments he made after scoring just three points in the first half.Just be aggressive. Just take it from how they were playing me, he said. I was trying to be a passer, get everybody else involved. Pick them apart. Just me understanding that teams are going to play me differently than they would have a week ago. Just me being more conscious of that and picking and choosing my spot.Raptors avoided losing three in a row for the first time since last November, and ended a nine-game losing streak in Houston.James Harden had 29 points and 15 assists for Houston, but also had 12 turnovers. The Rockets lost for the first time in four games.The Rockets trailed by 15 entering the third quarter before using a 9-2 run to open the second half and get to 56-48. That run was powered by a pair of 3-pointers by Trevor Ariza and a third by Patrick Beverley.DeRozan got hot soon after that, scoring all of Torontos points in an 11-7 run that extended the Raptors lead to 72-57 midway through the third quarter. DeRozan had a two-handed dunk during that stretch and capped it with a 3-pointer. He made 8 of 12 shots in that period, including both of his 3-point attempts and also had four assists and three rebounds in the frame. He finished with nine assists, five rebounds and two steals.When youre down (big) at halftime and he has not done anything you know you might be in a little bit of trouble because hes going to do something, Houston coach Mike DAntoni said. Hes that good of a player.The Rockets cut into the lead with an 18-8 run, highlighted by 3-pointers from Ryan Anderson and Harden, to get within seven points with about 2 minutes remaining. But DeMarre Carroll hit a 3-pointer before a turnover by Harden led to a dunk by him to thwart the comeback attempt and extend the lead to 111-99 with 90 seconds left.The Raptors led by two early in the second quarter before going on 16-6 run to make it 46-34 with about 2 1/2 minutes in the first half. Kyle Lowry started that spurt with a 3-pointer and had six points in that span.TIP-INSRaptors: DeRozan received a technical foul in the third quarter. ... Carroll finished with 20 points and three blocks. ... Lowry had 17 points and nine assists. ... Jonas Valanciunas had 15 points and 16 rebounds.Rockets: Houston finished with 14 3-pointers, to give the team at least 10 in 14 straight games. ... Montrezl Harrell got a technical for taunting late in the second quarter. ... Wednesday was the first time Houston has lost since Beverley returned after missing the first 11 games after arthroscopic knee surgery. He had 10 points and 10 rebounds and four assists.TURNOVER AND OVERThe Rockets had a season-high 28 turnovers after averaging just 13.1 in their previous seven games. The Raptors converted those miscues into 33 points.I just think we didnt make characteristic plays, Ryan Anderson said. We didnt play like we really have been. I dont know what the reason was but ... we were just a little flat.SUPER SIMONESOlympic gold medalists Simone Biles and Simone Manuel were honored on the court during a timeout in the second quarter. Manuel was born in the Houston area and Biles now lives in the city. Biles won four gold medals and one bronze in gymnastics at the Rio Olympics this summer. Manuel two gold and two silver medals in swimming in Rio.UP NEXTRaptors: Travel to Milwaukee on Friday.Rockets: Travel to Sacramento on Friday to start a five-game trip. David Peralta Jersey . Soukalova missed only one target and completed the 15-kilometre course in 40 minutes, 32.6 seconds for both victories in this seasons individual discipline. Darya Domracheva of Belarus was second, 34. Rob Refsnyder Diamondbacks Jersey . LOUIS -- The New Orleans Saints looked like a team playing out the string. http://www.diamondbackssale.com/diamondbacks-wilmer-flores-jersey/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Jarrod Dyson Jersey . Burke is expected to miss two to three months after breaking a finger in the teams third preseason game. Tinsley, a 10-year veteran, spent the last two seasons in Utah, where the point guard averaged 3. Robbie Ray Diamondbacks Jersey . Badenhop was 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 63 relief appearances for Milwaukee this season. He is 18-20 in his career with three saves and a 3. NEW YORK -- Sidney Crosby got angry, and then the Pittsburgh Penguins got even in a big way against the division-leading New York Rangers.Following a first-period skirmish with Ryan McDonagh, Crosby had two goals and an assist during a five-goal second period and the Penguins shut down the Rangers in a 6-1 rout on Wednesday night.The Penguins held New York without a shot on goal over 23:59 spanning the second and third periods. Scott Wilson, Conor Sheary, Phil Kessel and Matt Cullen also scored for Pittsburgh, and Matt Murray had 16 saves.The Penguins moved two points behind New York for first place in the Metropolitan Division.This is as good of a game as weve played all year, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said.The Rangers won at Pittsburgh 5-2 on Monday behind a breakout second period, and the Penguins exacted revenge Wednesday in nearly the exact same fashion.We learned from (the last) game, Crosby said.Pittsburgh trailed 1-0 after 20 minutes, but then the defending Stanley Cup champions took control, chasing Henrik Lundqvist after four goals on 17 shots.It starts with scoring, Sheary said. I think weve been having chances and were putting the puck in the net the last few games. I think tonight we got a little puck luck. I think we earned our chances and youre not going to lose much when you score six goals so that was good for us.Wilson got his third of the season 2:02 into the second to tie it. Stationed in front of Lundqvist, Wilson corralled a cross-ice pass from Kessel and fired a forehand shot.Crosby put the Penguins ahead 2:56 later by redirecting Ian Coles point shot. Cole had intercepted Mats Zuccarellos clearing attempt inside the blue line to start the counter attack.Kessel increased Pittsburghs lead to 3-1 with a wrist shot over Lundqvists left shoulder at 10:12, and Crosby pushed the advantage to 4-1 2:45 later with his second of the game and NHL-leading 14th of the season. Crosby and Sheary broke in on a 2-on-1 with McDonagh defending, and Crosbys attempted pass deflected off of McDonaghs stick and fluttered over Lundqvists paddle.We gave them some chances, Marc Staal said. Just an avalanche we couldnt stop.Following Crosbys second goal, New York coach Alain Vigneault replaced Lundqvist with Antti Raanta.The goaltending change didnt work, as Sheary wristed his fourth goal of the season with 3:18 left. Cullens fourth of the season with 6:55 left in the third ended the scoring.Raanta finished with 19 saves on 21 shots.Pittsburgh may have been sparked by a first-period incident involving McDonagh, Sheary and Crosby.ddddddddddddCrosby dropped his gloves and challenged McDonagh after New Yorks captain drove Sheary into the half wall. McDonagh had his jersey pulled over his head during the tussle, and officials assessed McDonagh a five-minute major for boarding and Crosby got a two-minute minor for roughing.I saw (Sheary) kind of get in the numbers, Crosby said. I just tried to stick up for him. Those are hits that sometimes happen fast and I dont think (McDonagh) was targeting (him) by any means.Were a team. We want to stick together, and I was just trying to stick up for him.The Penguins didnt score on the extended power play but did generate three shots and their pressure kept the Rangers from being able to implement and sustain their attacking style of play.New York led after Rick Nashs power-play goal 4:22 into the game. Nash poked a loose puck past a sprawled Murray for his ninth of the season, five seconds after Evgeni Malkin was assessed a two-minute minor for tripping J.T. Miller in the neutral zone.New York went 1 for 3 on the man advantage while killing all three Pittsburgh power plays.New Yorks 17 shots were a season-low. Zuccarello ended the nearly 24-minute shot drought with a backhander with 3:45 left in the game.I cant explain to you at this time exactly what happened, Vigneault said. Obviously Im disappointed. The players are disappointed in our game. I know our fans are disappointed.Game notes Newly acquired LW Matt Puempel participated in New Yorks morning skate. The Rangers claimed Puempel off waivers Monday from the Senators. He and D Adam Clendening were scratched. ... Pittsburgh scratched D Steve Oleksy and LW Tom Sestito. RW Patric Hornqvist did not make the trip as he is recuperating from concussion symptoms. ... Following the morning skate, Vigneault said the Rangers essentially modeled themselves after the Penguins during the offseason. Theres no doubt they found a way to play at a fast pace, with speed; the right way. They won. Theyre the champions, Vigneault said. ... The Metropolitan Division rivals will meet three more times in the regular season: Dec. 20 in Pittsburgh, March 31 in New York and April 9 in New York.UP NEXTenguins: Play at Minnesota on Friday night.Rangers: Play at Philadelphia on Friday night. ' ' '