TORONTO - With seven seconds remaining, the game all but wrapped up and moments after draining the biggest shot of the night, Kyle Lowry stepped to the line. As he recorded his 23rd and 24th points of the evening, a segment of the sellout Air Canada Centre crowd expressed their appreciation for the Raptors point guard with a smattering of MVP chants. Even Lowry, in the midst of a career and possible All-Star year, laughed it off. "If I win the MVP youll see pigs fly," he joked after leading his team to a bounce-back 94-89 victory over the Timberwolves Friday. Lowry connected on a season-best six three-point shots, none bigger than the one he hit from the corner with just under 15 seconds left to give the Raptors a seven-point lead and put the Wolves comeback hopes to rest. He wont be lifting an MVP trophy anytime soon - though he did ascend to 10th on NBA.coms "Race to the MVP Ladder" this week  - but he is well on his way to representing the Raptors in New Orleans for next months All-Star Game. In nine games this month, the eighth-year vet is averaging 17.8 points and 8.0 assists while shooting a remarkable 52 per cent from long range. "Hes playing at a high level," Dwane Casey said. "This is the highest level hes played, the best I think hes played. I dont think hed tell you that." Casey was right, he wouldnt. "I feel good," Lowry responded, asked if hes playing his best basketball, also citing a productive half-season stretch he had with the Rockets in 2011-12. "Hes a tough competitor, plays hard all the time," said Rick Adelman, current Wolves bench boss and Lowrys former coach in Houston. "Hes jumped around to different situations but he was really good for us in Houston and it looks like hes playing that way now." Adelman, who Lowry called his favourite coach, gave the Philadelphia-native his first shot to start and play big minutes in the NBA. In Lowrys final season as a Rocket - with Kevin McHale replacing Adelman on Houstons bench - he appeared to be on the verge of a breakout. He averaged 15.6 points and 7.6 assists prior to the All-Star break and before a mysterious bacterial infection derailed the rest of his season. The Wolves coach said he never had a doubt that Lowry would get back to and even eclipse that level but still, many questioned whether he could be a positive leader at the point guard position. "Hes grown into that role of being a leader, hes matured as a man," Casey said. "Hes doing all the right things and those were the only question marks with Kyle as far as the other coaches are concerned." Lowry credits his personal success to his off-court growth as well as the work he put in during this past offseason. "Im just growing up," the 27-year-old said. "Ive got a son, a wife, a family, its one of those things where you just hit that moment and its just like, youve got to grow up sometime. This summer was a big summer for me. I got a chance to really work as hard as I wanted to and I got a chance to relax my mind and clear it and it seems to be working." With Rudy Gay - his best friend - in Sacramento, Lowry has finally found a balance between utilizing his ability as a scorer and facilitating a productive offence, also excelling on defence and leading the NBA in charges taken (he drew his 24th early in Fridays game). But more than anything else, its his leadership that continues to turn heads, rightfully so. "I didnt do nothing," Lowry said, asked about the teams performance against Kevin Love and Nikola Pekovic, one of the toughest frontcourt duos in the league. "The big fellas did a great job tonight, they redeemed themselves. JV, Amir, Chuck, Patt, those guys played huge tonight and all I can do is treat them to lunch one of these days on the road." Lowry, like the rest of the team, recognized the importance of this game following one of their most disappointing efforts of the season in Boston on Wednesday. "We definitely wanted to redeem ourselves after that Boston game," said Amir Johnson, who added 19 points and held Love to 16 on 7-of-19 shooting. "We made it a goal to get stops, get every rebound and we did that tonight." The Raptors allowed an opponent season-high 19 offensive boards in Boston and appeared to be headed for another long night against the one of the NBAs topped ranked rebounding teams. Minnesota grabbed 10 off the offensive glass in the first half but was held to just two the rest of the way as Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas battled Love and Pekovic, keeping them both in check. "We had a bounce-back as a team from the other night," Casey said. We were disappointed that we were ambushed in Boston." "[It was] just a bounce back game for us and we needed it," Lowry echoed. "Tonight we did a great job of bouncing back against a team thats really good, I mean theyre a talented team, well coached. We did a good job of executing our game plan, they made it close but we pulled it out." Wes Horton Youth Jersey .com) - Andy Murray is back in the Australian Open final. Roman Harper Youth Jersey . The contest was Canadas lone tuneup heading into the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament, which begins Monday. The Canadians face Switzerland in their opening game in Piestany, Slovakia. Canada twice overcame a two-goal deficit to enter the third period tied 4-4. http://www.thepanthersJerseyprostore.com/panthers-brad-nortman-blue-Jersey/ .Charlie Coyles goal late in the third period stood up as the winner as the Wild snapped a two-game losing skid with a 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, their ninth win in their last 10 visits to Edmonton. Michael Oher Youth Jersey . Kenneth Faried, Randy Foye and J.J. Hickson added 16 points apiece for the Nuggets, who have won all three meetings this season against Dallas. Hickson scored 12 of his points in the fourth quarter to help hold off the Mavericks, who play the Nuggets a final time this season in two weeks in Dallas. Derek Anderson Youth Jersey . - The Detroit Tigers will start the season without Jose Iglesias, though just how long the injured shortstop is sidelined will not be known until after he sees a foot and ankle specialist on Tuesday.It is easy to dismiss the importance of a small international break held in the middle of the most important stretch of the league season. For some in England, it is just a distraction away from the main event known as the Barclays Premier League. Many "fans" gathered in front of their television to watch their nation play on Wednesday and hoped none of the players who play for their clubs would get hurt. It is a challenge for English football fans to put their country first over their clubs at the best of times. At the start of March? A big ask. Even those who were behind the game may have been falling asleep into their beverage of choice, as England, once again, showed a real lack of intensity and tempo. The biggest moment of the first half came when Jack Wilshere had his foot trod on by Denmark and Liverpool defender Daniel Agger and, as he lay down on the ground crying, Arsenal fans, even more than England fans, held their breaths. Wilshere would play on, as would England, in a game played at a leisurely pace in front of many empty red seats at Wembley. In truth, you could have removed the fans, the stands and the cameras and it was nothing more than a glorified training game for most. Not for Roy Hodgson. Being the final match of the season for the England boss before he gathers his players on May 13 to begin his preparation for Brazil, it was an opportunity to see some of his players work together. However, even the most staunch supporter of such a fixture will have left Wembley on Wednesday night wondering just what conclusions Hodgson will have come up with from the match. This was as dull as it gets. Hodgson visits whichever Premier League games he likes throughout the season and, without question, he will be able to find out more about the players in those systems than one he attempted to put together once all the players reported on Sunday. The game against Denmark, which England won 1-0, saw Hodgson deploy a 4-3-3 and give a number of young players an opportunity to represent their country. There was little else that could be taken from it, really.I had made my mind up about most of my England final 23 before the game and nothing swayed me from it against Denmark.  Goalkeepers Strangely, Hodgson named four goalkeepers inside his 30-man squad for the game against Denmark. Joe Hart started and is the undisputed number one and whichever two players are chosen to back him up are, likely, not that important. Defenders Arguably the biggest decision of all from Hodgsons starting XI was Ashley Cole starting at left back. The veteran has started three Premier League games in four months for Chelsea and doesnt look like finding his way back into Jose Mourinhos side any time soon. However, unlike many England players, it is hard to think of Cole playing poorly too often for England. In a back four short on international tournament experience, Cole shouldnt just go to Brazil, but should start the first game against Italy ahead of Leighton Baines. Luke Shaw, who came on for Cole at half-time, is a fine player whose time will come. Coles Chelsea team-mate Gary Cahill is a lock for Brazil, as is Phil Jagielka, who was injured for the Denmark game. Chris Smalling, his replacement, will also go as he can play centrally or at right back. Likewise, Phil Jones can also be used in those positions, as well as midfield, once he returns to full fitness. The one omission is Kyle Walker, also injured for the game against Denmark, who will likely be selected by Hodgson, as well. Walker, though, wouldnt make my squad as he is a liability defensively, loses concentration often and can be exposed in Hodgsons system that requires his team to defend deep and use width in attack. Glen Johnson used to fall into this category but has made strides under Brendan Rodgers and is clearly a player who thrives when his club manager gives him confidence.  Midfielders The discussion about the midfield shape cannot be had without defining Wayne Rooneys role in this team. It is one thing for Rooney to play off the striker for Manchester United against many average Premier League teams, but it is quite another to have him play that role against Italy and Uruguay at the World Cup. He just doesnt defend well enough and Andrea Pirlo at Euro 2012 should have effectively retired Rooney in that position for England. Rooney, then, will play centrally up front on his own, like he did against Denmark and behinnd him will sit a midfield central three.dddddddddddd Captain Steven Gerrard and Wilshere are two automatic starters if they remain fit. For me, the biggest decision comes who plays alongside them. Jordan Henderson got the nod against Denmark and deserved the spot based on his recent impressive displays for Liverpool. That will be enough to get him on the plane to Brazil, but it will be a surprise to see him start the first match against Italy. Gerrard is in terrific form. He starts transitions well and is an excellent distributor from deep areas, but he will likely need a more defensive-minded player alongside him to protect against counter attacks and allow Wilshere more freedom to get forward. This is where Michael Carrick should be used, although it seems to be easy pickings at the moment to knock the Manchester United midfielder. In fact, a national newspaper ran a poll this week and 70 per cent of their readers felt Carrick shouldnt go to Brazil. To ignore a ball treasurer like Carrick would be naïve for England, but it is not like they havent done it before. When England are chasing a game, they will have the opportunity to bring on more attacking players like Henderson, Ross Barkley, Adam Lallana or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain inside that midfield three. All of these players can make a difference to a game and can bring some tempo and pace when opponents tire. Lallana changed the game against Denmark and England fans will be hoping he can do what David Platt did in 1990, bringing quality and an appreciation of space off the bench. Oxlade-Chamberlain, like James Milner, who is excellent at defending a flank, can play centrally or out wide and both should be picked on quality alone, but also bring much-needed versatility. This all means no place for Frank Lampard and thats how it should be. A World Cup spot should never be given because you were a good servant for years and big games have now passed him by. Forwards This leaves us with five spots. Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling played either side of Wayne Rooney against Denmark. Sturridge scored the games only goal and will likely start Englands first game following a terrific season for Liverpool. Playing him out wide, in a 4-3-3 had its challenges early with his wing being exposed when he drifted centrally, but with three central midfielders that should be ironed out and, at least, he is doing it on the left with a full back who is likely to stay deeper (more than Johnson, that is). Alongside Sturridge, Rooney and Danny Welbeck will both go to Brazil. Hodgson will need to pick one other centre forward who can bring something different to the attack physically, hold the ball up and be a menace to defenders if the game situation warrants it. Rickie Lambert is the odds-on favourite for this spot, but I would take Andy Carroll if he is healthy. It wasnt that long ago that he caused Sweden no end of problems at Euro 2012 and, if he can play well for West Ham in the next ten games, he would get my pick. This leaves one spot. Hodgson could (and probably will) select another defender in Walker, but he may also lean towards another striker like Jermain Defoe or another player in a wide area while withdrawing a central midfielder, such as Sterling, Aaron Lennon, Ashley Young or Andros Townsend. Sterling aside, the rest have had difficult seasons with their clubs. I would probably give the nod to Townsend because he has played well for England and brings pace but, unlike the other 22 spots, this is the one where the next two months will tell me who should go. Whoever is selected, it appears England are a long way away from making a serious run at the knockout stages based on their latest performance.  My squad: Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Fraser Forster (Celtic) and John Ruddy (Norwich) Defenders: Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea) and Leighton Baines (Everton) Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Ross Barkley (Everton), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) and James Milner (Manchester City) Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United), Andy Carroll (West Ham) and Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur) cheap nfl Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys cheap nfl Jerseys wholesale Jerseys ' ' '