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MINNEAPOLIS - Less than 15 minutes after the final buzzer sounded, Kyle Lowry, originally surprised to learn he had recorded his fifth career triple-double and second of the season, lamented his recent shooting slump. "Lately my shot has been off," said Lowry, fresh off a 20-point, 12-rebound, 11-assist performance in the Raptors 111-104 victory over the Timberwolves. "Ive been in a crazy slump for me. Imma find my way out of it." Demanding the best from himself and his team has become the norm for a player that led Toronto in more ways than one on Sunday. Lowry shot just 5-of-13 from the field but it didnt seem to matter much because he did almost everything else. The Raptors point guard knocked down nine of his 10 free throws, netted a couple of steals, found teammates for big shots throughout the evening and helped change the game with his rebounding. As a team, it was their hot shooting that kept the Raptors afloat in the first half, even leading by one at intermission. However, that lead seemed unsustainable at the rate in which Minnesota dominated the trenches. Late in the third quarter, as Lowry wrestled the ball from Nikola Pekovic - a ferocious rebounder with 80 pounds and nearly a foot on the Raptors guard - to give his team another possession, it was clear the momentum had swung. "He did a good job of getting in there, penetrating, finding people," Dwane Casey said of Lowry. "We needed all of his rebounds, especially with the way they crash the boards. He just had an all-around game." After giving up 10 offensive rebounds in the first half - it was the 12th time theyve surrendered at least 10 offensive boards in the last 17 games - the Raptors allowed just six in the seconds half, doubling Minnesotas efforts on the boards, 28-14. Lowry, who had nine rebounds in the final 24 minutes, and his nose for the ball seemed to rub off and inspire his teammates. "Its crazy," DeMar DeRozan said of Lowrys effort. "We all look at one another and realize, what can I do to help him out?" "Just seeing him going there, sometimes he comes out of nowhere and you see him snatch a ball out of a bigs hand, or coming over the top like he has a 42-inch vertical or something. Thats just Kyle, man. Hes hungry for the ball every time the ball goes up." His passion, like his tenacity, has been contagious and his backcourt partner appears to have caught the bug. With just over a minute to go and the shot clock ticking down, up seven, DeRozan took a pass from Lowry. Situated in the left corner, with the Wolves Corey Brewer in his face, he drained the dagger, a three-pointer to put the Raptors up 10. On his way to the Raptors huddle, Minnesota having just called a timeout, a fired-up DeRozan turned to the Wolves bench and shouted a couple of R-rated words that did not sit well with coach Rick Adelman. "They got a little hyped when they made a couple of buckets," said DeRozan, who finished with 25 points. "I kind of got it from Greivis (Vasquez). When he hits a big shot, he always shows off a little bit. Its the competitive level thats in all of us when you hit a big shot." "I like the passion," Casey added. "I think all of our guys are playing with passion, we have to channel it and get it going in the right direction, at the other team. I do like that." It was a rare showing of on-court emotion for the quiet all-star guard but something weve seen a lot more of over the last few weeks. Lowry, who is known for wearing his heart on his sleeve, approves. "When youre an all-star, youre growing up, your true self starts to come out a little bit," he said of his teammate. "Hes a quiet guy but when youre winning and youre a leader, youve got to do it." Listed at a generous 6-feet, Lowry is averaging just under five rebounds per game, good for fourth among NBA point guards, behind only Russell Westbrook, Michael Carter-Williams and Rajon Rondo. Lowry is shooting just 32 per cent from the field, 29 per cent from three-point range - down from 39 per cent on the season - over his last eight games. Its barely affected his overall value to the team and it certainly hasnt hurt the bottom line. Toronto has won six of those eight games and nine of its last 11 contests, surpassing last seasons win total with its 35th victory on Sunday. Without sixth-man Patrick Patterson in the lineup - the Raptors learned he will miss at least 7-10 days with a ligament injury in his right elbow before the game - Steve Novak and Chuck Hayes stepped in and filled that role seamlessly. Hayes strength and on-the-ball defence came in handy against all-star forward Kevin Love - who just missed out on a triple-double, with 26 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists - and Novak knocked down five of his six shots from beyond the arch, contributing 15 points in 19 minutes off the bench. As a team, the Raptors shot 14-of-24 from long distance, with Terrence Ross hitting three of four attempts and DeRozan, as well as Vasquez each drilling a couple threes. The victory was Torontos 18th in its previous 19 meetings with the Wolves, sweeping the season-series for the eighth time in the last 10 years. Now nine games above the .500 mark for the first time this season, the Raptors will travel to Brooklyn to face the Nets - who sit four games back for top spot in the Atlantic Division - in the second night of a back-to-back, for both teams, on Monday. Wholesale Basketball Jerseys Authentic . Booth picked up 65 caps after making her national team debut in 2002 at the age of 17. She most recently played for Sky Blue FC of the National Womens Soccer League. "It just felt like it was my time to move on," she said in a phone interview from her hometown of Burlington, Ont. Wholesale Jerseys Authenitc . -- The Windsor Spitfires were left with just one goaltender Tuesday after having their starter walk out on them midway through Game 3 of their Ontario Hockey League playoff matchup with the London Knights. http://www.wholesalechinajerseys.net/. Now he can be had by any team willing to pay his salary. According to a report from ESPN, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are shopping the veteran CB and plan on releasing him Wednesday if they cant find a trade partner. Cheap NFL Jerseys Shop . With the Pirates in the thick of the race in the NL Central, the timing couldnt be better. Liriano struck out a season-high 11 in seven innings to win consecutive starts for the first time this season and Pittsburgh beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Tuesday night. Authentic Cheap Jerseys .com) - Nicolas Colsaerts fired an 11-under 60 on Thursday and grabbed a 3-stroke lead with the opening round of the Portugal Masters suspended by rain.Kansas City, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Alex Smith threw two touchdown passes and the Kansas City Chiefs handed the New York Jets their eighth straight defeat with a 24-10 victory. Smith completed 21-of-31 passes for 199 yards for the Chiefs (5-3), who have won three in a row. Jamaal Charles carried 20 times for 78 yards and a score for Kansas City. Travis Kelce and Anthony Fasano each caught a touchdown pass from Smith. Michael Vick connected on 21-of-28 passes for 196 yards and one touchdown in his first start as a member of the Jets (1-8), who have lost eight in a row for the first time since opening 0-8 in 1996. He left the game briefly in the fourth quarter after taking a hard hit and slamming his head on the ground. Geno Smith had been New Yorks starting quarterback in all 24 games since he was drafted in the second round of last years draft. He was benched last week against the Bills after throwing three interceptions in the first quarter and inactive this week with a shoulder injury, with Jets head coach Rex Ryan making the switch to Vick on Monday. Ryan said after Sundays loss that Vick will start next week against Pittsburgh. Percy Harvin caught 11 passes for 129 yards in his second game as a Jet. Eric Decker hauled in nine passes for 63 yards and a score. The Chiefs got the ball to start the game and put together a 12-play, 81-yard drive. DeAnthony Thomas 26-yard scamper helped set up Charles 1-yard TD run. After New York went three-and-out, Kansas City added to its lead. Kelces 34-yard catch on the first play put the Chiefs in prime position. On 1st-and-goal from the 2-yard line later on, Alex Smith threw a pass that was deflected by linebacker Calvin Pace. The ball caromed into the hands of FFasano, who was sitting on the ground near the goal line.ddddddddddddFasano was able to twist his body into the end zone for a touchdown. Vick and the Jets finally got some offense going in the second quarter. New York converted a trio of third downs on a 15-play, 81-yard drive that Decker capped with a 3-yard TD catch. The score cut the gap to 14-7 with 2:09 left in the half. Thomas returned the ensuing kickoff 78 yards to the New York 29-yard line. Just four plays later, Kelce caught a 12-yard TD pass. The Jets managed to get three points back before the break thanks to Harvins 65-yard return on the following kickoff, with Nick Folks 39-yard field goal making the score 21-10. Kansas Citys defense then held New York scoreless in the second half. The Chiefs first possession of the second half resulted in a 19-yard Cairo Santos field goal. Kansas City again converted a trio of third downs and moved to the 1-yard line, but failed to punch the ball into the end zone. Vick moved the Jets to the Kansas City 3-yard line early in the fourth quarter. On 4th-and-goal, he took a hard hit from Josh Mauga as his pass fell incomplete. Vicks head bounced off the ground and he was taken to the locker room. Backup quarterback Matt Simms, promoted from the practice squad on Saturday, was forced to play one series before Vick returned. New York turned the ball over on downs on Simms lone drive. Game Notes Vick faced the same man -- Andy Reid -- who famously gave him a second chance in the NFL. Vick was the Eagles full-time starter from 2010-12 under Reid, who is now the head coach of the Chiefs ... Chris Johnson carried 11 times for 69 yards for the Jets ... Simms completed 3-of-8 passes for 39 yards. ' ' '