Dein erstes Forum » The unknown is how it will play at night

TORONTO -- Even though it is Kyle Lowry currently shooting lights out for the Toronto Raptors, second-year man Norman Powell is only too happy to take the credit.Lowry had 24 points and seven assists for the Raptors in a 113-80 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night, compared to Powells 16. But according to Powell, its his pre-game tradition with the All-Star guard that is powering his hot hand.We have a little shooting competition, the first to make five from five spots, and ever since weve started doing that hes been lighting it up, so Im taking credit for it, Powell said jokingly after the game, Torontos season-high fifth straight victory and a fourth consecutive win over the Lakers.Lowry, who has scored 20-plus points in his last six games against the Lakers, averaging 24.8 points, was only too happy to back up his teammates claim.He can take credit. My teammates, they can all have the credit, he said. My teammates are the reason Im able to do the things that Im able to do.Lowry tied his season high for 3-pointers, going 6 of 9 from beyond the arc as the Raptors registered their biggest win of the season. The 33-point victory surpassed the 27-point win over Philadelphia on Oct. 28.Still, coach Dwane Casey was more interested in his teams defensive performance, as Toronto held Los Angeles to an opponent season low of 80 points and .344 shooting from the field. The Raptors were particularly dominant in the second quarter, outscoring the Lakers 41-26 while shooting 75 percent from the field.But it takes more than that to impress the Raptors coach.Case dont say nothing about offense. Case dont care, said DeMar DeRozan, who had 16 points. Everything that comes out of his mouth is defense.Even though the game was the Lakers third in four nights, coach Luke Walton was not about to use that as an excuse.I felt like we werent mentally ready to compete against one of the better teams in the NBA tonight, he said. I dont know if thats just fatigue from the travel and the road trip so far. Even if it is it cant be an excuse in this league.Brandon Ingram had 17 points for the Lakers, who are 1-2 on their four-game road trip. Meanwhile their bench, the top scoring unit in the NBA, chipped in with Jordan Clarksons 14 and former Raptor Lou Williams 13.The Lakers were held to just 14 points in the third quarter and 32 points in the second half, as Toronto successfully nursed a 21-point halftime lead all the way to the end, emptying its bench and giving minutes to some of its lesser lights.You have to give them credit, they played really good, former Raptor Jose Calderon said. They kept making shots in the right moment and played good defense. We didnt find a guy today who was really hot or going.TIP-INSLakers: G DAngelo Russell (left knee) missed his seventh consecutive game and F Nick Young (right calf) sat out his second straight contest. ... F Julius Randle played his 100th NBA game Friday night. He has 39 double-doubles over that span. ... Williams has made a free throw in 29 straight games, the longest active streak for a Lakers bench player.Raptors: Usual starting F DeMarre Carroll was rested in the opening game of Torontos first back-to-back home games since the 2008-09 season as the Raptors continue to exercise caution after Carrolls knee surgery late last season. Powell started in his place. ... DeRozans six assists extended his career-long streak with at least four assists to 11 games. ... Lowry has made multiple 3-pointers in 10 straight games, tied for the longest such streak of his career.KERR-AZY VOTERSDespite leading the Lakers to a surprising 10-10 record over the first month of the season, Walton was passed over for Western Conference coach of the month in favor of his former boss, Steve Kerr of 16-2 Golden State.Im furious that Steve Kerr won coach of the month, Walton said jokingly. No, Im happy for him obviously. It doesnt matter to me who wins coach of the month. Were trying to do something thats bigger than individual awards.DOMINATING FROM DOWNTOWNThe Raptors, who shot 41.4 percent from 3-point range, had double-digit 3-pointers (12) for the fifth straight game. Lowry led the way with six, and in his last four games is shooting 71 percent (20 of 28) from beyond the arc.MOVING ON UPDeRozans six field goals saw him pass Vince Carter (3,536) for second on the franchises all-time list. Chris Bosh leads the way with 3,614.UP NEXTLakers: Will look to end a five-game losing streak in Memphis when they face the Grizzlies on Saturday.Raptors: Aiming for sixth straight win when they host Atlanta on Saturday. Scottie Pippen Jersey . Klitschkos management company says the bout will be the Ukrainian fighters 25th world championship fight. The 1.83-meter (6-foot) Leapai defeated the previously unbeaten Denis Boytsov in November to become the WBOs mandatory challenger. Portland Trail Blazers Gear . One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. https://www.cheapblazersonline.com/1278i-cj-mccollum-jersey-blazers.html . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. 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Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have both prospered here in the past, the latter notably putting on a sublime display on debut against India to help deliver a victory in Steven Smiths first match as Australian captain. Starc, meanwhile, has been shifting up through the gears since he was rushed back from injury against South Africa, and appears to be finding his very best rhythm in time for Brisbane.Pakistan, of course, have a surfeit of pacemen capable of making the ball bend, in Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir a left-arm combination duo capable of reducing any batting order to ruins. Dangerous, too, will be the wristspin of Yasir Shah, on a ground Shane Warne has always professed to love, though Australias batsmen have historically attacked visiting spin bowlers with significant success in Brisbane - just ask Graeme Swann. Critical to the visitors chances of unseating the Australians at a ground they feel more at home at than any other will be the holding of catches - scores went down during the recent series loss in New Zealand, with the fielding coach Steve Rixon trying to rectify that in Australia.While the hosts have plenty of advantages, not least greater experience against the pink ball, it should not be forgotten that Australias confidence is only in the very early stages of restoration, following five consecutive defeats that culminated in the Hobart humiliation. Pakistan, by contrast, were humbled across the Tasman but have a far sturdier record behind them earlier in the year - the share of a series in England to briefly claim the world No. 1 ranking was a remarkable achievement. In what shapes to be one of the captain Misbah-ul-Haqs final series, a victory in Australia would be the sweetest icing on his cake. To start that quest at the Gabba in conditions that will suit his pacemen but challenge his batsmen will turn to be either a blessing or curseForm guide(last five completed matches, most recent first) ? Australia: WLLLL Pakistan: LLLWWIn the spotlightSo far this summer, Usman Khawaja has batted with plenty of determination to succeed, cutting down on some of the more flamboyant strokeplay he offered up last season to become a senior member of the Australian top order. His sound judgment of line will be critical in Brisbane, a ground he knows well as captain of Queensland. It will be up to him, Matt Renshaaw and David Warner to ward off Pakistans considerable new ball threat.dddddddddddd.Before England, before the no-ball, before the prison sentence and the exile from the game, Mohammad Amir came to Australia as a teenager on Pakistans last Test series visit and impressed all with his speed, swing and stamina. Older and wiser, he still has the ability to swing the ball at high pace, and has the potential to cause chaos in the Australian batting order if he gets it right - and if Pakistan are able to hold onto their catches.Teams newsAustralia are set to take an unchanged team into the Gabba Test following their victory, also with the pink ball, over South Africa in Adelaide.Australia (probable) 1 Matt Renshaw, 2 David Warner, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Steven Smith (capt), 5 Peter Handscomb, 6 Nic Maddinson, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Josh Hazlewood, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Jackson BirdMisbah-ul-Haq and Yasir Shah were both missing from Pakistans previous Test XI against New Zealand, but both are expected to resume their customary positions in Brisbane.Pakistan (probable) 1 Sami Aslam, 2 Azhar Ali, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Asad Shafiq, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 8 Wahab Riaz, 9 Yasir Shah, 10 Mohammad Amir, 11 Rahat AliPitch and conditionsKevin Mitchell Jnr, the Gabba curator, is shaving the grass on the pitch down to 2mm - considerably shorter than for the Adelaide day-night Test and a pretty standard level for any Gabba Test. Pretty well standard, along the same lines as normal, he said. Weve got a reasonable amount of grass cover on the wicket so we think thats going to play the same as a normal day Test.The surface will nonetheless be hard and bouncy with some lateral movement on offer for the pacemen early on. The unknown is how it will play at night - the pink ball can be expected to swing. The weather forecast is fine initially with the chance of some rain over the weekend.Stats and triviaPakistan have never beaten Australia in Brisbane, losing three times and drawing onceThe most recent meeting between the sides was in the first Test of the 1999 series. Australia won by 10 wickets in what was Adam Gilchrists debut matchPakistan drew series in Australia in 1976-77 and 1978-79 but have lost every series since - seven in allQuotesFor us the key is adapting to conditions, and if we can adapt to conditions quick enough well be fine. I constantly remind the players if we can be getting 270, 280, 300, were in the game because weve got the ability to take 20 wickets. Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur ' ' '