NEWS » e one of the great partnerships in rugby. Both

HOUSTON -- Three contests into a five-game road trip that represents their second longest of the season, the Toronto Raptors remain one of the most lethal offensive teams in the NBA.Defensively the Raptors are sieve, and their issues on that end of the court continue to undermine their offensive might.Despite averaging 113 points over their last five games, the Raptors (8-6) lost for the fourth time during that stretch on Monday night when they fell 123-115 to the Clippers in Los Angeles. Toronto is 4-4 over its last eight games, a span in which each opponent has scored at least 102 points.Toronto ranks 24th in defensive rating, surrendering 109.2 points per 100 possessions and is allowing opponents a 51.2 effective field goal percentage that ranks 22nd.It seems like everybody weve played the last couple weeks weve turned it into an offensive slugfest, Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. Until we get defense in the game and maintain in the game (things will remain the same). I think our guys are trying. Theyre trying defensively but were not getting it done. Were not getting stops when we need to.There was some concern that the Raptors would struggle initially following the loss of center Bismack Biyombo during the offseason. Biyombo helped anchor a Toronto team that finished 11th in defensive rating last season before signing with the Orlando Magic. Without his rim protection, the Raptors havent quite been the same collectively, an issue that is also related to their individual defensive ability.I think we all can play better defense and thats something we can hold ourselves accountable for, Raptors guard Kyle Lowry said. I think we all want to be a better individual defender but we have to do it as a team. Its a lot of guys in this league that you pretty much cant guard one-on-one. You have to have five guys or 10 eyes on him.Its part of your game. Weve got to get better.The Rockets (9-5) improved to 3-0 since guard Patrick Beverley returned from preseason knee surgery with their 99-96 win at Detroit on Monday night. That victory marked the first time in eight games that Houston failed to score at least 100 points, but their developing cohesion continues to carry them through trials.Guard James Harden has played so exceptionally this season that nitpicking his flaws might soon become a necessary method of analysis. Harden is averaging 28.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 12.4 assists this season but his 81 percent shooting at the free-throw line represents his worst mark since his rookie season when he shot 80.8 percent with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2009-10. Over his first four seasons with Houston, Harden shot 86.1 percent from the free-throw line.After starting the Pistons game 10 for 10 at the charity stripe, Harden missed 5 of 9 free throws down the stretch to keep the game interesting. Over his last four games Harden is shooting just 73.9 percent from the line.I had to laugh it off. Its funny, Harden said. But we all have games like this. Just cant let it happen consistently. Ive got to take my time, go up there and concentrate, and make the free throw.Deion Sanders Cowboys Jersey ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. DeMarcus Ware Womens Jersey . The 26-year-old Ireland striker, who has four goals this season, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with his new club. http://www.shoptheofficialcowboys.com/Elite-Robert-Newhouse-Cowboys-Jersey/ . The move comes after the Canadiens were approached by the Buffalo Sabres for permission to speak to Dudley - a former Sabres player and head coach. "The Sabres called for permission and I appreciate that, Im flattered, Dudley told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun of ESPN. Emmitt Smith Jersey .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6. Chuck Howley Cowboys Jersey . Louis Blues teammates who would also be participating in the Olympics, Alex Pietrangelo felt right at home, no different in some ways to the travel experience of any old road trip – save for the length of the journey, that is.RIO DE JANEIRO -- Theres no better finisher in womens rugby sevens than Portia Woodman.Finishing tries is the forte of the woman called `Porsh, and shes scored in all four of her matches at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, including the 5-0 match-winner against the United States in the quarterfinals on Sunday to propel New Zealand into the medal rounds.Yet, Woodmans speed wasnt the highlight on day two of the womens competition, but rather the powerful defense she and her teammates produced.With the stakes higher, she simply burned every opponent who came near her.In the morning Pool B decider against France, the first serious test of world champion New Zealand, the 5-foot-7 (1.69-meter) winger flattened forward Elodie Guiglion, then bowled over two defenders in scoring a first-half try, her fifth of the tournament. In the second half, Woodman put Jessy Tremouliere on her back, and set up Kayla McAlister for the last try in the 26-7 win.Against the Americans, Woodman smashed over Lauren Doyle to force a turnover. The quarterfinal was distinguished by defense, especially when New Zealand led by five and played a woman down for two minutes with 3 1/2 minutes to go. They held on.Of her big hits, Woodman said, I was just vibing off all the girls. Were pretty much all connected, and when someones firing, were all firing.She said they trained often to deal with yellow cards, and knew what to do when Tyla Nathan-Wong was sin-binned for a late tackle.All we could think was coach saying, `Youve got two minutes, six players, tough it out, she said. Its tougher to do mentally than physically because you aalways know youre one down, and theres so much more space there.dddddddddddd Its crazy how much the difference one person makes.Her try originated from a scrum, McAlister drew two defenders on the halfway line, and Woodman out-ran them on the outside to the posts.Shes a superwoman, she said of McAlister. She brings in two players and leaves me out there wide, so its an easy job for me. All my tries have come from her.It seems so. They have become one of the great partnerships in rugby. Both were netballers who were among more than 1,100 who answered a `Go4Gold initiative in 2012 to put together a New Zealand womens sevens team for these Olympics. They stood out immediately, developed a seemingly telepathic understanding, and were key to New Zealand winning the first three womens world series, and the Sevens World Cup.McAlister, whose brother Luke was an All Black, was the first world womens sevens player of the year in 2013, and Woodman was honored in 2015.Woodman is the all-time leading try-scorer in womens world series history, with 119 over four seasons. Shes been top try-scorer in the series three times, and last year became only the fifth player -- man or woman -- to score more than 50 tries (52) in a single series.Her father, Kawhena, and uncle Fred were All Blacks in the 1980s, and she said shes followed her dads advice on the field since she was aged 7, and beating boys.My Dad told me way back when I started, she said, just get the ball and run like heck. ' ' '