Inland Waterways » bench to provide the game-winning hit for the

(SportsNetwork.com) - The Toronto Raptors look to distance themselves from the Brooklyn Nets in the Atlantic Division standings when the two teams collide Monday at Barclays Center. Watch the Raptors vs. Nets live tonight on TSN2 at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The Raptors are four games ahead of Brooklyn for the division lead and have won two of the first three matchups this season, including a 104-103 triumph in the Empire State on Jan. 27. Mondays game should be an exciting one for how close the Raptors and Nets are in the Eastern Conference standings. Toronto will end a quick road trip against the Nets and posted a 111-104 victory Sunday in Minnesota, as DeMar DeRozan led the way with 25 points and Kyle Lowry followed with a triple-double of 20 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. "Kyle and DeMar down the stretch really turned it on," said Raptors coach Dwane Casey. "Kyles triple-double was huge for us. We needed all of his assists, all of his buckets and all of his rebounds." Terrence Ross, Amir Johnson and Steve Novak all scored 15 points for the Raptors, winners in three straight and nine of 11 games. Success beyond the 3- point line aided the Raptors, who sank 14-of-24 from long distance. Novak was 5-of-6 beyond the arc. "They shot the heck out of it from 3," said Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman. "Its a game we just didnt do enough to win." Toronto is 17-14 on the road and unbeaten in three straight as the guest. They are third in the East standings -- one game ahead of Chicago and four in front of Brooklyn -- and will start a three-game homestand Wednesday versus Detroit, Memphis and Phoenix. Brooklyn is sixth in the conference standings and 1 1/2 games behind Washington. It will shoot for a seventh straight win at home with the Raptors in town and handed the Sacramento Kings a 104-89 defeat Sunday. Former King Marcus Thornton scored 27 points off the bench and Joe Johnson added 18. Deron Williams ended with 10 points and seven assists for a Nets team that shot 53.2 percent and scored 28 points on 25 Sacramento turnovers. "Its always fun to play your former team and see your homeboys," said Thornton, "but my job was to focus on getting this win and we did." The Nets have won five of six and 11 of their last 16 games, and have a 19-11 record at Barclays Center this season. They will visit Miami and Washington in the middle of the week. Nets veteran Kevin Garnett is still nursing a back issue and is questionable Monday versus Toronto. Garnett hasnt played since Feb. 27 at Denver. Paul Pierce (shoulder) and Andrei Kirilenko (ankle) are both questionable as well and left Sundays game. Custom Dallas Stars Jerseys . As future stars prepare to make the big leap to the professional ranks, TSNs Draft Week delivers wall-to-wall coverage of both the NHL and NBA Entry Drafts, highlighted by exclusive live coverage of both events. Dino Ciccarelli Jersey . The 27-year-old hit .209 in 86 at-bats last year after missing the 2010 season following surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. http://www.thedallasstarshockey.com/ .Y. -- Syracuse guard Trevor Cooney was mired in a shooting slump, and his woes coincided with a late-season swoon by the Orange. Brian Bellows Jersey . Brazilian striker Brandao opened the scoring with a header in the 55th minute before winger Franck Tabanou volleyed home from close range to double the lead in the 61st. Gump Worsley Jersey . Burkes Flames are one of several teams involved in heavy trade speculation going into next Wednesdays 3pm et deadline, with the most prominent name in play being forward Michael Cammalleri.ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Thanks in part to pinch-hitter Jerry Sands, the Tampa Bay Rays are feeling a little better about themselves. The reserve utility man came off the bench to provide the game-winning hit for the second straight game, delivering a two-run homer that helped the Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 on Monday night. Sands first homer since Sept. 20, 2011, when he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers, came off Brian Matusz and snapped a 3-3 tie. Yunel Escobar hit a solo homer in the first and Ryan Hanigan added a two-run drive in the fourth for a 3-0 lead against Orioles starter Wei-Yin Chen. "Its big," Sands after the Rays won for the fourth time in five games following a stretch in which they dropped 14 of 15 and fell to last place in the AL East with the worst record in the majors. "Obviously this team has been struggling to get some wins lately, so its fun to be the guy that does it for the team." Adam Jones homered for the second straight day for Baltimore, hitting a two-run shot in the sixth off rookie Jake Odorizzi, who allowed two runs and three hits over 5 1-3 innings. Delmon Young had a pinch-hit homer in the ninth off Juan Carlos Oviedo, who got the last three outs for his first save. Sands, who broke three bats while singling in the eighth inning to drive home the winning run in a victory at Houston on Sunday, went deep on a 2-0 pitch after Matusz replaced Darren ODay (2-1), who departed with a runner on and two outs. The 26-year-old, who has five career homers, was 1 for 9 as a pinch-hitter with Tampa Bay before the past two at-bats. "This guys done a nice job off the bench," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "I know hes going to be aggressive ... and I know hes not going to be intimidated by the situation." The Orioles had just tied it in the top of the eighth with a run charged to Grant Balfour, loading the bases with two singles and a walk before Nelson Cruz delivered an RBI infield single. Baltimore nearly took the lead when pinch-hitter Steve Pearce lined a pitch down the left field line, but the ball landed foul. Two pitches later, he grounded into a force play, letting Jake McGee (3-0) off the hook. "Its such a fine line. Stevies ball barely misses the chalk line there," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said.dddddddddddd "Of course McGee is one the better relief pitchers in the league. Our guys have been doing a good job out the pen, too. Its frustrating." The Orioles announced before the game that two-time All-Star catcher Matt Wieters, who hasnt played since May 10, will have season-ending surgery on his right elbow. Showalter said the team is hopeful Wieters, who was examined Monday by Dr. James Andrews, will be ready for opening day next year. The Rays nearly wasted the second straight solid start for Odorizzi, who held St. Louis hitless until two outs of the fifth inning of a 1-0 loss last Tuesday. Matt Holliday homered for the only run of the game, Tampa Bays third consecutive shutout loss during a stretch in which they went 31 straight innings without scoring. Since ending the streak, the Rays have scored 24 runs in five games. "We won a really tough game (Sunday), we won a really tough game here tonight," Madden said. "When you start believing youre going to win games late, thats a good feeling to get. Thats when you start getting good again, and we did." Odorizzi allowed Hardys single and a walk with two outs in the second, escaping the jam by fanning Ryan Flaherty. The 24-year-old right-hander retired eight straight after walking Nick Markakis in the third, with the Orioles right fielder interrupting the string with a double leading off the sixth. Jones hit his 12th homer one out later, ending Odorizzis night and trimming Baltimores deficit to 3-2. NOTES: A moment of silence was observed before the game in honour of Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, who died Monday. ... The Orioles plan to activate RHP Miguel Gonzalez (strained right oblique) from the 15-day DL to start Tuesday nights game against Tampa Bay LHP Erik Bedard. Both are 3-4 this season. ... Showalter agrees with Maddon that a team shouldnt lose a replay challenge when the contested call stands instead of being confirmed. "A great idea," Showalter said. "Hes right. A lot of times they just say theres nothing conclusive. You may be right, but we cant overturn it. So, why should you be penalized for that?" ... Rays RHP Jeremy Hellickson (right elbow surgery) is scheduled to make his third minor league rehab start Tuesday, when Triple-A Durham visits Louisville. 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