event. She was second fastest in 2:09.76. They moved on to the evening semis.Olympic newcomer Caeleb Dressel led a veteran field in the 50 free heats with a time of 21.76. Anthony Ervin,

DeMar DeRozan has been on an impressive run for the Toronto Raptors. The 27-year-old guard out of USC has averaged 33.7 points on 52 percent shooting to kick off the season.Even more impressive is that DeRozan is averaging more than nine free throw attempts a game, which is putting opposing defenses in trouble.DeMar DeRozan? Hes mine. Hes ours. He belongs to the Raptors, Toronto coach Dwayne Casey told NBA.com. Hes been great, hes been a great leader, his approach has been very professional. But hes been superb, and we just gotta make sure we continue with a defensive focus.When Toronto travels to Oklahoma City on Wednesday to take on the surging Thunder, DeRozan will be the responsibility of guard Andre Roberson.At 6-foot-7, 210 pounds, Roberson has the height and length to bother DeRozans shot and the athletic ability to keep in front of him and out of the lane.Hes hot, Roberson said of DeRozan. Hes come out with a lot of confidence this year. We are just going to do our best to come out there and shut him down a little bit, get in our coverages, get back in transition, stick a hand in his face. I think well be ready.The Raptors head into the game coming off a loss to Sacramento on Sunday night. It was a game in which the Kings DeMarcus Cousins pummeled Torontos interior defense to the tune of 22 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots.Toronto was without Jonas Valanciunas, who had a left knee contusion. He has not been ruled out against Oklahoma City.If Valanciunas is unable to go, that leaves rookies Jakob Poeltl and Pascal Siakam to deal with the Thunder frontline of Steven Adams, Enes Kanter and Domantas Sabonis. The trio combined for 45 points and 26 points Monday in a win over Miami. But it was their ability to protect the rim that impressed Thunder coach Billy Donovan the most.We had great length at the basket. I thought Stevens length at the basket, Jeramis (Grant) length at the basket, Domantas at times, Donovan said. We had length at the basket, which really helped alter some shots. Numbers wise, it looks like a great defensive night. Overall, I think our defense continues to get better.Oklahoma City is fourth in the NBA in defensive efficiency at 94.6 points allowed per 100 possessions. The starting five is even better at 92.3.Its one of the reasons Oklahoma City has been able to rest its starters in back-to-back games.Great, man, great. If I could do that all year, that would be great with me, Russell Westbrook said. Rest is always good, but its always good to see that were doing a good job putting teams away early. Were doing a good job of coming out and being defense-minded.The Raptors will need more than DeRozan to break through the stifling Oklahoma City defense.Weve got to shoot the ball better, Raptors guard Kyle Lowry told Raptors.com. Thats not a concern, I just think we have to find a way to make the shots. Weve got to shoot more and get in the gym and shoot even more, get even more extra shots up. But well see what happens. I think our confidence is there. Johnathan Motley Jersey .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. Freeman Williams Jersey . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. https://www.cheapclippersonline.com/870h-loy-vaught-jersey-clippers.html . Down by seven with 90 seconds left in regulation, thats where they looked comfortable. Ken Norman Jersey . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night. Randy Smith Jersey . Arsenal failed to take full advantage of its main rivals stumbles on Saturday as substitute Gerard Deulofeu levelled with a hard shot from a tight angle in the 84th minute to give Everton a deserved point. Ahead of a crucial fortnight that will see them play against Napoli in the Champions League, Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal leads by five points ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea. OMAHA, Neb. -- Katie Ledecky set herself up to swim a third individual event in Rio, qualifying fastest for the 800-meter freestyle at the U.S. trials Friday.The Maryland teenagers time of 8 minutes, 10.91 seconds in the preliminaries was third fastest in the world this year. She owns the 10 leading times in the events history. Ledecky made a name for herself by winning the 800 free four years ago in London.She is already on the team in the 200 and 400 free. Ledecky is in line to match Debbie Meyers sweep of the 200, 400 and 800 freestyles at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Shane Gould of Australia won the 200 and 400 free in world-record time at the 1972 Munich Games, and finished second in the 800 free.Ledecky has the 100 free final Friday night and returns Saturday for the 800 free final.I dont think Ive done this before, 800 free prelims and then a big-time 100 free final, she said. Itll be fun. A little different.Leah Smith, already on the team in the 400 free, qualified second fastest for the 800 free in 8:21.64 -- 10.73 seconds behind Ledecky.Michael Phelps was back in the pool for the 100 butterfly heats, where he qualified sixth fastest in 51.87 seconds. Ryan Lochte was ninth to move into the 16-man evening semifinals, but will not swim.Lochte was focused on the 200 individual medley final Friday night, where he and Phelps were to resume their long rivalry. The topp two finishers qualify for Rio.ddddddddddddPhelps has a busy night ahead. Hell swim the 200 IM final and return about 30 minutes later for the 100 fly semis.The fastest qualifier in the 100 fly was Matthew Josa in 51.61. He swims at Division III Queens University in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina.Missy Franklin topped the 200 backstroke heats in 2:09.69. Maya DiRado, already on the team in the 200 and 400 IM, goes for a third individual event. She was second fastest in 2:09.76. They moved on to the evening semis.Olympic newcomer Caeleb Dressel led a veteran field in the 50 free heats with a time of 21.76. Anthony Ervin, the 200 Olympic champion, was second in 21.80. Cullen Jones, silver medalist in London, was third at 21.84 to make the semis.It means a lot to be able to hold your own against these young guys, said Jones, who is 32.He failed to qualify in the 100 free and was shaken after friend Matt Grevers missed out in the 100 back as the defending Olympic champion.But I had to put that aside, Jones said. I had to think about how I wanted to go out, how I wanted to do everything I planned on doing. I put too much work in this year to not put up a good time.Nathan Adrian, the 100 free winner at trials, also advanced fourth in 21.96. ' ' '