The Toronto Raptors are atop the Eastern Conference, and much of that success stems from capitalizing on favorable matchups. The Raptors look to continue dominating teams with losing records tonight as they host the Brooklyn Nets for the first time since being ousted in the opening round of the playoffs. You can catch the game live on TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5, TSN GO and TSN Radio 1050 at 8pm et/5pm pt. Toronto (19-6) owns the best record in the conference, and it can thank its 11-1 record against teams under .500 for the advantage. All of the Raptors six victories in the last eight games have come in such matchups, while both defeats have been against Cleveland. Theyve won the first three of this six-game stretch against teams with losing records, but needed a dominant second half to beat Orlando 95-82 on Monday. They trailed by eight at halftime before shooting 48.8 percent and outscoring the Magic by 21 points in the final 24 minutes to improve to 12-3 at home. We just came out more aggressive and played our game, said Kyle Lowry, who had 11 of his 17 points in the second half. We knew we let a lead get away in the first half. Toronto, which is trying to win the Atlantic Division for a second straight season, should have some added motivation against the Nets (10-13). The Raptors were eliminated in seven games by Brooklyn in the first round, blowing a 3-2 series lead and losing Game 7 104-103 at the Air Canada Centre. Lowry, who averaged 21.1 points in that series, scored 28 in Game 7 before his jumper in the final seconds was blocked. He was also effective during the regular season, scoring 22.0 points while hitting 13 of 27 3s as the Raptors and Nets split four matchups. Amir Johnson, who had 11 points Monday, was also productive in Game 7, putting up 20 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. The Nets have won four of six games on the road, but theyre 2-4 in their last six overall after falling 95-91 at home to Miami on Tuesday. Mason Plumlee is looking to build on his season-high 21 points. The center is averaging 16.7 points and 10.7 boards over the past three games, a major improvement from his 6.7 and 5.6 season marks. We need to go up (to Toronto) and get a win, so whatever we gotta do, Plumlee said. Back to back, it doesnt matter, we just need to go get a win. He was limited to reserve duty in the playoffs last season, totaling 18 points and 17 rebounds in the series with Toronto. Joe Johnson is 10 of 19 from 3-point range in three games since missing two with the flu, and he may be looking forward to facing the Raptors. He averaged 21.9 points in the playoffs against Toronto, including 25.0 while Brooklyn split the four meetings in Canada. Hunter Strickland Nationals Jersey .com) - Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James will sit out Thursdays game against the Oklahoma City Thunder with left knee soreness. Kyle McGowin Nationals Jersey . Among the teams moves was trading one of the teams two third round picks, no. 83 overall, to the Chicago Blackhawks for Brandon Bollig, a six-foot-two, 223-pound left-winger who had seven goals, seven assists, and 92 penalty minutes in 82 games last season. https://www.cheapnationals.com/. -- New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has no concerns about the health of shortstop Derek Jeter, who was limited to 17 games last season due to leg injuries. Nationals Jerseys China . They were right in that they responded to coach Randy Carlyles goaltending switch to erase a two-goal deficit. Fernando Rodney Nationals Jersey . His big 2-minute outburst in the fourth quarter Tuesday night is all that really mattered for the Dallas Mavericks.BOSTON -- Jason Kipnis delivered three singles for the Cleveland Indians, and then he helped them out with his glove. The Indians second baseman snagged a hard-hit grounder from Red Sox slugger David Ortiz to start an eighth-inning double play. Instead of facing a late Boston rally, the Indians held on for a 3-2 victory on Saturday that snapped a four-game losing streak. "He hit it pretty hard," Kipnis said. "You guys know as well as I do: Youve got some time with him going down the line. All he has to do is jog, with most of his hits." Asdrubal Cabrera and Michael Brantley each had a pair of hits for Cleveland, which had lost eight of its past nine games at Fenway Park. The Indians scored two runs in the seventh to take the lead on an error by catcher A.J. Pierzynski and a bases-loaded walk. "Were going to have to win some games like that," said Cleveland manager Terry Francona, whose team stranded 13 base runners and went 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position. John Axford (2-3) earned the win with one scoreless inning in relief of T.J. House, and Cody Allen pitched the ninth for his seventh save. Craig Breslow (2-2) took the loss, allowing two unearned runs and two hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning. Boston starter Jake Peavy left with a 2-1 lead but remains winless in his past nine starts. "You just try to do what you can do to win," said Peavy, who entered the game with the second-lowest run support in the AL. "Obviously, its been tough to score on my day, thats something Im not going to shy away from. Im not blaming anyone. I have to be better. Guys have to find a way to be better on my day to win. Its frustrating, no doubt. At the end of the day its frustrating to lose." The Red Sox ledd 2-1 when Breslow relieved Peavy to start the seventh.dddddddddddd Cabrera hit a grounder behind second base that shortstop Jonathan Herrera grabbed with a diving stop, but his throw to first short-hopped Mike Napoli and popped off the heel of his glove. Michael Brantley singled to right, then second baseman Dustin Pedroia tried to come home on Kipnis grounder but Pierzynski couldnt come up with the ball. Home plate umpire Sean Barber initially signalled out, but changed the call when he saw the ball rolling in the dirt. "You cant second-guess that," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "Thats a good, aggressive defensive play. Then unfortunately we started to nitpick a little bit on the outside of the strike zone." Two outs later, David Murphy walked to load the bases and, after Junichi Tazawa relieved Breslow, Carlos Santana walked in the go-ahead run to make it 3-2. Jonny Gomes and Brock Holt had two hits apiece for the Red Sox, who scored a season-high 10 runs on Friday night. Boston had won seven in a row at home. Ortiz doubled in a run in the first inning for Boston. It was his 422nd career double in a Red Sox uniform, tying Wade Boggs for fourth on the teams all-time list. NOTES: Peavy is 0-4 with a 5.46 ERA in his past nine starts. ... Red Sox SS Stephen Drew missed his sixth straight game with a right side muscle injury. Farrell said he will be available on Sunday. ... RHP Clay Buchholz (right knee) OF Shane Victorino (right hamstring) and 3B Will Middlebrooks (right index finger) all made rehab appearances for Triple-A Pawtucket. ... Francona, who led the Red Sox to the 2004 and 07 World Series titles, got a big cheer when he came out to check on Michael Bourn after his third-inning single. ' ' '