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. Cheap Jerseys From China . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. Cheap China Jerseys Authentic . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. http://www.jerseyswholesale.us/ . 9. Price, heading to the 2014 Olympics for Canada, was named the First Star after posting wins in three starts with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .971 save percentage. NFL Jerseys Outlet .com) - Following a late-game loss to the reigning NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors will look to sustain their recent high-level play as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers. Wholesale NFL Jerseys . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- Billy Horschel thought he hit the winning putt, taking quick steps to the right to watch the ball track toward the cup only for it to burn the left edge.No problem. Hed get another chance in the five-man playoff at the RSM Classic.Except that he didnt.In a shocker Sunday at Sea Island, Horschels routine tap-in from 2 feet missed to the right on No. 18 and he was eliminated from the playoff. One hole later, with the other four players unable to make a putt in the dark on the 18th green, the final PGA Tour event was suspended until Monday morning.Mackenzie Hughes, the 25-year-old Canadian trying to become the first rookie to go wire-to-wire in 20 years, had a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 18 on the second extra hole and it turned away to the left. It already was plenty dark, and there was no chance to play another hole.Hughes, Blayne Barber, Camilo Villegas and Henrik Norlander were to return at 8 a.m. Monday to resume on the par-3 17th.Horschel was headed home feeling empty.I missed it. Thats pretty much what it came down to, Horschel said after walking off the 18th green. I took my time and just blocked it.But he wrote on Twitter a few minutes later, I didnt take my time over that short putt.Either way, he was headed home to Florida feeling empty. He hasnt won since the Tour Championship in 2014 to capture the FedEx Cup, and at No. 76 in the world, he is not yet eligible for any of the majors next year.That includes the Masters. And a trip to Augusta National is a big perk for whoever wins on Monday. Thats not all thats at stake.Norlander and Villegas dont have full status on the PGA Tour this year -- Norlander received a sponsors exemption -- and a victory would take care of that. Hughes began his rookie season just six weeks ago and has a honeymoon planned in the offseason. Barber is going for his first PGA Tour victory.All of them had their chances, and none had any real regrets over the final hour.Hughes narrowly missed birdie chances on the 15th and 16th holes, but holed a 5-foot par putt on the 18th in regulation for a 1-under 69 to join the playoff.Norlander, who closed with a 65, stuffed a 9-iron into 3 feet on the 18th in regulation annd was the first to reach 17-under 265.dddddddddddd. Barber ran off back-to-back birdies on the back nine, and he had a 12-foot birdie attempt at the 18th that he missed on the low side. He shot a 66.Villegas played the best coming down the stretch. Two shots behind with three to play, the Colombian hit an aggressive drive on the par-4 16th that set up wedge for a short birdie, then holed an 18-foot birdie putt from the fringe on the par-3 17th to tie for the lead. He finished with a 6-foot par on the 18th for a 68.It was the largest playoff on the PGA Tour since Alex Cejka won a five-man playoff in Puerto Rico in 2015.Hughes had the best chance at a birdie on the 18th over the two playoff holes, though it wasnt as easy as an ordinary 10-footer, not with darkness setting in.I almost contemplated waiting for tomorrow morning with that putt, but everyone was going, he said. Its tough. But again, everyones doing it, so its fair for everybody. ... I played the ball outside left and it went right, and then at the end it went left and I couldnt see it. I mean, I cant see anything right now.Norlander was happy to still be playing. His tee shot on the second playoff hole stopped a foot from the hazard, and he managed to gouge it out of thick grass and over a tree to the green for a two-putt par.Villegas kept making putts until he couldnt see them. After all his hard word to get into the playoff, he had a tough putt from just over 4 feet in the dark to stay in the playoff and he poured it in the middle.You have a chance to win a PGA Tour event, and Im sure everybody has no problem coming at 8 a.m. and just teeing it up, Villegas said.No one else was close to joining the playoff. Jim Furyk had a 67 and was part of a large group at 14-under 268. That included C.T. Pan of Taiwan, who faced a longer day than even the players who had to return Monday.Pan left after the tournament to catch a flight from Savannah to New York, then New York to Hong Kong, and then a connection to Melbourne where he was to arrive Tuesday night in Australia for the World Cup. Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jersyes Cheap Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '