BOSTON -- The Toronto Raptors face the always dreaded back-to-back when they visit the Boston Celtics Friday night.But while the Raptors, who won at home Thursday night, and their potent backcourt combo of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry have to face two games in two nights, they wont have to face Celtics star Isaiah Thomas.Bostons Little Big Man, averaging 26 points and 6.2 assists per game, will miss his second straight game with a groin strain. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection Wednesday and will accompany the team on a coming two-game trip but it is not known when he might play.Its just day to day, team president Danny Ainge told 98.5 The Sports Hub Thursday. He is a warrior. He loves to play. Hell be back faster than most players would be back after an injury. But at the same time, we really have to be careful with Isaiah for the long haul and make sure that he doesnt come back and re-injure it.Thomas would have faced a tough test in DeRozan and Lowry, who combined for 52 points and 16 assists -- DeRozan, the new franchise leader in games played, with eight rebounds -- in Thursday nights home win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.Lowry was 5-for-7 and the team 12-for-27 from 3-point range -- the eighth straight game the Raptors (15-7) have hit 10 or more treys. Toronto was also guilty of just eight turnovers in the win.Jonas Valanciunas chipped in a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Raptors, who bring a 6-3 road record into Fridays game between two teams in the conversation for being the second-best team in the Eastern Conference, behind the Cleveland Cavaliers.The Raptors trailed by one entering the fourth quarter before turning it on.We just picked it up. We kicked in our experience with how we have to win games, said DeRozan. We cant underestimate a team like that that plays extremely hard. They jumped out on us. We had to fight back the whole game and into the fourth quarter. We just tried to put everything together, execute on both ends and pull out the victory.Playing without Thomas and against an Orlando Magic team coming off a 4-1 road trip, the Celtics fell behind by eight points in the first quarter and by one at halftime but won by 30 and showed great ball movement in a more balanced attack.Whenever we have somebody down we come together and try to figure out a game plan, said Avery Bradley, who scored 23 points in the win that lifted the Celtics to 13-9 on the season. And our game plan was to get it done on the defensive end and make sure we are moving the ball on the offensive end.Moving the ball around, the Celtics scored 58 of their 117 points in the paint.Like Ive said before, were always trying to attack the paint first, said Boston coach Brad Stevens. One of the things we want to do, especially in Isaiahs absence is play through our bigs and through the post.The Raptors took last seasons series between the Atlantic Division teams 3-1, splitting the two games in Boston.Asked where setting the team record for games played -- passing Morris Peterson -- ranks for him personally, DeRozan said, Umm, all-time best right now. Having such a high regard for an organization, any type of record and only being 27 years old and leading the franchise in whatever stat it may be is definitely a blessing. Cheap Air Max 97 Green . -- Matt Rupert scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the London Knights extended their win streak to nine games by defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Cheap Air Max 97 All White . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. http://www.cheapairmax97.us/ . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Buy Air Max 97 Online . Calgary scored on the first shift, and Michael Cammalleri scored twice as the Flames cruised to a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Cheap Air Max 97 All Black . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas coach Charlie Strong vowed he will make changes on defense during the Longhorns bye week after a 50-43 loss at?Cal?on Saturday night.Strong said he and his coaches are to blame for Cals 50-point, 504-yard performance. He did not say whether the changes hes planning involve defensive coordinator Vance Bedford, but Strong did vow he will get more involved in preparing Texas defense going forward.The defense will get fixed, Strong said. I can tell you that. It will get fixed. Whatever I need to do to get it fixed, its gonna happen.Texas has the week off before beginning Big 12 play on Oct. 1 at Oklahoma State. The 50 points Cal scored matched the most Strongs defense had allowed in his 28 games at Texas. Texas defense also gave up 43 points in a double-overtime win over Notre Dame to open the season.Cal quarterback Davis Webb threw for 396 yards and four touchdowns and hit eight passes of 20 or more yards. Strong said he and his coaching staff are responsible for not doing a better job of putting their players in a position to succeed.ddddddddddddIt goes back to accountability. I told our coaches youre a direct reflection of your position, Strong said. I expect each and every week when we go out to compete that coaches are held accountable, just like Im held accountable for how this team goes out and performs. We need to coach better, coach harder and be a lot smarter.When asked whether hes taking over defensive playcalling, Strong replied: Weve got two weeks to look at it.Texas defensive players say they believe the chief problem against Cal was their own communication issues. Safety Dylan Haines said Bedford doesnt deserve blame for the loss.Ive been coached under Coach Bedford for three years. I think hes doing a great job, Haines said. Coach Strong, hes the head coach, if he wants to get more involved, he has the right to do that. We all trust all the coaches, and they know whats best for us. We have complete trust in all of them. China NFL Jerseys Stitched Jerseys Jerseys From China Cheap Jerseys China Jerseys NFL China Jerseys NFL Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic ' ' '