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TORONTO - When Patrick Patterson learned he would be making his first start as a member of the Raptors just prior to Monday nights game he wasnt exactly caught off guard by the news. With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position. Although it likely wasnt an easy sell, Dwane Casey and the coaching staff made the decision to rest Johnson, who had not missed a game due to injury in nearly two years, opening the door for his backup. "I started in Houston so its not new," said Patterson, downplaying his role in Torontos 108-101 home win over the Pelicans after scoring a season-best 22 points. "Its just all about making sure I have a positive role and I know my role on the team… making sure Im a significant part of our teams success." Since coming over in the seven-player trade from Sacramento in early December, Patterson has seen his role increase steadily, earning the trust of his coach and becoming the Raptors most reliable reserve. After Johnson was ruled out, Casey expressed concern about disrupting the chemistry of his second unit by removing a key cog in Patterson, however the forwards recent play made the decision an easy one. "I thought the matchup with (Anthony) Davis was a good one for him," Casey said of Patterson, who has scored in double figures 13 times over his last 20 games, averaging 12.0 points and 5.7 rebounds, shooting 53 per cent from the field in under 24 minutes per contest during that stretch. "(Patterson) was able to stretch the defence and give us some offensive punch." Patterson gave the Raptors a lift where they needed it most. Toronto had been outscored in the opening quarter of the last four games, all on the road, before returning home Monday and getting off to a rare but crucial quick start against Davis and the Pelicans. Patterson - along with Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan - was one of three Raptors to score seven points in the first frame, knocking down both of his shots and helping his team take a 31-20 lead into the second period. Thats where Pattersons presence was missed, as Torontos bench came in and squandered a 15-point advantage. Led by reserve guard Tyreke Evans, New Orleans ripped off a 26-11 run to end the half and would go into the break knotted up with Toronto at 49 points apiece. "For whatever reason we are losing leads with our second unit, what its doing is putting a lot of pressure on our starters and putting them in big minute situations," said Casey with both DeRozan and Lowry hovering around 40 minutes on Monday. "I think they just have to get their rhythm back. Taking (Patterson) off the second unit hurts them a bit, but still we have to get a rhythm with that second unit so we can rest our starters." Heavy mileage has taken its toll on Johnson. The Raptors forward turned his ankle in a win over the Magic late last month - the most recent in a series of ankle injuries - and, to character, had played and started in all five games since. He could have done the same Monday if necessary, Casey indicated before the game, but with the all-star break around the corner and his team poised to make a playoff run over the next couple months, Johnson finally got some much-needed rest. "Its tough to replace a guy like Amir," DeRozan said of Johnson, who had not missed a game to injury since Mar. 5, 2012 (he was suspended for one game last year and sat out the previous season finale). "Everybody has to step up and try to do a little more (without him). Everybody understands their role and once they [saw] Amir [was] out, [they had] to step up and hold down the fort until he gets back." "Were deep," said Lowry, coming off his best game since before the road trip, scoring 19 points to go along with 12 assists and seven boards, five of them offensive. "Thats how we play, thats how we roll. 15 deep." Patterson started six games with the Kings earlier this season and has made 54 starts during his four year career, most of them as a member of the Rockets. With Patterson stepping into the first unit, Tyler Hansbrough - who has fallen out of favour since returning from an ankle injury last month - took advantage of the opportunity he was given off the bench, scoring 12 points and grabbing six rebounds in 14 minutes. "Tyler and Patrick both carried us tonight," Casey said. "I thought they were huge in their minutes." "Tyler came in and was a pro. He brings physicality to the game that we need." Patterson and Hansbrough shared the assignment of neutralizing Davis, the Pelicans second-year forward, who has been a revelation in the Western Conference this season. Davis scored just two points, hitting one of his six shots in his first appearance at the Air Canada Centre exactly a year ago Monday but hes come a long way since then. The first-time all-star is one of five players averaging over 20 points and 10 rebounds and the only one doing so while shooting over 50 per cent from the field. Hes also on pace to become just the fifth player since 1973 to lead the NBA in blocks in his first or second season. "Anthony Davis is one of the most skilled big guys in the league," Casey said before the game, comparing him to a young Kevin Garnett. Davis was glued to the bench in foul trouble late in the third as the Raptors made their run and finished the game with 19 points and seven rebounds while Evans, 24 hours after being bench for disciplinary reasons, had 23 points and 10 assists off the bench for New Orleans. Wholesale Shoes Nike . Acclaimed by world football leaders but held in contempt by many football fans. Blatter should arrive at the Itaquerao stadium in Sao Paulo to watch host Brazil play Croatia confident that this tournament -- his fifth as president -- wont be his last leading the worlds favourite sport. Vans Shoes Sale . The football club recently announced an increase in season ticket prices in five of the seven categories at Investors Group Field for 2014. While most increases are in the two to three per cent range, the clubs most affordable season tickets will jump from $199 to $250 — a 26 per cent leap. https://www.wholesaleshoesforcheap.com/air-max-95-sale/. -- Jonathan Diaz is easy to spot in the Blue Jays clubhouse. Replica Wholesale Shoes . -- DeMarcus Cousins had 29 points, nine rebounds and six steals to lead the Sacramento Kings to their third straight preseason win, a 107-90 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night. Nike Shoes Sale . People familiar with the case told The Associated Press on Friday that arbitrator Fredric Horowitz could issue his decision this weekend.WUHAN, China -- Canadian Eugenie Bouchard overcame a break in the third set to beat Mona Barthel of Germany 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, at the Wuhan Open on Tuesday. Its Bouchards first tournament since her dramatic exit from the fourth round of the U.S. Open. The Westmount, Que., native, who is seeded sixth in China, lost in straight sets to Ekaterina Makarova of Russia after struggling with the heat at Flushing Meadows. She was supposed to play in Hong Kong earlier this month but withdrew citing fatigue. Meanwhile, top-ranked Serena Williams retired from her second-round match due to a viral illness, dropping a third match to Alize Cornet this year. Williams, playing her first match since winning the U.S. Open, had just converted a break point for a 6-5 lead and was clearly hot and bothered when she asked for treatment beside the court. She withdrew moments later and was helped from the court by a trainer. Cornet beat Williams at Dubai in February and had a third-round win at Wimbledon. The Frenchwoman is the first player since Justine Henin in 2007 to beat Williams three times in year, the WTA said, and has improved to 3-3 in career meetings with the most dominant woman in tennis. "I felt dizzy and nauseous in the first set and unfortunately couldnt continue," Williams said in a brief statement in which she apologized to fans. The tournaments top two players were eliminated withiin hours of each other, with Williams exiting after Garbine Muguruza of Spain beat No.dddddddddddd 2-ranked Simona Halep of Romania 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. Muguruza, who beat Williams in the second round at the last French Open, dropped the first set in 35 minutes but rallied to win the first four games of the second set and the last four games of the third to advance. It was a bad afternoon for seeds on other courts, too. No. 10 Jelena Jankovic was trailing 4-1 when she retired against American player Coco Vandeweghe due to a back problem, and she joined on the sidelines No. 11 Sara Errani of Italy, No. 13 Ekaterina Makarova, and No. 16 Andrea Petkovic of Germany. In evening matches, however, No. 3 Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic trounced Karin Knapp of Italy 6-3, 6-0, No. 7 Angelique Kerber of Germany had a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan , and No. 8 Caroline Wozniacki held off Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (4). The new WTA tournament attracted almost all of the top 20 women, but most of them are already out of contention. Hometown star Li Na didnt even start, the two-time major winner calling it quits on her professional career on Friday citing knee injuries. Five of the seeded players were ousted on the opening day Monday, including No. 5 Agnieszka Radwanska and No. 9 Ana Ivanovic, who went down a day after winning the title at Tokyo. ' ' '