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TORONTO - With a protective splint wrapped all the way around his injured left ring finger, Kyle Lowry practiced Sunday for the first time since sustaining the injury last week. http://www.thepanthersofficialstore.com/authentic-...rs-jers ey/ . "Its very sore, its very tender," Lowry said of the torn tendon in his finger, which will require him to wear the splint on his non-shooting hand for six weeks, still participating in practices and playing in games. "It is what it is. Ive got to just adjust to it." The Raptors guard left Wednesdays preseason game late in the fourth quarter after he felt his finger pop out while reaching for the ball. "Just not being able to completely use my finger," he said of the adjustment hell need to make as he prepares to open the regular season with the team on Oct. 30. "Its pretty much taped all the way to the top so Im limited to probably four fingers on that hand but I should be okay. Ill figure out how to shoot, score, pass and play defence with it." "Itll be a difficult adjustment but Im not going to complain about it, Im just going to fight through it and help the team as best as I can." Lowry, who is entering his second season in Toronto and the final year of his contract, acknowledged hell have to be more cautious reaching in with the injury but insists his style of play will remain the same. "I doubt its going to change my game because I dont know how to play any different," the starting point guard maintained. "So Im not really going to be concerned about it, Im just going to try to not worry about it and play through it." His coach echoed that sentiment. "I dont think hell be limited at all," Dwane Casey said. "Today he had no problems. He had the special [splint] on there and he was handling the ball, shooting the ball, playing with no problems whatsoever, so I dont think itll affect him." Chip on their Shoulders With the season approaching, Casey referenced an NBA preview article from The New York Times, one he and the team has taken issue with. "When the teams mascot tore an ACL in training camp, it was seen as a bad omen, which says a lot", the author wrote in the piece published on Saturday. "Thats total disrespect and hopefully our guys will use that as motivation," Casey protested. "Masai [Ujiri] saw that this morning and brought it in. It should give us motivation from that standpoint, but weve got to play the game." Although Casey wrestled with the exact wording of the slight at his team, its not the first time hes heard the American media underestimate or crack a joke at the expense of the Raptors franchise. A year ago, the Raptors coach and a number of his players took issue with the 33-win prediction made by former ESPN analyst John Hollinger. They went on to win 34 games. "I like that people are not respecting us," Casey said. "Weve got to have a chip on our shoulders, I have a chip on my shoulder, and if you dont you shouldnt be in uniform." Stone Makes Team, Still Not Satisfied Over the past couple weeks it became clear that guard Julyan Stone was the standout in a three-player battle for the 15th and final spot on the teams regular season roster. On Saturday it was made official. "My family told me, I didnt know," Stone said Sunday after finding out the news the day prior. "I was just going on day-by-day." "My mom hit me with the smiley face," he continued, "but for her when she texts smile, she like writes the whole word smile out instead of [using a] smiley face, so I kind of got it from [that]." Stone has endeared himself to Raptors fans and the local media with his personality and quirky stories but his versatility and commitment to defence have kept him around. "He does a good of job of running the show, good things happen when hes out on the floor," Casey said of the versatile 6-foot-6 guard. "Hes a tough kid and he gives us a different defender at that point guard position that can guard the quick guys and guard the big guards so he gives you another tool in your tool box to work with. Hes a hungry kid." The Raptors waived forward Chris Wright and guard Carlos Morais, allowing Stone to stay on. With Lowry playing through injury and back-up point guards D.J. Augustin and Dwight Buycks failing to stand out in camp, Stone has an opportunity to play his way into a the rotation, something hes strived for from the minute he arrived in Toronto. "Everybodys happy with just being in the league [but] my journeys been different," Stone said. "If youre a competitive person youre not just fighting for the 15th spot. I didnt come in here just to fight for the 15th spot. That was never really on my mind." "It was a fight for a position to play," he continued. "So making the cut for me was just something I had to do but I didnt think about it that way. I came in here to play, I came in here to make a name [for myself], I came in here to be in the rotation, thats always been my mindset and that will continue to be my mindset." Believed to be something of a long shot upon receiving a non-guaranteed contract and invite to training camp, Stone has impressed the coaching staff and continues to overcome a variety of injuries that have plagued him over the past couple years. Stone averaged 1.7 points and 1.5 rebounds in 26 games regular season games with the Denver Nuggets over the last two years, also appearing in four playoff contests. The 24-year-old guard was expected to sign a guaranteed deal with the Raptors earlier in the summer before lingering knee and hip injuries put the agreement on ice. Ujiri, who previously acquired Stone in Denver, had maintained that the guard would be given another opportunity to earn a spot on the roster if and when he proved to be healthy. "Masai did a good job of just telling me, I know what youre capable of now go show me, if you dont show me what I saw before you will be out of here. Ive got to respect [him] for that." Stone took a knee to his surgically repaired right hip on Wednesday but returned to practice on Sunday and should be ready to go when the season kicks off next week. http://www.thepanthersofficialstore.com/authentic-...rs-jers ey/ http://www.thepanthersofficialstore.com/authentic-...rs-jers ey/ .J. - The New York Jets could be down two of their top receivers when they take on the San Diego Chargers on Sunday. LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Clippers had every reason to quit down 17 points with 4 1/2 minutes to go. They had already blown a double-digit lead, fans were hitting the exits, and a long seven-game road trip waited at the end. But in their huddle, Doc Rivers and the other coaches told the players to keep believing. They did, and pulled out a wild 129-127 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night. J.J. Redick scored a career-high 33 points, Matt Barnes added 25, Blake Griffin had 23 and Jamal Crawford scored 16, including a pair of free throws that gave the Clippers the lead with 11 seconds to go. They improved to 18-3 at home with their fourth straight win. "We locked in," Griffin said. "We made the plays down the stretch, they tightened up and got a little too comfortable." Dirk Nowitzki scored 27 points and Samuel Dalembert added a season-high 20 for the Mavs, whose three-game winning streak ended when they couldnt hold a 123-106 lead. Jose Calderon hit four 3-pointers on his way to 16 points. "Theres no way we should lose this game," Nowitzki said. "Weve got to do a better job of protecting a lead. We made some bad decisions and gave up some 3s." Redicks seventh 3-pointer with 34 seconds to go had the Clippers trailing 127-126. Nowitzkis step-back jumper hit the rim. "We had J.J. guarding Dirk on one play and it worked," Rivers said. "I cant explain that game." After Crawfords two free throws put the Clippers ahead 128-127, Calderon missed a 3-pointer with 3 seconds to go, and DeAndre Jordan got fouled. After his first free throw hit the right side of the backboard, he made the second for a 129-127 lead. DeJuan Blair inbounded the ball but his pass was intercepted by Jordan to end the heated and stunning finish. "It was like a playoff game the last three or four minutes. Everybody was mouthing back and forth and getting techs, and it became a brawl out there," Shawn Marion said. "But if you let that take away from what your main focus is -- executing at both ends of the floor -- then its going to take you out of your game." Griffin uttered expletives at Dalembert after they scrapped for a rebound near the baseline late in the game. One of the referees put both his arms around Griffins waist and backed him away. Nowitzki was waiting with an earful as Griffin ended up near him. "I was more upset about some of the things that were said than the situation," Griffin said. Dalembert was called for a technical. Griffin madde the free throw and the Clippers retained possession. http://www.thepanthersofficialstore.com/authentic-...rs-jers ey/. Crawford drove the basket and scored to pull them to 125-118. "It was a difficult and a physical game," Dalembert said. "Some calls were suspicious, and it was just one of those games. So many things happened in those seven minutes. We have to keep some of their guys under control." Redick said Dalembert stepped on his head and he ended up with a cut in his ear. "Any time a 270-pound man steps on your head it takes a little while to get it back," he said. Down 127-118, Barnes hit a 3-pointer and Nowitzki fouled Crawford on a 3-point attempt. Crawford made two of three free throws, pulling the Clippers to 127-123 with 1:10 to play. Crawford struggled for most of the game, and in the final 6 minutes the coaches were debating whether to take him out. "He was off-balance, he was going too fast and turning the ball over, yet you keep him in because he has ability to score," Rivers said. "He can miss 20 in a row. He just needs to make one and he thinks hes hot." Crawford credited Rivers patience with him this season for making a difference. "Hopefully I make him look good in the end for still believing in me," he said. Earlier in the fourth, Vince Carter was hit with a technical, one of four in the game for the Mavs. Griffin picked up one in the third. The Mavs outscored the Clippers 60-40 in the paint, and outrebounded them 47-38, with both teams shooting at least 50 per cent. "Thats awful on our part," Rivers said. Dallas opened the fourth with consecutive 3-pointers by Monta Ellis and Calderon. They keyed a 25-6 run that gave the Mavs a 123-106 lead. The Mavs borrowed a page from the Clippers high-flying playbook, with Brandan Wright dunking off Carters alley-oop pass against the Clippers hapless defence. Notes: Rivers said the team anticipates signing free agent F Hedo Turkoglu. Rivers expects Turkoglu to join the team for the start of its seven-day, 11-city trip that begins Friday in New York. Turkoglu was cut by Orlando earlier this month. He played just 11 games last season because of injuries and a 20-game suspension for use of performance-enhancing drugs. ... Clippers F Reggie Bullock returned after hurting his left ankle on Dec. 7 at Cleveland. ... Mavs G Devin Harris, who had left foot surgery, isnt expected to play this trip. ... The Clippers Grammy trip comes a month earlier than usual since the music awards held at Staples Center were moved up to avoid conflicting with the Olympics. 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