NEW YORK -- Plagued by foul trouble in the first three quarters, Paul Pierce came up big down the stretch for the Brooklyn Nets. [url=http://www.germanyfcsoccershop.com/c-35-marvin-plattenhardt-germany -jersey.aspx]Marvin Plattenhardt Jersey[/url] . Deron Williams and Shaun Livingston each scored 18 p

NEW YORK -- Plagued by foul trouble in the first three quarters, Paul Pierce came up big down the stretch for the Brooklyn Nets. Marvin Plattenhardt Jersey . Deron Williams and Shaun Livingston each scored 18 points and an ailing Pierce hit a key late 3-pointer to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 101-97 victory over the Atlantic Division-leading Toronto Raptors on Monday night. Pierce scored 10 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter and Joe Johnson added 14 for the Nets, who won their season-high eighth straight at home. Brooklyn moved three games behind Toronto in the Atlantic. The 35-year-old, who had been battling through a "stinger" in his right shoulder felt fine during the morning after receiving treatment and admitted that he wasnt expecting to play but he couldnt pass up on the opportunity Brooklyn had to close the gap in the division standings. "I knew the implications of this game. Maybe if it was a different type of game, (I sit out)," Pierce said. "But this was one of our biggest games of the year. Division rival, a lot on the line tonight, so you can always pen me in with those type of games." Pierce was all over the floor in the final 12 minutes of the game, hitting a pair of shots beyond the arc, making four free throws and stealing the ball twice. The victory was critical for the Nets, who lost to Toronto last time they played, on Jan. 27, after Williams turned the ball over on an inbounds play with 12 seconds left and Patrick Patterson hit the eventual game-winner with 6 seconds left on the clock. "This was a big game. It give us the split," Williams said. "We didnt want them to get three up on us in case of tiebreakers. We gained a full game on them. That much closer to catching them." The Nets next big test comes on the road as they go for a season-series sweep over the two-time defending world champion Miami Heat on Wednesday night. Kyle Lowry scored 21 points to lead Toronto, which had won three straight and nine of its previous 11. Tyler Hansbrough and Amir Johnson added 16 points each. The Nets played their sixth straight game without Kevin Garnett, who was in the starting lineup but was scratched minutes before tip-off. Nets coach Jason Kidd said the 38-year-old veteran, who has been bother by back spasms, "tightened up, so we pulled the plug on him". Brooklyn also missed Andrei Kirilenko, who was out because of a sprained right ankle. The Nets trailed 94-92 after Lowry split the defence in the lane for a lay-up with 2:15 left. Brooklyn then answered with five straight points as Andray Blatches reverse lay-up tied the score at 94 and Pierce followed with his 3 with 1:14 left despite Lowrys attempt to block the shot. Brooklyns small lineup gave the Raptors trouble. "Their lineup is funky, man. When you have Paul Pierce at the 4, it is tough to guard," Lowry said. "Amir is an unbelievable defender but he is also our help guy and sometimes it is tough for him to get back out. I mean, Paul made a 3 over me and I was literally on him, in which I could smack him in the face." DeMar DeRozan then beat Livingston to the basket but was fouled and made two free throws to pull to 97-96 with 1:03 to go. On Brooklyns next possession, Williams drove to the lane but his shot was blocked by Johnson, setting the stage for a go-ahead or game-tying shot. However, Terrence Ross lost control of the ball and Pierce came up with the steal. Livingston hit two free throws to extend the Nets lead to 99-96 with 22.8 seconds left. Lowry had a chance to tie with a 3 but missed. Blatche was then fouled with 6.5 seconds left and was only able to hit the second free throws to push the lead to four points. As the Raptors proceeded to move the ball up the court, Lowry was fouled. He hit the first shot to make it 100-97 with 5.2 left. He purposely missed the second one but was called for a lane violation. Pierce, who exited Sunday nights game in the first quarter with 10:45 left due to a sore right shoulder, then hit two free throws to seal the win and even the season series between both teams at two games apiece. The matchup between Toronto and Brooklyn, who are in third and sixth place, respectively, in the Eastern Conference, had a playoff atmosphere to it with the home crowd at the Barclays Center on its feet once Pierce hit that 3-pointer. In the long run, it would definitely help Raptors coach Dwane Caseys inexperienced post-season squad. "Again, it was playoff type of basketball with physicality. Ive said it forever that we have to get ready to play that style of basketball", he said. "We had three big time turnovers because they got into us at the end of the game." Brooklyn trailed 30-19 at the end of the opening period but had a strong second quarter, pulling to 51-50 at the half. Down 60-59 after a tip-in shot by Jonas Valaciunas in the third quarter, Johnson and Williams each hit two 3-pointers to spark Brooklyn on a 14-0 run, leading 73-60 with 4:28 left. But the Raptors answered with an 11-0 run over the next 3 minutes, capped by two free throws from Hansbrough. NOTES: Kidd said the Nets will re-evaluate Garnett on Tuesday. Rookie Mason Plumlee started in Garnetts place and had six points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes. Theyre 5-1 in Garnetts absence. . Brooklyn last won eight straight at Barclays Center back on Dec. 28, 2013 to Jan. 28, 2013. . The Nets 22-9 record since Jan. 1 is tops in the East. Sebastian Rudy Jersey . A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press the Steelers will part ways with the former Pro Bowler, a move that hardly serves as a surprise after fifth-year linebacker Jason Worilds agreed to accept a "transition player" tag last week. Manuel Neuer Jersey . Subway workers in Rio de Janeiro, meanwhile, were holding an assembly to vote on whether they would strike to demand higher wages, threatening to disrupt transportation. By late Tuesday night there was no announcement of their decision. http://www.germanyfcsoccershop.com/c-2-blank-germany-jersey.aspx . PAUL, Minn. CLEVELAND -- Josh Gordon smiled as he walked off the field on an insufferably muggy day. Nothing, it seemed, was bothering him. He peeled off his jersey, sweat streaking his face. The star receiver soon posted a photo on Instagram of him catching a pass from rookie Johnny Manziel. "Only place I can find peace," Gordon captioned the picture. The football field is giving Gordon serenity. His time there be could be running out. Gordon is still awaiting word from the NFL on whether hell be suspended for all or part of the upcoming season. Gordon, who led the league with 1,646 yards receiving last season, recently had his appeal hearing to fight a possible yearlong suspension for again violating the leagues substance-abuse program. Hes been practicing and playing for weeks amid uncertainty about his career. The 23-year-old player has seemingly been in a fog, dropping passes during practices and preseason games. He hasnt spoken to reporters for months. "Its definitely weighing on him," Browns coach Mike Pettine said. "He, like all of us, wants to know and wants to get on with it and move forward. Just kind of being in limbo for so long, it can be draining. He made the comment the other day that the football field is where he feels most at home." Gordon shattered the clubs single-season franchise record with 1,646 yards receiving last year despite being suspended for the first two games. In just his second season as a pro, Gordon emerged as one of the games top playmakers, capable of turning a 12-yard inside route into a breathtaking 95-yard touchdown. He was on the verge of superstardom, but may have stumbled. Gordon allegedly tested positive for marijuana during the off-season, violating the conditions required as a repeat offender under the leagues system. Last month, Gordon hired lawyer Maurice Suh to represent him at his appeal hearing before arbitrator Harold Henderson in New York. Suh argued Gordons positive test was the result of secondhand smoke, a person familiar with the defence told The Associated Press on July 29. Gordons troubles werent limited to his battlee with the league. Thomas Muller Jersey. He was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated on July 5 in Raleigh, North Carolina. In May, he was ticketed for speeding in Ohio and a passenger in his car was cited for marijuana possession. Those issues compounded his problems and may influence whatever punishment Commissioner Roger Goodell hands down. Gordon played poorly in Monday nights exhibition loss at Washington, and Pettine met with Gordon to discuss his overall lack of effort. "Hes responded and has had some good practices for us," Pettine said. "I just think, like all of us, its only natural that hes frustrated." Like Gordon, the Browns have been anxious for a verdict. Losing the 6-foot-3, 225-pounder for any time cripple Clevelands offence, depriving it of its top playmaker and quarterback Brian Hoyers primary target. The Browns receiving corps has had an underwhelming training camp and preseason, to say the least. Theres no one of Gordons calibre. Without him, yards, points and wins could be scarce. Pettine is counting on Miles Austin, Andrew Hawkins, Travis Benjamin, Nate Burleson and others to step up in Saturdays home game against St. Louis, Hoyers first since he was picked over Manziel to start the opener. "Its a big night for them," Pettine said. "Well see who can step up and make some plays. The NFL is all about being productive and making plays. The third game is as close to the regular season as youre going to see." Gordon hasnt given up hope on being able to help the Browns this season or next. During a recent practice he told Burleson he intends to get in the best shape of his life. "Hes doing push-ups in the middle of a drill and I said, Whatcha doing?" Burleson said. "He said, Man, I want to lose some weight. I want to get down to where I was a couple years ago. Hes faster than everybody right now. So imagine whats going to happen when he tightens up even more. I like where hes at. I like where his head is at, too." And, as the Browns see it, the longer Gordons on the field, the better. Youth NFL Jerseys Cheap Stitched Jerseys China Womens NFL Jerseys Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Wholesale Stitched Jerseys Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Womens Jerseys ' ' '