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LOS ANGELES -- Nearly eight months after Kobe Bryant limped off the Lakers home court with a torn Achilles tendon and a career in doubt, he struggled to keep his composure when he finally stepped back onto the same hardwood. And though his comeback night didnt quite go to script, Bryant couldnt help reflecting on the work necessary to get back on that court -- and all the months of steady labour ahead to reclaim his game. Bryant had nine points and eight rebounds in his season debut, but Amir Johnson scored a career-high 32 points in the trade-depleted Toronto Raptors 106-94 victory over Los Angeles on Sunday night. Bryant began his 18th NBA season by going 2 for 9 with four assists and eight turnovers in 28 minutes. The fourth-leading scorer in NBA history got hurt April 12 and persevered through several months of rehabilitation to return for Los Angeles 20th game of the new season, only to struggle with his shot, his timing and his new teammates. "My rhythm is completely out of sync," Bryant said. "But this is a start, and I guess a start is good." Nick Young scored 19 points for the Lakers, who went 10-9 without Bryant this season, forging a winning record without the five-time NBA champion and with little help from fellow injured MVP Steve Nash. Adoring fans cheered Kobes every move and forgave every misstep, but Bryant couldnt rally the Lakers late despite another huge game by Los Angeles reserves. Bryant was touched by the fans reception and his teammates encouragement, although his ruthless competitive nature chafed against his natural emotions before the opening tip. "You try to control it as much as you can, but you cant help thinking about the hard work," Bryant said. "You try to put it to the side as much as possible and do your work. ... It makes you appreciate the game, this franchise and this city, and all weve been through." The Lakers never led, and Toronto improbably snapped its five-game losing streak despite playing without forward Rudy Gay, who is expected to be traded to Sacramento on Monday as the centerpiece of an apparent seven-player deal. Kyle Lowry had 23 points and eight assists, and DeMar DeRozan added 10 of his 26 points in the final 4:35 of the Raptors first road win over the Lakers in 11 tries since Dec. 28, 2001. "(Bryant) was a little rusty, and you could tell because a lot of his shots were short," said DeRozan, who grew up in Los Angeles watching Kobe. "We were going against him his first game back, but hes going to get it going again and hell be back to the old Kobe." The Raptors had 11 players available after holding out Gay, centre Aaron Gray and forward Quincy Acy, all set to head to the Kings in exchange for Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson, John Salmons and Chuck Hayes. That turned out to be plenty, thanks to two Los Angeles natives. Johnson, who attended nearby Westchester High School, went 14 for 17 and surpassed his previous career high early in the third quarter. Johnson didnt take a shot in the fourth, but USC product DeRozan and Lowry held off the Lakers. "We knew we were down because half our team got traded, so our mindset was just to go out there and play hard and win this game," Johnson said. "It was real emotional. It happened to us last year in Atlanta, too. We talked to those guys, and Rudy was still at the hotel, so we called him in and told him how much we all appreciated what they did for this team and the city." The building had the buzz of a playoff game before the opening tip, with thousands of fans training cameras on Bryant during opening warmups. The building erupted in loud applause at every mention of Kobe, who was introduced last in the starting lineup to the thunderous strains of "The Imperial March" -- Darth Vaders theme from "Star Wars." The crowd roared again the first time Bryant touched the ball, and he found Robert Sacre underneath the hoop for an assist on Los Angeles first possession. With his wife, Vanessa, and two daughters sitting courtside, Bryant hit a free throw for his first point in the second quarter, followed shortly by an 8-foot, double-pump, left-handed bank shot for his first field goal. Bryant added a signature 22-foot face-up jumper later in the period, but also showed clear signs of rust and unfamiliarity with his new teammates. "Were going to have to carry Kobe a little bit, because of course hes not 100 per cent, not in game shape," said Xavier Henry, who scored 17 points. "Its going to be fun. Its a long year, and hes just getting back." NOTES: The officials allowed Toronto C Jonas Valanciunas to make two free throws out of a timeout late in the first quarter, but belatedly realized Lowry was supposed to take the shots. They wiped the two points off the board and put Lowry back at the line, where he made both shots anyway. ... Terrence Ross banked in a shot from beyond half-court at the first-quarter buzzer to put Toronto up 30-20. Nick Chubb Jersey .Y. - Alex Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs didnt flinch in the face of adversity. Baker Mayfield Browns Jersey . Week 2s biggest games include Florida facing Miami and Notre Dame travelling to the Big House to conclude their rivalry against Michigan in primetime on TSN2 and TSN 1050. http://www.footballbrownsnflprostore.co ... te-Jersey/. He will just have to wait a little longer. Bester grabbed an early lead before Scotlands Darren Burnett took over and ran away with the mens singles lawn bowling final 21-9 on Friday. Nick Chubb Browns Jersey . Thats when the eight-time champion revealed that a painful back is slowing his serves -- and, all in all, giving him more trouble than his opponents so far. Browns Jerseys . The senior threw for 319 yards and no interceptions in his final college game, leading No.On this weeks Three Man Weave, Will Strickland and Duane Watson of TSN 1050s 1 On 1 With Will & Duane draft, NBA TV Canadas Mr. Everything and host of The Hangout, Akil Augustine (@akilaugustine). As the NBA playoffs go on and teams look to survive and advance, they evaluate the remaining series and summer tasks for the Toronto Raptors. Kyle Lowry is Masai Ujiris first order of business this summer, but who should his second be? Greivis Vasquez or Patrick Patterson? Strickland: No Brainer: Greivis Josue Vasquez Rodriguez. Quality back-ups at point guard are Loch Ness Monster-rare in The Association right now. When you have a guy like Kyle Lowry playing human bowling ball to help his team get wins, injuries are pre-destined. Vasquez stepped in admirably for Lowry in those times, as well as aiding to create a potent two point-guard backcourt with sure ballhandling, keen decision-making and absolutely zero fear of The Moment - all necessary variables to a winning equation. Project Pat Patterson, a handle hung on him by my #1On1 partner, Duane Watson, will be a priority to retain as well for Ujiri and the MLSE braintrust. I doubt he walks unless the offer to dance between the lines elsewhere with similar playing time is too great to pass.Augustine: Small forward‎! Not that I know what Masai should do... (#InMasaiWeTrust) but I would love to see an upgrade on the wing that would by some time for T-ROSS to blossom. Luol Deng anyone? Vince? Watson: It has to be The General Greivis Vasquez, a back-up guard who can play both positions and play alongside Kyle Lowry. Vasquez runs the pick-and-roll to perfection, but he also isnt scared to take the big shot. He got into a rhythm during the playoffs and was the most reliable player off the bench. His fire and passion are just the type of elements this team needs.Why does the Brooklyn Nets 4-0 regular season record against the Miami Heat mean nothing in the post-season?Strickland: The regular season is just that: regular. The second season, aka the playoffs, is where your legend is born. The Brooklyn Nets legend in the playoffs is rooted in being at full strength and still losing last year to the Nate Robinson-led, grossly undermanned, but infinitely tougher Chicago Bulls. Oh, lets not forget what should not have happened this season with the Nets edging the young Toronto Raptors. The two-time defending world champion Heat are built for the playoffs and are showing their pedigree in winning fashion with a commanding 2-0 lead over Brooklyn in the Eastern Conference semis. If the Nets lose Game 3 at home, itd be a safe better for them to procure the #TackleBox post haste. Augustine: Because the Heat have two modes: Regular season and playoffs. The Nets also have two modes‎...wait, no they dont. They are the No Mode Squad starring Busta-Ankle, aka D-Wont! Watson: This is why they call it the playoffs. As they have the past two springs, the Heat take their game into another gear in the playoffs. In two of the four losses against the Nets, Dwyane Wade was resting - for this very time of the year. For all of the Nets veteran experience, they are tired and bruised after a series in Toronto that they barely escaped from and Miami will have an answer for Joe Johnson.If the Oklahoma City Thunder lose to the Los Angeles Clippers, whos to blame - Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook or Scott Brooks?Strickland: The Thunder were one Zach Randolph "punch" to the face of noted agitator from The Bill Laimbeer School Of Smart Skullduggery, Steven Adams, away from a potential first-round exit. Tied at 1-1 with the Clippeers and headed to LA, the blame will have multiple directions for various reasons.dddddddddddd Scott Brookss loyalty to line-ups over deft and necessary adjustments, as well as other questionable coaching moves will catch major darts. Russell Westbrooks greatest strengths of supreme athleticism, overt passion and singular focus may also be his biggest weaknesses, especially in the eyes of his detractors. And last but not least, the 2013-2014 NBA scoring champ and MVP who has been famously quoted as being sick and tired of coming in second would face LeBron James-level scrutiny of his true value with a second round loss to the Clippers. Augustine: Scott Brooks. And the GM. Kendrick Perkins is stealing cash, Serge Ibaka is stuck in neutral ‎and the rest of the bench isnt old enough to get into a club, excluding team chaperone Derek Fisher, let alone win a series. Watson: Sam Presti. As the GM of the Thunder he has nickled and dimed with this team to avoid the luxury tax, but he hasnt found the right supporting cast to work with his two stars. Since James Harden left, it has been on a downward slide and the MVP campaign of Durant hides some of the teams deficiencies. Is Roy Hibbert the key to the Pacers success? Strickland: No. Paul George is the key to the Pacers success, which could be fleeting in the face of the most dangerous team no one knows in the Washington Wizards. With rumours abounding over Hibberts inexplicable metamorphosis from All-Star to Hasheem Thabeet in the playoffs, Big Roy is a necessary piece for the Pacers just to get by the Wiz, nevermind talking Eastern Conference final rematch with the Heat. Augustine: Yes. Is this a trick question? ‎Pull up footage of last year and superimpose it on top of footage from this year. Then, you will have your answer! Watson: He definitely makes a big difference to the Pacers chances on both sides of the ball. His post presence helps the defence and, if hes an option offensively, it allows Indiana to work an inside-out game. Hibbert awakening from his slumber is the easiest fix to a team that has been slumping for the better part of the year. What must the Portland Trail Blazers do to stop the San Antonio Spurs? Strickland: Quit? Hope Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Gregg Popovich all of a sudden turn into Dwight Howard, James Harden and Kevin McHale (OUCH!)? How about play stout defence, show the half-court execution they exhibited in the first 40 games of the regular season and understand in a hurry the difference between playoff basketball and championship-level basketball in the playoffs, if they have not already been brutally and ruthlessly made aware by arguable the best team in basketball right now? Coach Stotts and rising stars LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard have to be better in Game 3 at home in the Moda Center or there will be some fine playoff parting gifts, courtesy of the San Antonio Spurs. Augustine: Wait 365 days until next year. Or change the rules to the CBA and sign a bench during the post-season. Or hedge harder on those DAMN screens! All three options come with little chance for success! Watson: Hope that Bill Walton, Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter walk through that door! The Blazers need all the help they can get and its interesting to see such an outmatched team in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge have played at an all-world level for the Blazers, but their lack of depth on the bench is an Achilles heel, as the Spurs reserves have already proved they can compete with the Blazers starters. 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