MIAMI – The Toronto Raptors havent defeated the Miami Heat since January 27, 2010, less than five months before the Big Three joined forces in Miami. Cheap Air Max 720 Australia . Thats 14 consecutive losses to the two-time defending champs, and most of them were over before they even began. Result notwithstanding, Sundays game had a very different feel to it. The Raptors believed they had a chance, they felt like they should win and to their credit, they nearly pulled it out. The mentality has changed and so too have the expectations, evident in the visitors locker room after the teams 102-97 loss at AmericanAirlines Arena. "I like the way our guys fought," coach Dwane Casey said after the loss, his teams first in six games. "But, again, you dont get a win or any medals or anything for losing." "I like what our guys are building. I know where we are. Ive said it, I havent wavered from it. I like the direction were going. Were building something [but when] youre playing against the best, youve got to do the little things and there cant be any slippage." Riding a five-game winning streak, which included an impressive victory over the conference-best Pacers, the Raptors never looked out of place against the second-place Heat. They led by as many as nine in the third, up five going into the fourth quarter and had a chance to tie when Kyle Lowry missed a step-back triple with four seconds remaining. The performance validated the legitimacy of their recent success and proved they can compete with the leagues best. That may be a revelation to those who are just tuning in but it comes as no surprise internally, as Lowry firmly pointed out. "We played the Pacers a couple games ago and played them tough, we played the top two teams tough, theres no moral victories at all," said the Raptors point guard, who had 14 points and nine assists in the loss. "We just know we can play with anybody, weve been saying that for a long time. We could play with anybody." "It says a lot," added DeMar DeRozan after scoring a game-high 26. "It says no matter who we play were going to go out there and play hard. People are going to have to worry about us when we come in their building or they come in our building. Were not no scrub team." DeRozan - who was spectacular in the first half, shooting 8-of-10 - made just two of his eight fourth-quarter attempts, forcing tough jumpers. As a team, the Raptors shot 29 per cent in the final frame and went an uncharacteristically terrible 12-of-21 from the line on the night. LeBron James, who was guarded primarily by sophomore Terrence Ross, went off for 30 points on just 18 shots. They gave up 14 offensive boards - including three on one possession - to the worst offensive rebounding team in the league. A month ago Casey may have focused on the positives, the fact that his team hung in with the champs. Its a process, he would say. Now he expects more, a true indication of their evolution and how far theyve come since they dropped a pair of games to the Heat at home in November. "You shoot 57 per cent from the free throw line, youre not going to beat too many people, I dont care if its [the] Miami Heat or Miami-Dade High School," he said. "The 30th offensive rebounding team in the league and they get 14. Thats not acceptable for us. Our interior people have to do a better job of finding bodies." He was especially critical of 21-year-old Jonas Valanciunas, who held his own in the second half after getting off to a slow start against a smaller Heat lineup. "Second half he played much better [but] first half he didnt do anything," Casey said. "A lot of those offensive rebounds were coming over his back. Hes got to dominate, especially against a smaller centre to be effective, to stay in the game." Still, Valanciunas was on the floor down the stretch, along with Ross and the rest of the Raptors starters. Casey comfortably stood his ground, forcing Miami to match-up with him rather than the other way around. Finally, the Raptors are well on their way to developing and, most importantly, maintaining an identity. "Weve all noticed," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Torontos improvement before the game. Theres no such thing as a "moral victory" in the NBA. In fact, Casey and company couldnt bear to hear the term after the loss but if Sundays game was a litmus test, as Torontos coach suggested pre-game, than the Raptors came out in pretty good shape. "Were a different team than when we played them before," Casey said ahead of Sundays meeting. "But still, we have to have a healthy amount of respect for the Miami Heat." "Were not thinking that were at the level of the team [we played] tonight, were not there yet, but that is our goal. Were striving to be like the Heat." Air Max 720 Australia .J. -- The New Jersey Devils are so bad in shootouts, coach Pete DeBoer doesnt mind seeing his team take chances in the five-minute overtime. Air Max 720 Australia Sale . His head snapped back from the impact and hit the floor. The All-Star power forward was all right afterward, a relief for the Minnesota Timberwolves. http://www.wholesaleairmax720australia.com/ . Calgarys Bo Levi Mitchell and Montreals Troy Smith will be the starting quarterbacks in a CFL season-opener for the first time in their careers. Both want to reinforce their No. 1 status. You can watch the game live in the first half of a doubleheader on TSN and TSN GO at 3:00pm et/Noon pt.Daytona Beach, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Ha Na Jang carded a 4-under 68 in Saturdays fourth round and she remained three strokes clear of the field at the LPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. Jang, who shared third place at the Evian Championship, finished 72 holes at 15-under-par 273. The field was split between two courses at LPGA International. Half of the field played on the Arthur Hills Course, while the other half was on the Rees Jones Course. Jang played on the Hills Course on Saturday. The Jones Course will host Sundays final round. Maria Hernandez fired a 7-under 65 to jump into second pplace at minus-12. Cheap Air Max 720 Free Shipping. Minjee Lee posted a 66 and she moved into third at 11-under-par 277. They both played the Jones Course in round four. Karlin Beck shot 5-under 67 on Saturday and she grabbed a share of fourth place at minus-10. Beck was joined there by Simin Feng, amateur Alison Lee and Ju Young Park, who all shot 2-under 70 in the fourth round. Louise Stahle (67) is alone in eighth place at 9-under 279, while Sophia Popov (71), Sakura Yokomine (70), Ariya Jutanugarn (67), amateur SooBin Kim (65) and Sei Young Kim (70) are one shot back at minus-8. MORE TO FOLLOW. ' ' '