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TORONTO -- Jonas Valanciunas cherished the chance to think about nothing but basketball Wednesday night. Stu Lantz Jersey . The Raptors sophomore centre cast aside his off-court troubles to score a career-high 26 points and grab 12 rebounds in Torontos 125-114 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers -- less than three days after he was charged with drunk driving. "It has been a rough couple of days, but I had to find energy to come out and fight. I felt really good fan support -- thank you to them. I felt great, because everybody supported me," said Valanciunas, addressing the media for the first time since his arrest early Monday morning. "I say sorry, and (am) learning to be better. "Its been a really good two-and-a half hours (playing)," he added. Kyle Lowry topped Toronto (46-32) with 29 points in his first game back after missing three with a bruised kneecap. Patrick Patterson finished with 17 in the Raptors fourth straight victory and seventh in eight outings. DeMar DeRozan added 17 points before leaving the game with a minute to play with a nasty gash over his left eye that required three stitches. The swirling trouble surrounding Valanciunas didnt show in his game. He scored the Raptors first points of the night, then grabbed a rebound on the Sixers first shot, and scored on a thunderous dunk on a pass from DeRozan on Torontos next trip down the floor. "I expected it," Lowry said. "He was going to play like trash or he was going to play amazing. And he played amazing like we expected. "Its a tough situation for him to handle, but this is our sanctuary, basketball. We get a chance to be away from everything and basketball is our space, our secret spot. Thats where guys can release a lot of energy and intensity." Henry Sims scored 22 points, Michael Carter-Williams added 19, and Thaddeus Young finished with 16 for the Sixers (17-61). The Raptors are headed for the post-season for the first time in six years, and a victory on Friday versus the visiting New York Knicks will clinch the Atlantic Division. It will also tie their franchise record for wins of 47 -- set in 2000-01 and 2006-07. But the Raptors were coming off a tougher-than-expected 102-98 win over the last-place Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, and the lowly Sixers -- who recently tied the league record for most consecutive defeats with 26 -- gave Toronto a decent game for much of the night. "These are the dog days, teams that dont have anything to play for, our guys see the computer, they see the standings and all the records. But we cant play that way," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "I told them weve got to pick our defence up and not have the mental letdown." The Raptors led by only a point midway through the third quarter before taking a 98-89 advantage into the fourth in front of an Air Canada Centre crowd of 18,789. "I think for the most part we went out there and played a solid game, (the Raptors) are a good team," Young said. "They are a playoff contending team, third in the East, they have proven it day in and day out. They have a lot of key guys that can make shots and score the basketball." The Sixers trailed by just six points with 2:44 to play after Young drained a 17-foot fadeaway jumper. But Lowry proved once again how valuable he is down the stretch, sinking consecutive baskets to give the Raptors a 10-point lead with 1:52 to play, and the Sixers never threatened again. "Im just happy to be back out there with my teammates, honestly," Lowry said. "When you miss games you feel that you are letting the team down and its great to be back out there with the fellas." There were questions about Valanciunas playing Wednesday in the wake of his arrest, and Casey was asked pre-game about what message that sends. "We sent a message," Casey replied. "We sent a message that we dont condone it, were disappointed in him. By playing him, were not saying were condoning it." Valanciunas was arrested early Monday morning in Wasaga Beach, Ont., and charged with having more than 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. Police say they began investigating after a report that a vehicle went through a drive-thru with open beer bottles visible. DeRozan was pleased Valanciunas "came up big" against the Sixers. "I hope everybody leaves him alone," DeRozan said. "(His game) just shows you hes not letting everything else affect him, everything thats going on, or the situation that happened. Hes just going out there playing, he did what he did, its over with, he apologized to us, and understands whats at stake." Valanciunass first court appearance is scheduled for Collingwood on April 22. The 21-year-old is not required to attend so a lawyer will stand in for him. He could receive a suspension from the NBA, but that would be pending the results of a trial which would likely be during the off-season. Raptors starting forward Amir Johnson missed his fourth game with an ankle injury. Casey said the hardworking forward, who has long battled bad ankles, isnt 100 per cent, but "hes pretty close." "Probably if he had to go tonight he probably could go, but again, were trying to make sure, trying to get him ready for the next couple of weeks," Casey added. The Raptors led for all but a few seconds of the first quarter, and went up by nine points when Lowry converted a three-point play with 23 seconds left. A three-pointer by Elliot Williams cut Torontos advantage to 34-28 heading into the second. The Raptors continued to build on their lead, and Pattersons three-pointer with just under three minutes to go in the second put Toronto up 62-49. The Raptors went into the dressing room at halftime up 68-60. The Sixers opened the third with a 17-10 run, capped by Andersons three-pointer with 6:23 to go that cut the Raptors lead to just a point. The Raptors finished the quarter with a run of their own to give themselves a nine-point lead with a quarter to go. NOTES: The Raptors host the New York Knicks on Friday, then play the Pistons in Detroit on Sunday. They host Milwaukee on Monday then play their regular-season finale next Wednesday at Detroit. 23:08ET 09-04-14 Chris Clemons Jersey . Basketball fans around the globe will be watching as Kobe Bryant makes his season debut - 240 days after tearing his left Achilles - against Toronto, a team he has used as his own personal punching bag. Don Kojis Jersey . Vonn "reopened" the idea of competing in the season-opening World Cup event on Oct. 26-27 in Soelden, Austria after returning to the slopes last month in Portillo, Chile. https://www.cheaprocketsonline.com/457z-jack-marin-jersey-rockets.html . -- Ricky Romeros comeback bid hit another road bump Tuesday in an ugly 18-4 Jays loss to a Detroit Tigers split squad.ST. LOUIS - Kenny Britt is easily recognizable on the St. Louis Rams practice field. Hes the long-striding wide receiver given to showing off his six-pack abs, grinning and trading good-natured barbs with teammates.The Rams wanted him to grow up and hes embraced the fresh start offered by Jeff Fisher, who had first-hand knowledge of the players unruly Titans years and never lost sight of the potential.No. 1, just a great, great emotional leader, offensive co-ordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. One of the leaders by example, brings energy to the group every day.Big play capability. Powerful route runner. Hes the one leading the way,Britt is the top deep threat for the Rams (6-7), averaging 18.7 yards on 29 receptions with three touchdowns. Hes been making plays off the field, too, without adding to the rap sheet that made him a risky pickup in free agency after his time in Tennessee petered out.Im only 26. When I came into the league I was 20 years old, Britt said in an interview with The Associated Press. People are going to make mistakes, people are going to go through some tough times.Its your choice whether you learn from it or not. Thats the beauty of life, youve got a choice.Perhaps given his extensive experience with law enforcement officials, it shouldnt come as a shock that Britt was the one who lit the spark of player protest against police brutality and civil unrest thats mushroomed across professional leagues as the incidents keep coming.Two weeks ago, it was Hands Up, Dont Shoot. Britts idea.Last week, it was I Cant Breathe!!! Britt and tight end Jared Cook had those words written on wrist bands, and Britt had names including Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin on his cleats. Offensive tackle Joe Barksdales shoe, resting on a trash container in the locker room Tuesday night, bore those words, too.Players wouldnt say whether theyd planned another statement for Thursday nights game against Arizona.But Britt said, Its not one week were thinking about it and the next week weve forgotten about it. This is going to be an ongoing thing to seek change.Cook was designated as spokesman for the so-called Ferguson 5 in response to media criticism after he, Britt and three other wide receivers did the Hands Up pose coming out of the tunnel during introductions prior to the game against the Raiders two weeks ago.Ferguson is about 8 miles east of Rams Park, just a shoort drive on Interstate 70. Rick Barry Jersey. The Rams were involved at the start back in August, offering their practice fields to high school teams affected by rioting after Brown, who was unarmed, was fatally shot by police officer Darren Wilson.The shooting has been a prevalent topic in the locker room, and Britt led the response after a grand jury declined to indict Wilson last month.We talked about the situation, what happened and what was going on around the country, Britt said. Were in this, too. Were not just concentrating on football all day, every day.Britt has had no off-field incidents since getting a second chance with Fisher and the Rams, who turned to him to mature and lead a young group of wide receivers.Well, Kenny, hes making plays for us, Fisher said. Hes just making big plays, hes blocking, he shows up every day.There were plenty of scrapes earlier for Britt, a first-round draft pick by the Titans in 2009 who totalled 12 touchdown catches his first two years.He helped post bail for a childhood friend — and convicted felon — accused of murdering a teen-ager by throwing him into the Hudson River. He led police in Bayonne, N.J., on a high-speed chase and allegedly crushed a cigar containing marijuana to hide it from authorities, who charged him with resisting arrest. He served a one-game suspension following a DUI arrest, a charge that eventually was dropped.In 2013, the final year of his rookie contract, Britt made just three starts and totalled 11 catches while hampered by a knee injury. In the final month he became a healthy scratch, leading him to free agency and back to Fisher with a one-year deal.Yeah, hes done a real good job for us, Schottenheimer said. We were thrilled to get him.Britt is certain some of his troubles are the result of being an African-American growing up in this country. But he quickly adds its not all bad.Theres some situations Ive been in when Ive been treated unfairly, Britt said. Theres been times when Ive been racially profiled and theres other times when they didnt (care) whether I was black, white or Spanish.Hed like it known hes not some short of human rap sheet, either.Some people go off what they see or hear in the media, their words and how they feel about me, Britt said. Theyre not around me 24/7. They dont know me.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '