NEW ORLEANS - The Toronto Raptors were without Jonas Valanciunas on Wednesday for their game in New Orleans against the Pelicans. Cordarrelle Patterson Patriots Jersey . Valanciunas, who left Tuesdays loss to the Hawks late in the third quarter with a lower back sprain, missed his first game of the season. Head coach Dwane Casey announced the news an hour and a half prior to tip-off. "His back is still tight," Casey said. "[He] wasnt able to get it loose. (Director of Sports Science) Alex (McKechnie) put him through some preliminary work and it still was tight so hes going to be out." Valanciunas sustained the injury turning to set a screen, feeling immediate pain in his lower back before McKechnie and the Raptors training staff made the call to pull him from the game. After navigating through a mini-slump to close the month of February, the Raptors sophomore centre had been playing some of his best basketball of the season over the past week. Getting off to hot starts in each of his last three games, Valanciunas has totalled 34 points on 14-of-20 shooting in the first quarter of those contests. The Raptors were already undermanned in the frontcourt, missing Patrick Patterson for a seventh straight game Wednesday. He is expected to be out at least another week resting an elbow injury. Tyler Hansbrough started in place of Valanciunas. Both he and Chuck Hayes will see increased playing time as long as the teams starting centre in sidelined. Amir Johnson also played against the Pelicans after tweaking a lingering right ankle injury at the end of regulation in Tuesdays overtime loss. "Weve been very fortunate not to have that many injuries up until this part of the season," said Casey. "A lot of teams had them earlier and its unfortunate were hitting them now but its part of the NBA. Now weve got to adjust to it and make hay from it." Valanciunas is considered day-to-day. Jeremy Hill Patriots Jersey . Mired in an offensive slump, Lowry - the NBAs leader in taking charges this season - did what he has learned to do best, standing his ground and drawing a crucial offensive foul on the Cavaliers all-star point guard. Fast forward 30 seconds to the Cavs next possession, with the home team still trailing by three, Spencer Hawes - one of the leagues best passing big men - threw an interception, intended for Tyler Zeller and picked off by DeMar DeRozan. Custom Patriots Jerseys . -- The Sacramento Kings have signed first-round pick Nik Stauskas to his rookie contract. http://www.patriotsjerseysauthentic.com/Trent-Brown-Super-Bowl-Jersey/ .ca! There is plenty of blame to be shared as a result of the most recent NHL player (Pittsburghs Brooks Orpik) to be evacuated from the ice on a stretcher following an ugly incident Saturday night in Boston.BEIJING, China - Top-ranked Stacy Lewis birdied the final hole Friday for a 5-under 68 and a two-stroke lead over fellow Texan Brittany Lang after the second round of the Reignwood LPGA Classic.It was a day that I just had to stay patient, Lewis said. Even coming in, I could have made a few more birdies. Didnt quite hit the shots around the greens that I needed to.Lewis had a 12-under 134 at Reignwood Pine Valley.She holed some timely putts.Putts that kept the round going, Lewis said. Thats the thing. Ive made them at the right time. Ive had good speed all week.Lewis leads the tour with three victories and earnings of $2,214,143. Last year, she finished a stroke behind Shanshan Feng after the Chinese player eagled the par-5 18th.Lang had a 66 to match the best round off the week — and set up a Saturday pairing with Lewis.Were really good friends though and I have a lot of respect for her on the golf course. Lang said about Lewis. Yeah, definitely going to be out of my element, a little intimidated. Shes a great player. BBut at the same time, Im trying to get better, too. Trent Brown Jersey. So playing with her, watching her, and trying to play well and do my thing is going to make me better. If I could play with her on more weekends, then Ill be doing pretty good. Maybe I can learn something from watching her.Germanys Caroline Masson, South Koreas Mirim Lee, Spains Belen Mozo and Swedens Caroline Hedwall were tied for third at 8 under. Masson and Lee shot 68, Mozo had a 69, and Hedwall a 71.Fourth-ranked Suzann Pettersen followed her opening 74 with a 66 to reach 6 under.I played some good golf yesterday. I had six birdies or something and shot 1 over, which is kind of a disaster, Pettersen said. Then I made a mess out of two of the par 5s.I dont know if I was a little bit rusty and not sharp enough from not having played for quite a few weeks and it kind of got to me a little bit on certain holes. ... Happy to bounce back with 7 under and put myself somewhere back in the tournament.Feng was tied for 39th at even par after a 71. Blackhawks Jerseys Store Cheap Wild Jerseys Cheap Red Wings Jerseys Cheap Maple Leafs Jerseys Penguins Jerseys Store Capitals Jerseys For Sale Blues Jerseys Store Cheap Kings Jerseys Adidas Lightning Jerseys Stars Jerseys For Sale Cheap Predators Jerseys Ducks Store Sharks Jerseys For Sale Cheap Sabres Jerseys Rangers Jerseys For Sale ' ' '