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TORONTO - The Toronto Raptors will try to shake off a pair of losses tonight when they host the struggling Detroit Pistons. Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2. In Tuesdays 86-79 loss at Indiana, DeMar DeRozan led the way with 28 points and Patrick Patterson added 20 for the Raptors, who shot 37 percent for the game and received 16 points from Kyle Lowry. "Down the stretch, you cant beat a team like that by trading baskets with them," said Patterson. "You have to get stops and we just couldnt do that." The 79 points were a season low for the Raptors, who managed just 80 in a loss to Chicago on Nov. 15. DeRozan has scored 20 or more points in six of his last seven games. Toronto will open a three-game homestand Wednesday versus Detroit, Brooklyn and Milwaukee, and is 6-8 at Air Canada Centre. For their part, the Pistons are caught in a funk and will resume a three-game road trip tonight. Detroit has dropped five in a row and three straight on the road, including Tuesdays 89-85 setback at New York in the opener of the trek. Josh Smith led the Pistons with 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Greg Monroe ended with 19 points and Andre Drummond added 12 and 17 rebounds. The Pistons fell to 8-9 on the road, shot 37.2 percent and made just 3-of-19 3-pointers. "It was a very good effort," said Pistons coach Maurice Cheeks. "(We) got down 17 and was able to fight back. We just didnt make any shots in the end to get over the hump. We played hard though." Detroit will close the trek Friday at Philadelphia. The Raptors and Pistons split four meetings last season. Marvin Harrison Jersey . - The Mavericks built a 12-point lead with 2:50 to play, gave away all but two points of it, and still managed to hang on. Darius Leonard Jersey . The 30-year-old Kottaras served as Kansas Citys backup catcher last season after being claimed off waivers from Oakland in January. http://www.officialindianapoliscoltspro.com/Customized/ . The Brewers finalized a US$36 million, three-year contract with free agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez on Wednesday, adding a much-needed bat to their lineup. Johnny Unitas Jersey . Simona Halep of Romania claimed the fifth title of her career by beating Samantha Stosur of Australia 7-6 (1), 6-2 in the womens final. After trading sets, Gasquet trailed 4-3 in the decider but broke back to 4-4 in a game that went to seven deuces with Kukushkin constantly failing on his forehand shots. Reggie Wayne Jersey .com) - The Minnesota Twins made it official on Wednesday, announcing the signing of outfielder Torii Hunter to a one-year contract.WINNIPEG -- The Winnipeg Jets have given head coach Claude Noel at least a small vote of confidence, signing him to a one-year contract extension. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff says the rest of the coaching staff will also be offered some job security as well. "You deal with whats right in front of you and the coaching staff now has got an extension to move forward beyond this season and thats something that we all feel comfortable with," Cheveldayoff said Monday. Noel is entering his third season with the team and the one-year extension will take him to the end of the 2014-15 NHL season. Cheveldayoff and Noel said the fact that it was only a one-year extension wasnt that big a deal. "The term really doesnt determine how you do that job. For me the extension is great," said Noel. "Would you rather have a longer term? I think this is fine." Noel led the Jets to a 24-21-3 record last season as Winnipeg finished ninth in the Eastern Conference, four points behind the New York Islanders for the final playoff spot. He coached the Jets to a 37-35-10 record in 2011-12, the clubs first season in Winnipeg after relocating from Atlanta, also missing the playoffs. The former Thrashers havent seen the playoffs since the 2006-07 season, when they were swept in the quarter-finals by the New York Rangers. "I clearly see that we have to make the playoffs but its not easy to make the playoffs," the coach said Monday on a conference call. Prior to the Jets arrival, Noel coached the American Hockey Leagues Manitoba Moose to the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs in 2010-11. Before moving to Winnipeg, he spent four seasons in Columbus as an assistant coach and was head coach for the final 24 games of the 2009-10 seasson after Ken Hitchcock was fired.dddddddddddd The Blue Jackets went 10-8-6 over that span but Noels contract was not renewed. Cheveldayoff also talked about the upcoming NHL draft and his dealings with both restricted and unrestricted free agents. He says the team would like to move up from their current 13th pick in the entry draft but there are also teams lower down that would like to move up as well. There is the potential for deals either way. He has started talks with all the teams restricted free agents and is looking to get them signed. As for unrestricted free agents, they have had some discussions with defenceman Grant Clitsome and goaltender Al Montoya about returning. As for the others, such as defenceman Ron Hainsey, Cheveldayoff said he expects they may try the market but he didnt rule out some returning. He still wants to add depth at forward but with the 13th pick, says its difficult to know who might be available. They will take the best player they can get. Centre Mark Scheifele, their top 2011 draft pick, is expected to join the team this season after playing the last two seasons with his junior squad in Barrie. With so many players able to move, exactly what Noel will have to work with this season is up in the air. "Were not quire sure where our roster is right now but that will be determined through time." He says they still have to work on being more consistent and improving their goals for and against average, but he sees lots of room for growth. "I like our team. I like our players. I like a lot of what they bring to the table," he said. Next season the Jets also move to the Western Conference. "It will be a fun time for us and a big challenge," said Noel. 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