TORONTO - The Raptors organization and its fans can breathe a sigh of relief after receiving positive news regarding the status of injured point guard Kyle Lowry. Joakim Soria Jersey . Lowry will wear a splint on his non-shooting hand to protect an injured left ring finger tendon for approximately six weeks, however, he is still expected to participate in practices and play in games once the regular season begins next week, the team announced Thursday evening. The starting point guard sustained the injury during Wednesdays victory over Memphis when his finger popped out while reaching for a loose ball late in the third quarter. Attending a follow-up examination, Lowry was absent from practice Thursday morning and did not accompany the team to Milwaukee. He will miss Torontos final exhibition game against the Bucks on Friday but should be ready to go when the Raptors host Boston in the season opener on Oct. 30. The Raptors catch a lucky break as long as Lowry is active and in the lineup, even if hes playing at less than 100 per cent. Given the uncertainty off the bench at that position - neither D.J. Augustin nor rookie Dwight Buycks has stood out in the preseason - Lowry is expected to get the bulk of the playing time at the point this season. Coach Dwane Casey has hinted at a possible platoon with the back-up point guard role, depending on match-ups and who has the hot hand, alternating between Augustin and Buycks heading into the season. With Lowry sidelined for Fridays preseason finale, Casey should get a good look at his reserves. Julyan Stone, who is still battling for the final roster spot but has been used to spell Lowry at the point during camp, is also nursing an injury after taking a knee to his surgically repaired right hip on Wednesday. He was a non-participant in Thursdays practice and is consider day-to-day. Centre Jonas Valanciunas was limited in practice, able to participate in non-contact drills after taking an elbow to the face a couple minutes after Lowrys injury. Valanciunas needed three stitches to patch up a laceration to his chin and was still sore on Thursday but insisted he was feeling better and will also be good to go next week when the games count. "I feel not bad," he said. "[I] still need a couple days but Im feeling good so Im going to be ready for the first [regular] season game." Tyler Hansbrough, who tweaked his right thumb Wednesday, was a full-participant in practice. Raptors exercise team options on Valanciunas and Ross The Raptors also announced they have picked up third-year options on the rookie contracts of sophomores Valanciunas and Terrence Ross. Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed. The team had until Oct. 31 to exercise its option on both players. Valanciunas, 21, was named to the 2012-13 NBA All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 8.9 points and 6.0 rebounds in his first season with the Raptors. Ross, 22, averaged 6.4 points and 2.0 rebounds as a rookie last season, winning the 2013 Slam Dunk competition at All-Star weekend. Both of their contracts are now guaranteed through the 2014-15 season. Ian Kennedy Jersey . Even if he is shooting 38 per cent from the field overall this season, the Utah Jazz rookie always feels like his final shot is going in. Alcides Escobar Jersey . "Rob brings a wealth of coaching experience, having worked both in Canada and overseas in player development," Canada Soccer technical director Tony Fonseca said in a release. http://www.royalsteamproshop.com/Royals-Jason-Hammel-Kids-Jersey/ . -- Arkansas didnt need a spectacular dunk to beat No.The Chicago Blackhawks will take aim at a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Final tonight when they host the Los Angeles Kings in Game 2 from United Center. Watch the game unfold live on TSN and TSN GO at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The defending Stanley Cup champions drew first blood in the opener of this best-of-seven set, downing the visiting Kings by a 3-1 score on Sunday. Los Angeles hopes for a better result on Wednesday, as it aims to avoid its second straight series loss to the Blackhawks in the conference finals. The Kings fell behind 2-0 on the road in last springs encounter, and only won Game 3 on home ice before falling to Chicago in five games. Sundays opener marked the first time two teams met in the Western finals in back-to-back years since the Stars/Avalanche in 1999-2000. Picking up wins in Chicago has not been easy for the Kings or anybody else. The Blackhawks have claimed six straight home games against L.A. in the regular season and playoffs combined and are 7-0 as the host in this postseason. Chicago is 18-2 in its past 20 home playoff games, and according to Elias Sports Bureau, the Blackhawks are the first NHL team to win 18 of 20 home postseason games since Edmonton did the same from April 7, 1988-May 2, 1990. Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw, who hasnt played since Game 1 of the second round due to a lower-body injury, will not play tonight. He wanted to play, but coach Joel Quenneville said they will wait until Game 3 on Saturday. Of course, the Kings are no stranger to coming from behind in a playoff series this spring. L.A. became the fourth team in league history to rally from a 3-0 deficit when it won the final four games against San Jose in Round 1 and came back from down 3-2 to beat the Anaheim Ducks in the conference semifinals. Duncan Keith registered the winner late in the second period Sunday and Corey Crawford stopped 25 pucks to help Chicago earn the 1-0 series lead. Brandon Saad and Jonathan Toews added tallies for the Blackhawks, while Marian Hossa contributed a pair of assists. &"I thought we had a good first five minutes, but it was even the rest of the way. Burch Smith Jersey. Every shift is going to be important," said Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville. Tyler Toffoli provided the sole offense and Jonathan Quick made just 17 saves for the Kings, who were playing Sunday just two days after posting a Game 7 road win in Anaheim. "We had a chance," Kings forward Mike Richards said. "We shot ourselves in the foot a bit on their goals. Give them credit, theyre an opportunistic team. We made a couple mistakes and they ended up in our net." Los Angeles, which has played 15 postseason games thus far, had an extra day to regroup for this evenings Game 2. "Only time I really noticed it quite honest was early in the game," Kings head coach Darryl Sutter said when asked if fatigue was a factor in Game 1. "They were going to come out with some energy, they did two or three times in the first where we got caught at the end of shifts. Thats where it showed up. Other than that, I dont think it really hurt us that much." The clubs will get two more days of rest after tonights battle, as Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday in Los Angeles. Kings forward Anze Kopitar was held without a point for only the second time in these playoffs on Sunday. He is leading all players in the postseason with 19 points on five goals and 14 assists. "Theyre a good team obviously," Kopitar said after Game 1, "I think right down the lineup theyre pretty solid, obviously. Were going to have to do a better job of checking, of not giving up timely goals and score a few more ourselves." The Kings welcomed back defenseman Willie Mitchell, who had been sidelined since Game 6 of the first round with a lower-body injury suspected to be a leg issue. L.A. is still without defenseman Robyn Regehr, who has been out since suffering a lower-body injury in Game 1 of the conference semis against Anaheim. Regehr has not resumed skating and there is no timetable for his return to game action. Cheap Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Marlins Jerseys Cheap Mets Jerseys Cheap Phillies Jerseys Cheap Nationals Jerseys Cheap Cubs Jerseys Cheap Reds Jerseys Cheap Brewers Jerseys Cheap Pirates Jerseys Cheap Cardinals Jerseys Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Rockies Jerseys Cheap Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Padres Jerseys Cheap Giants Jerseys ' ' '