TE Michael Palmer (groin) returned to practice after missing the past several days. | Forum

TORONTO -- Toronto Raptors shooting guard DeMar DeRozan has been hot all season, scoring more than 30 points in six of his first seven games of the season. Frank Robinson Jersey .The Raptors as a team, however, had been having a little more trouble.They showed signs of finding their shooting range by hitting a season-high 11 3-pointers while DeRozan kept up his dazzling pace by scoring 37 points in a 112-102 victory over the Thunder on Wednesday night in Oklahoma City.I think we just kept working on it and this is the start of something, hopefully, said point guard Kyle Lowry, who had 19 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds on Wednesday. Im not going to get too excited about one good shooting night from 3, but we shot it well.The Raptors (5-2) will be put to the test Friday when they visit the Charlotte Hornets (6-1), who are tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers atop the Eastern Conference after defeating the Utah Jazz 104-98 on Wednesday night at Turner Warner Cable Arena.The Hornets, who are off the franchise-best start, also are being tested. After playing the Raptors on Friday, they visit the Cavaliers on Sunday. The Cavaliers defeated the Raptors last season in the Eastern Conference finals before winning the NBA championship.In defeating the Jazz, the Hornets overcame a 10-point disadvantage, the league-leading fourth time this season that they have come back to win after trailing by double digits.Kemba Walker had 21 points on Wednesday and has 20 or more points in six straight games. He is averaging 23.9 points per game with a field-goal percentage of 46.6 and a 3-point percentage of 43.5.An important part of the Hornets success has been their bench, which outscored the Jazz 41-20.We talk about coming off the bench and providing energy, said Frank Kaminsky, who had 13 points off the bench on Wednesday. We know it all starts with our defense and our talk and let it lead to offense. When (the bench) comes in, gets stops, pushes the ball and scores, it looks like were doing a great job.Its been so much fun so far this season -- the energys been great and our team has been doing great. Hopefully, we can keep that up for a long time.Marco Belinelli also had 13 points off the bench on Wednesday and Spencer Hawes added 11.The Hornets have listed center Roy Hibbert as probable for the game on Friday. He has missed the past five games with a sore right knee. Hibbert began the season as the starting center and Cody Zeller has moved into that spot since the injury.The Raptors have been without center Jonas Valanciunas for the past two games with a contusion on his left knee and is listed as day to day.Lucas Nogueira and Jakob Poeltl have been filling in.Lucas was a plus-30. That was huge for us (Wednesday), coming off the bench and giving us a big plug like that, Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. The other night I thought Jakob outplayed him, (Wednesday) it was Lucas night, and thats probably the way its going to be. A two-headed monster with those guys until (Valanciunas) gets back in.Raptors guard/forward Terrence Ross was a late scratch on Wednesday after he sprained his right index finger in practice on Tuesday. He is listed as day to day. Dylan Bundy Jersey . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said. Eddie Murray Jersey . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. http://www.cheaporiolesjerseys.com/ . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons.RENTON, Wash. -- Just two seasons after being the second-leading receiver for the Arizona Cardinals, Early Doucet finds himself in a battle just to earn a roster spot with the Seattle Seahawks. Doucet signed with the Seahawks over the weekend and stepped onto the practice field for the first time on Sunday. Doucet joins a crowded group at receiver trying to make the back end of the Seahawks roster. Seattle has 13 receivers vying for playing time as the preseason gets underway Thursday. Sidney Rice, Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin appear to be locks to make the roster with second-year receiver Jermaine Kearse likely the fourth receiver. With Percy Harvin expected to remain on the physically unable to perform list to begin the season, that leaves eight receivers fighting for likely one or two spots. Doucets versatility is one of the biggest reasons head coach Pete Carroll wanted to add another receiver into the mix. "Hes been an effective inside receiver, hes been kind of a jack of all trades," Carroll said. "Hes done a lot of good stuff, hes a good special teams guy, too." Carroll said he solicited opinions on Doucet from players who played with him in the past. All of them spoke highly of Doucets desire and determination. "The thing that I like about him is how guys who have played against him or who have been on his team talk about his toughness and his competitiveness," Carroll said. "That part of his makeup will fit right in so well see what happens." Linebacker OBrien Schofield played with Doucet in Arizona and was claimed off waivers by Seattle last week. He said Doucets ability to play physical in all aspects of the game was a tremendous asset to their former team. "He was a guy they sent across the middle so he took a lot of those big hits but he was able to hold onto tthe ball," Schofield said. Jim Palmer Jersey. . "I think a guy like that bringing a physicality to a group like that is something special." Because he was willing to put his body on the line, Doucet has been repeatedly banged up during his five-year career. Doucet has suffered multiple concussions as well as injuries to his ribs, groin, hamstrings, quadriceps and shoulders. It was a concussion last year that ultimately ended his tenure with Arizona as he missed the final three games of last season. Doucet was already on the sidelines watching instead of participating in practice on Monday. Seattle hopes hell be healthy enough to contribute and possibly return to the form he showed during the 2011 season with the Cardinals. Doucet caught 54 passes for 689 yards and five touchdowns that year. His ability to play special teams would also be a benefit for Seattle. Doucet said all he wants is a chance to prove hes healthy and belongs. "Thats all I really ask for, was a chance to come out here and compete," Doucet said. "Im not looking for them to give me anything. I want to earn everything that I get. Thats kind of how I have always been and thats the kind of approach that I am taking." Notes: WR Bryan Walters, C Max Unger, DE Michael Bennett and DT Jesse Williams were new additions to the group of players sidelined with injuries. ... TE Michael Palmer (groin) returned to practice after missing the past several days. ... G James Carpenter took part in early drills before heading into the locker room and not returning. ... RB Robert Turbin did not practice Monday despite passing a physical to come off the physically unable to perform list on Sunday. ... Walter Thurmond worked with the first-team defence at cornerback in place of CB Brandon Browner. Browner was limited during practice. ' ' '