.Instead of pressing to prove his worth, Tucker merely went

TORONTO -- The Milwaukee Bucks have been playing better in the first half than the second half recently.The Toronto Raptors have been better in the second half.The teams will meet Monday night at the Air Canada Centre, where the Raptors have been showing that its not so much how you start but how you finish.The Raptors, who defeated the Boston Celtics 101-94 Friday, have won eight of their past nine games. Their only loss in their recent surge was to the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers.While the Raptors were completing wins in back-to-back games Friday after overcoming a slow start Thursday to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Bucks lost both ends of their back-to-back set to the Atlanta Hawks on Friday and the Washington Wizards on Saturday.The Bucks (11-11) blew a 20-point halftime lead Friday to lose to the Hawks 114-110, then were tied at the half before losing 110-105 in Washington on Saturday.You cant turn the ball over late, Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. I think we had 20 turnovers (Saturday night) and that led to a lot of points (24). We shot a lot of 3s in that five-minute span. Our strength is the paint. Weve got to get back to the paint and work inside-out.Giannis Antetokounmpo is a key to the any success the Bucks have. He led them with 28 points (11-for-18 from the field), 13 rebounds and seven assists Saturday.He also turned the ball over seven times in 41 minutes.Giannis is an all-star, Wizards coach Scott Brooks said. I wasnt in the league last year but he has improved a lot. Hes a handful. He has the longest stride. His jump shot has improved and his passing and rebounding. ... We tried to make it crowded for him and he did turn the ball over a few times.The Raptors (16-7) trailed at halftime on Friday before using a third-quarter surge to prevail 101-94 over the Celtics, who are being touted as a threat to the Raptors in the Eastern Conference.DeMarre Carroll was rested in Saturday to protect his right knee and Norman Powell took his spot and again excelled when given the chance, scoring 20 points. Carroll is expected to start Monday against the Bucks.It was a very good team win for us, said Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry, who scored 34 points. Everyone stepped up (Friday night). Norm (Powell), I know some games he plays and some he doesnt, but 20 points. Pat (Patterson) didnt shoot the ball well but came up with some big rebounds. We had a great team win tonight and against a team that plays extremely hard. They are missing their All-Star guard (Isaiah Thomas), but they played extremely hard and they played well and together.The Raptors, who trailed by one point entering the fourth quarter on Thursday before defeating Minnesota 124-110, played more the way Dwane Casey wants to see them play Friday against the Celtics.I think it was just the attention to detail, Casey said. Guys were into the ball in pick and rolls, (Thursday night) we werent and the proof is in the pudding. This is a talented offensive team and if we can do that against these guys we have to do that for the majority of the rest of our schedule.Authentic Custom Hawks Jersey . The formidable trio of Canadian receivers -- individually known as Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg and Andy Fantuz -- will share the field at Mosaic Stadium one more time on Sunday. Custom Hawks Jersey China . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. http://www.customhawksjersey.com/ . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. Wholesale Custom Hawks Shirts . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. Dominique Wilkins Jersey Large . The Islanders dealt Thomas Vanek to the Montreal Canadiens after less than a year on Long Island. Meanwhile, the Oilers dealt long-time sniper Ales hemsky to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for a fifth-round pick in 2014 and a third-rounder in 2015.OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Justin Tucker has a knack for putting the exclamation point on drives that come up short of the goal line.Tucker has kicked nine field goals this season for the Baltimore Ravens, who are unbeaten after three games primarily because of his unfailing accuracy -- especially with the outcome hanging in the balance.Since landing a four-year, $6.8 million contract during the offseason, Tucker has scored in a big way for Baltimore. He hasnt missed a kick and accounted for all 12 of the teams fourth-quarter points, including a game-winning, 53-yard field goal last Sunday in a 19-17 win at Jacksonville.The kick -- changed officially from 54 yards by the NFL on Wednesday -- concluded a desperate drive by Joe Flacco that fizzled at the Jaguars 35.When games come down to the final possession, Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs said, you want a quarterback with ice in his veins, and you (darn) sure want a kicker with ice in his veins as well.Although the Ravens have thus far reached the end zone only four times, Tucker has rescued the offense by scoring 31 of the teams 57 points.I dont think of it as any added pressure, Tucker said Wednesday. If the game dictates that we need to kick four field goals, then wed better make four field goals. If the game dictates that I just need to make a few PATs while were beating up somebody, thats exactly what I will do. I just need to make kicks, regardless of the situation.The opposition has taken notice. The Ravens face Oakland (2-1) on Sunday, and Raiders coach Jack Del Rio knows Tucker rarely misfires in the first quarter or the last.Hes been phenomenal, Del Rio said. Tucker is second all-time in terms of field goal kicks, and theyre not all short ones. Hes pretty amazing.Indeed, Tucker ranks second behind Dallas Dan Bailey in career field percentage. Bailey is at 90.4 percent, and Tucker is moving up the chart at 88.5 percent.Tucker made the Pro Bowl in 2013 annd has won 12 games with field goals, most notably three years ago when he beat Detroit with a career-best 61-yarder.ddddddddddddThats why the Ravens slapped the franchise tag on him during the offseason before handing him a $6 million signing bonus in July to go with his four-year deal.Justin has become a cornerstone for our team, general manager Ozzie Newsome said at the time.Instead of pressing to prove his worth, Tucker merely went back to work.My approach to how I kick a ball is unaffected by what happens on the business side of football, he said. If I looked at it any other way, Id be doing a disservice to everybody in here.Tuckers job is made easier by his familiarity with long snapper Morgan Cox and holder Sam Koch. Since 2012, when Tucker arrived as a rookie, the trio has worked to make sure the kick is headed toward the goalposts in 1.3 seconds.Its imperative to have a consistent operation, Tucker said. Its definitely a big part of the reason why Im able to be confident kicking the ball.Koch believes Tuckers success can be attributed to hard work in practice and the ability to stay loose under pressure.As a kicker, you have to be able to get over your last kick -- whether its bad or good -- and be able to move on, Koch said. He has the character that allows him to do that. He has fun at it.While playing high school ball in Texas, Tucker performed on both sides of the ball, kicked field goals and punted. During that time, the 6-foot-1, 180-pounder realized his best hope of becoming a pro was as a placekicker.I looked up to Adam Vinatieri, Matt Stover, Phil Dawson, Robbie Gould, Tucker said. Now that Im playing in the same league as these guys, I still have to pinch myself every day. Its a dream come true.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '