~~**GESUNDHEIT**~~ » at a torrid pace - ranked fourth,

HOUSTON - Coming off a dominant performance at home, the Raptors will have their starting point guard in uniform when they face a stiffer test in Houston Monday. Kyle Lowry, who sat out the entire second half of Saturdays 115-91 rout over Utah with a sprained right ankle, will give it a go against his former team as Toronto opens a two-game Western road swing against Dwight Howard, James Harden and the Rockets. "Im not 100 per cent but Im okay," Lowry said following his teams shoot around Monday afternoon. "No complaints. I wont favour it, it wont be a hindrance to me. Its just another game." The Raptors point guard came down awkwardly on the foot of Enes Kanter in the final possession of the first half Saturday and was removed from the game as a precaution. "I knew at halftime it wasnt serious," Dwane Casey said. "I think if it was a close game, he would have been able to play. Hes a tough kid and I had all the faith in the world [that he would be okay]." Although the Raptors set season highs in points, field goals (40), field goal percentage (.484), three-pointers (10) and assists (23) against the winless Jazz Saturday, they will have the odds stacked against them when the visit Houstons Toyota Center, a building they havent won in since 2007. Toronto has lost six straight road contests to the Rockets and is 15-3 all-time in Houston. However, this may be the best time for the Raptors, in search of their second straight win, to pay Houston a visit as the Rockets are struggling to find themselves early in the season. Houston won its first three games in the Howard era but has dropped three of four since, most recently falling to the Clippers, 107-94 on Saturday. The Rockets led by nine at the half in that game but were outscored 61-39 over the final 24 minutes. Howard is averaging 17.6 points and 13.6 rebounds - third in the NBA - in seven games with his new club and has been a handful for the Raptors dating back to his time in Los Angeles and Orlando, scoring 24.7 points on 62 per cent shooting in his last 18 games against Toronto. However, the Rockets centre is shooting just 49 per cent from the free throw line this season and Casey indicated hes not opposed to taking advantage of that. "Usually our philosophy is if you get in a bad way against a guy whos not a great free throw shooter, you want to wrap him up," Casey said Monday, asked about the hack-a-Howard method. "Dwight is no different. Its within the rules and well have to look at it." Lowry played 218 games for the Rockets over three-plus seasons, improving his scoring numbers each year. He averaged a career-high 14.3 points for Houston in 2011-12 before Toronto acquired him in a trade that summer. "It has a special place in my heart," Lowry said of Houston. "I love coming back here. This is a great city, the fans were great for me the organization was great for me. I always get a good kick out of coming back here." Trends and Tidbits The Raptors second unit had totalled 133 points in the teams first six games, outscored by the opponents bench in each contest, before exploding for 56 in Saturdays win. Tyler Hansbrough led the way with 23 points, matching a career best 11 made free throws on a career-high 13 attempts. Houston limited opponents to just 93.7 points on 39 per cent shooting in its first three games of the season, all wins, but has allowed 111.0 points on 45 per cent shooting in four games since, losing three. Mondays game in Houston is the Raptors first on the road against a Western Conference opponent this season. They were 3-12 when visiting teams in the West last year. Toronto will face the Grizzlies in Memphis on Wednesday before returning home for six of seven games at the Air Canada Centre. What to Watch For Two of the leagues best on the boards Both the Raptors and the Rockets have been two of the NBAs most dominant teams on the boards to begin this season. Averaging 46.3 rebounds per game, Houston ranks second in the league in that category while Toronto ranks ninth grabbing 44.3 boards per contest. The Raptors have out-rebounded their opponent in each of the first seven games, with a plus-52 differential on the glass overall. They rank third in offensive rebounds (14.1) and first in second-chance points per game (21.0), which has accounted for 22 per cent of their total offence thus far. Toronto faces its toughest test on the boards with the Rockets front line of Howard - who has led the league in rebounding in five of the last six seasons - and Omer Asik, who was third last year. "Its a challenge," Casey admitted. "Everyone from that standpoint has their work cut out for them as far as keeping them off the boards and winning the rebounding game." Pressure the home team With the front-court pairing of Howard and Asik, along with sophomore point guard Patrick Beverley stepping into the starting lineup for Jeremy Lin, the Rockets are still working out the kinks offensively. Although theyre still scoring at a torrid pace - ranked fourth, averaging 105.6 points per game - they have had some difficulty taking care of the ball. The Rockets have turned the ball over at least 18 times in five of their last six games. Overall, they allowed an average of 21.2 points of 19.0 turnovers in the six games since their opener. Who to Watch For DeMar DeRozan After a strong preseason, DeRozan has struggled to begin the campaign, specifically with his jump shot. The Raptors guard has hit just 12 of his 45 field goal attempts (27 per cent) over the last three games. Although hell have his hands full defensively with Harden, the Raptors need DeRozan to get back on track on the other end of the floor as well. DeRozan averaged 15.5 points in two games against the Rockets last year, as the two teams split the season series, and has scored 21.6 per over his last five meetings with Houston. James Harden Harden - the NBAs fourth leading scorer, averaging 24.7 points per game - is coming off his worst outing of the season, scoring just 12 points on 4-of-15 shooting against the Clippers while playing with two sore feet. He is also under the weather, battling a flu bug that is going around Houstons locker room. Although hell be playing at less than 100 per cent, Casey and the Raptors have still keyed in on the Rockets wounded star. "Hardens the head of the snake and weve got to do everything we can to control him," said Casey, who plans to throw multiple defenders at Harden, including DeRozan, Rudy Gay and possibly even Julyan Stone. Injury Report Lowry (sprained right ankle) will play for the Raptors. Harden, who is under the weather and has been playing with a series of foot ailments, is expected to give it a go. Omri Casspi (strained left knee) and Chandler Parsons (back spasms) are also expected to play but will be game-time decisions for Houston. Jordan 11 For Sale Cheap Real . Redden played a total of 1,023 regular-season games with Ottawa, the New York Rangers, St. Louis and Boston. He finished with 457 points (109 goals, 348 assists) and a plus-160 rating over his career. Jordan 11 Retro Cheap .com) - Oregon wasnt going to let Arizona ruin its national title dreams for a second straight season. http://www.cheapairjordan11.net/. Only it wasnt the extended right pad of his old teammate Jonathan Bernier early in the final frame, it was James Reimer, who stole a night that was supposed to belong to the former King. Air Jordan 11 Wholesale . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. Air Jordan 11 Cheap Sale . The 27th-ranked Austrian underwent surgery on a torn tendon in October and needs more time to recover, the Austria Press Agency reports on Saturday.NEW ORLEANS - Anthony Davis stood at the top of the key, pumping his fist and letting out a roar.His adrenaline-infused reaction was inspired not by one of his five thunderous dunks against the Philadelphia 76ers, but the way Omer Asik converted Davis crisp pass under the basket into a layup as he was fouled.Everybodys having fun, moving the ball. It doesnt matter who scores, Davis said. Everybodys playing together. Everybodys playing hard and thats all that the coaches ask for.Davis had 32 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots, and New Orleans stretched its season-long winning streak to four games with a 99-74 victory over the Sixers on Monday night.Ryan Anderson scored 19 points and Eric Gordon added 13 for New Orleans, while Tyreke Evans tied a season high in assists — set one night earlier — with 12.As long as were winning the game and everybody is having fun, it doesnt matter to me, Evans said of his statistical line, which included a below-average six points. I could have easily penetrated and got to the rim, but Id seen guys open and I was looking to find guys.K.J. McDaniels scored 16 points for the 76ers, who lost their sixth straight. Henry Sims and Luc Mbah a Moute each scored 14 points.Philadelphia played without Michael Carter-Williams, who was sidelined by an upper respiratory infection.Nerlens Noel, who was matched up with Davis, said he may have been over-hyped for the game. He finished with two points on 1-for-9 shooting to go with two blocks and six rebounds.I probably should have slowed my mind down. I was thinking about the game too much, Noel said. I need to have the mindset of playing within myself. ... I should have found better ways to get myself going during the game.Davis was 12-of-19 shooting, including five layups and five crowd-pleasing dunks, and made all eight of his free throws as New Orleans (24-21) moved three games above .500 for the first time since coach Monty Williams first season in 2010-11.ddddddddddddHe is a stud, Sixers coach Brett Brown said of Davis. Monty has done an excellent job of featuring him ... and their players complement him.Davis had his second 13-point quarter of the game in the third period, and his last two free throws gave New Orleans its largest lead at 85-60. Davis and the rest of New Orleans starters, including Gordon and Evans, did not play in the fourth quarter.The Pelicans outshot the Sixers 45.3 per cent (39 of 86) to 34.6 per cent (28 of 81) and outrebounded Philadelphia 52-38.Half of Davis rebounds came on the offensive end, several leading to putbacks. He also had three steals and three assists while not turning the ball over once.Davis had 13 points in the first quarter, highlighted by an alley-oop jam in which he caught Evans lob with his right hand while soaring toward the hoop and slammed it down in one well-timed motion over a defender cutting across his path.His early surge helped the Pelicans race to a 31-19 lead.The Sixers got as close as 34-33 while Davis rested, but the Pelicans gradually rebuilt their lead to 13 after Davis returned and led 52-43 at the break.TIP-INS76ers: The Sixers won the first of the two meetings the teams have this season on Jan. 16 in Philadelphia, 96-81. That was also the last time they won a game. ... Because of a major snow storm in the Northeast, the Sixers decided to spend Monday night in the Big Easy instead of flying out right after the game.Pelicans: Asik finished with 10 points. ... New Orleans improved its home record to 15-5.ABOVE THE RIMTwice in the first half, Evans set up Davis for alley-oop dunks.Ive got a good feel for A.D., I know what he likes to do, Evans said. Im comfortable playing with him and its just fun out there when were playing like that.UP NEXT76ers: Host Detroit on Wednesday.Pelicans: Host Denver on Wednesday. ' ' '