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. 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. Air Jordan 1 Discount . With the results, North America claimed 2.5 of the three available points, opening up a 17.5-12.5 lead in the overall standings. A total of 60 points are available, meaning the first team to 30.5 points will win the Continental Cup. Cheap Air Jordan 1 . But history aside, theyre still happy to participate in the Par 3 contest, traditionally held on the day prior to the first round of the Masters. https://www.cheapairjordan1outlet.com/ . "Today was a very great day for me. It was always my dream to be good in GS," Wierather said. "I took quite a long time to get there. It feels awesome to have my first win (in GS)." Wierather leads overall with 595 points from Lara Gut (568), who finished second, and Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany (535). Wholesale Air Jordan 1 . But San Diego had even more trouble against right-hander Tanner Roark, who pitched a three-hitter for the first complete game of his career as the Nationals shut out the Padres 4-0. The 27-year-old set down the first 16 batters before San Diego catcher Rene Rivera, an . Air Jordan 1 From China . PAUL, Minn.RALEIGH, N.C. -- After being outscored 10-2 in the first two games of a five-game road trip, the Phoenix Coyotes had reason to wish they could pack their bags and return to Arizona. "It was a morgue around here -- nobody was happy, everybody was miserable," said Rob Klinkhammer. The mood on the team has certainly changed in the course of three games over five days. Klinkhammer scored two goals Sunday, including the game-winner 22 seconds into the third period, to help the Coyotes pick up a 5-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. Shane Doan, Mikkel Boedker and Lauri Korpikoski had Phoenixs other goals. Mike Smith made 31 saves for the Coyotes, who closed a five-game road trip by winning in Detroit, Philadelphia and Carolina. "It turns out to be a great road trip," Klinkhammer said. Eric Staal, Riley Nash and Jeff Skinner scored for the Hurricanes. Cam Ward made nine saves after coming on with 10:08 left in the second period to replace starting netminder Anton Khudobin. Khudobin suffered a lower-body injury when he skated out to play the puck. Ward allowed three of Phoenixs goals. "A few guys came ready to play and battle and play their game, but we had too many passengers tonight," said Carolina coach Kirk Muller. "We had some of our top guys that just didnt bring their A game tonight." With the score tied at 3 at the start of the third period, Carolinas Staal gambled in the offensive zone. He couldnt corral the puck, instead allowing Klinkhammer to skate forward on a 2-on-1. Klinkhammer decided not to pass, snapping the puck past Wards glove. "Thats a tough pass to make on your off side there, so I just came down and shot it, and it went in," Klinkhammer said. Doan then gave the Coyotes an insurance goal with 12:49 left when he scored on the power play. Doan also had an assist for his first two points of the year. "At some point, you have to start helping," DDoan said.dddddddddddd "The last few games, Ive been playing better and been on the ice for goals for and opportunities, but nothing was going in. I fortunately got one tonight to get off the schneid and get going out there." The relatively high-scoring game broke the mould of Phoenixs other victories -- the Coyotes had allowed four goals in their first three wins compared to 10 goals allowed in their two losses. Phoenix had a strong start, outshooting Carolina 8-1 in the first 12 minutes and scoring the first goal. With Carolinas Alexander Semin in the penalty box for hooking, the Coyotes Derek Morris took a shot that hit the post. Boedker cleaned up the rebound, taking advantage of the fact Khudobin was out of position. The Hurricanes tied the score when a Phoenix clearing attempt bounced to Staal, who was in front of the net. Staal backhanded the puck past Smith. Both teams scored twice in the second period. Nash started things off for the Hurricanes when he deflected a Ryan Murphy shot from the point above Smiths glove. The Coyotes then had consecutive goals to take a 3-2 lead. First, Klinkhammer finished a scrum in the crease by poking the puck through Khudobins pads. After Khudobins injury, Korpikoski finished a nice passing play with Mike Ribeiro by one-timing the puck past Ward. The Hurricanes tied the score at 3 with less than 1 minute left in the second period when Skinner snapped a sharp-angle shot that went off Smiths helmet and into the net for a power-play goal. Up until that point, Phoenix had killed off Carolinas first six power plays, including 1:56 of a two-minute advantage earlier in the second. "We dont score on the 5-on-3, and it just dropped the whole life out of our team," Muller said. Tuomo Ruutu played in his first game of the season for the Hurricanes after missing the teams first five games with a lower-body injury. Muller had no update on Khudobins status other than hed undergo an MRI on Monday. ' ' '