is native Brazil on Saturday but was taken ill before boarding

LOS ANGELES - As DeMar DeRozan, the Raptors long-time iron man, lay sprawled out on the baseline, his leg twitching in obvious pain, each one of his concerned teammates stood around him holding their collective breath. Exceeding all expectations to begin the season, this tight-knit group has become known for their solidarity, both on and off the floor. Now, with their leading scorer sidelined indefinitely, theyll need it more than ever. After exiting Fridays loss to Dallas early in the second half with a groin injury, the Raptors announced that DeRozan sustained a torn left adductor longus tendon, keeping him out of the lineup for the foreseeable future. DeRozan was driving to his right, nearly four minutes into the third quarter, when he slipped and fell to the floor. With the assistance of a trainer, he was eventually helped up and to the locker room, where he remained for the duration of the contest, one the Raptors would eventually lose after a late-game rally fell short. There is no immediate timetable for his return to basketball activities, according to the team, and his status will be updated over the coming weeks. The Raptors All-Star guard is averaging a team-high 19.4 and 4.2 rebounds over the clubs first 16 games. As the focal point of their improved attack, DeRozan accounts for just under 29 per cent of the Raptors offensive possessions when hes been on the court, the highest usage rate of any player on the team. Having to replace his production, for however long he is out will be a challenge, though its not necessarily a fatal blow given their depth and balance on both ends of the floor. More than anything else, it will be an adjustment. The sixth-year guard was logging roughly 34 minutes a night to lead the team after ranking third in the NBA in playing time last year. He has missed just 11 games to this point in his career (the Raptors are 8-3 in those contests). Weve got to [continue to] play, said Kyle Lowry, who will be relied upon even more without his backcourt running mate. Next man up. Its a team, not about one guy. If anybody goes down, the next man has to step up. The Raptors are the leagues sixth-ranked team in bench points, thanks in large part to the addition of Lou Williams - leading the East in scoring among reserves - the versatile James Johnson and Greivis Vasquez, who has rediscovered his jump shot this past week. I think weve got one of the best, and I say this in a humble way, benches in the league, Vasquez said. Somebody else is going to step up. Lou will step in or myself or James or whatever coach wants to do. Now hes got a squad. Hes got a team. And now he needs to, and he will, put it together. Somebody went down and we almost won. That wasnt good enough. I think we have guys that can step up and do their job. All three wing players figure to see expanded roles in DeRozans absence, with one of them likely stepping into the starting lineup. Although Williams, the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week, seems to be a natural fit to fill the scoring void - averaging 14.3 points, third on the team - Dwane Casey may prefer to utilize his instant offence off the bench. The same can be said of Vasquez, the back-up point guard, leaving Johnson, who could start at the three-spot and push Terrence Ross to the two, giving them more size and defensive acumen up front. Landry Fields could also be in the mix for spot minutes. Well decide that in the next day or so, Casey told reporters after practice on Saturday, declining to name a replacement ahead of Sundays meeting with the Lakers. We dont know now, well talk about that later. One thing is for certain, the 13-3 Raptors will face their biggest and most telling early-season challenge. Lowry, who will be in consideration for Eastern Conference Player of the Month next week, will become more important than ever, handling increased responsibility in the teams half-court sets. Jonas Valanciunas could also be in line for a bigger piece of the offensive pie in the low post. One thing about our team, we have guys that can step up and they are definitely going to have to because thats a big scoring load in DeMar, echoed Amir Johnson. We have guys that can come in and step up for us. DeRozan accompanied the team to Los Angeles, his hometown, Saturday afternoon, where they will begin a three-game road trip without his services on the court. Generally, the recovery time for a groin injury of this nature can range from weeks to months depending on the severity. Until they learn more about DeRozans status and can get him back in uniform, their celebrated team unity will be put to the ultimate test. Clearance Jerseys . -- Valentin Zykov scored in overtime as the Baie-Comeau Drakkar rallied to a 3-2 victory over the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada on Sunday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff action. Authentic Jerseys Cheap . Mako Vunipola was promoted from the reserves, with Matt Mullan called up to the bench on Thursday. "It is important that Joe is with his partner at this exciting time," England coach Stuart Lancaster said. http://www.outletjerseyscheap.com/ .J. -- Fabian Johnson scored his first international goal and Clint Dempsey doubled the lead after a defensive lapse as the United States beat Turkey 2-1 Sunday in the second of three World Cup warm-up matches for the Americans before they head to Brazil. NFL Jerseys Outlet . Hes the same player he always was, only now his efforts are being rewarded. The rookie manager has made a habit of heaping praise on others when things are going well, and accepting criticism when they arent. But in the case of Hurtado, its what the coach is NOT saying that may be the secret to a superb run of form. Cheap Jerseys Online . Phoenix got injured centre Emeka Okafor and a top-12-protected first-round draft pick in 2014 -- giving the rebuilding Suns potentially four choices in the opening round. The Suns also sent guards Kendall Marshall, Shannon Brown and Malcolm Lee to Washington so the deal will work financially.UFC star Anderson Silva has been rushed to hospital and may require emergency gall bladder surgery. Silva was due to headline UFC 198 in his native Brazil on Saturday but was taken ill before boarding the plane from Rio de Janeiro to Curitiba.He called me and said Im going to the hospital, but Ill get better, so we came to Curitiba, Silvas coach Luiz Carlos Dorea said. When we arrived in Curitiba, he said Master, I came home but the pain is too much. I told him to eat something, but he said I cant, Im eating and throwing up. He told me this afternoon [Tuesday] that it was too painful and he had to go back to the hospital. Anderson Silva is regarded as one of the greatest fighters ever Silva, who was aiming to return to winning ways after losing a controversial decision to Britains Michael Bisping at Londons O2 in February, was due to fight Uriah Hall in his first fight in Curitiba in more than a decade.ddddddddddddHe was doing great, and this came out of nowhere, Dorea said. He felt some [abdominal] pain before, but nothing serious. He always came back to train the next day, so we never imagined it would be something like this. Also See: Bisping upsets Silva at The O2 McGregor fuels Floyd speculation White: McGregor is to blame McGregor replaced by Jones ' ' '