TORONTO -- The Toronto Raptors came into Fridays game against the New York Knicks hoping to clinch the Atlantic Division for just the second time in franchise history in front of a home crowd. Damaso Garcia Jersey . But after losing 108-100 they had to wait for some help from the Atlanta Hawks, which came moments later in the form of a 93-88 win over the Brooklyn Nets. "Its sweet and sour," Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry said. "Its very sweet that we won the division but it sucks that we didnt win it by a win. But well take the division champs any day." Atlantic Division T-shirts were draped over each chair in the Raptors locker-room to celebrate following the Nets loss. But despite locking up the division, the Raptors wont be taking it easy for the rest of the season. "Were still anxious," said DeMar DeRozan, who led Toronto with 26 points. "We still want more. Were not satisfied with nothing (yet). "We understand we have much more basketball to play and a long road to go and we want to take advantage of it. Not just get there and say we got there, where people doubted us. We definitely feel like we can go in and make some noise." Carmelo Anthony shook off a sore shoulder and scored a game-high 30 points and Amare Stoudemire scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the New York (34-45) overcame a slow start to pick up the win. Lowry added 25 points for the Raptors (46-33) and Jonas Valanciunas had 14 points and a career-high 21 rebounds. The Knicks arrived in Toronto after a four-day break between games. "It helped a lot," Anthony said of the time off. "It helped big time. I got a chance to get some rest, got treatment on multiple days and it helped me tonight." Amir Johnson returned to the lineup after missing the previous three games with a sore right ankle. He played 17 minutes and was scoreless from the field. "Im good," Johnson said. "I just got to get back into a groove. It felt like I was a step slow. Amare came out freaking flying ... He definitely played great." Stoudemires 24 points were a season-high. He logged 40 minutes against the Raptors. "Amare was big," Knicks head coach Mike Woodson said. "I played him well over his minutes that we set him at, but I didnt have a choice. He elected to go and that was good for me." The Knicks shot 50 per cent from the floor in the first quarter, but the Raptors held a two-point advantage over New York heading into the second quarter after scoring six-of-eight three-point attempts. Anthony, who missed both previous games between the Knicks and Raptors this season with a sprained ankle, made his presence felt early, scoring 18 points in the first half. "Unbelievable," said Raptors head coach Dwane Casey of Anthonys effort on the court. "He made the plays he made. He was double-teamed. John Salmons and Terrence (Ross) were draped over him. I cant fault the effort. He made some tough shots." Despite Anthonys strong performance however, the Raptors took a 47-45 lead into the break. After connecting on 7-of-12 attempts from beyond the arc in the first half, Toronto made seven three-pointers in the third frame. Toronto continued to struggle with Anthony, though, and the Knicks took a 78-77 lead into the fourth on the strength of Anthonys 27 points through three quarters. "We had no answer for him," Casey said. "We double-teamed him. We rotated all of the big men we had. We fronted, whatever we had to do. He made the shots. He made the plays, some tough plays. Carmelo was Carmelo." The Raptors went more than six minutes without scoring a field goal after a dunk from DeRozan at the 9:15 mark of the fourth quarter kept them within two points. Torontos offensive drought allowed the Knicks to pull ahead by 11 points, their largest lead of the game. Stoudemire scored eight of his 24 points in the fourth quarter. Lowry, who set a franchise record for most three-pointers made in a season with 180 -- passing Morris Petersons record of 177 set in 2005-06 -- was assessed a technical foul with 2:09 remaining in the third for arguing a non-call after a drive to the basket. Prior to the game, Casey stressed the importance of facing a team that is fighting for an opportunity to make the post-season. While he was disappointed with the loss, he said the Raptors lost to a team playing with its back against the wall. "Its funny how the expectations change," Casey said. "We go from developing and now all at once we lost to Carmelo Anthony and a team like this and the world (is collapsing). "We still have some growing to do. We have a great foundation from where we are. Now we just want to be ready to go into the playoffs with some momentum." NOTES: Andrew Wiggins of Vaughan, Ont., who is expected to be a top pick at the next NBA draft, sat courtside. That made for an entertaining moment when Toronto rapper Drakes "Draft Day" was played at Air Canada Centre. The song mentions Wiggins. Richard Urena Jersey . Still, its a start. Josh Baileys goal with 1:40 left capped a furious third-period rally, and the Islanders edged the Penguins 4-3 on Friday night. Duane Ward Blue Jays Jersey . The traditional pre-Masters event was halted early due to inclement weather. Harrington, who tied for first in 2003 and won in 2004, became the first three-time champion of the event. https://www.cheapbluejays.com/1266h-jose-canseco-jersey-blue-jays.html . Hes even holding a bat on one of his 2014 baseball cards. So far, hes playing like his picture.TORONTO -- For once, expectations are sky high at the start of Toronto FC training camp. A team that has long been the MLS doormat --Toronto has won six, nine, 10, nine, six, five, and six games since coming into the league in 2007 -- enters the 2014 season as a shooting star thanks to the hoopla over high-priced signings Jermain Defoe, Michael Bradley and Giberto. "Its a bloody big deal" is the already tired slogan around the acquisition of England striker Defoe. But the atmosphere is unmistakable. "Theres a buzz," said general manager Tim Bezbatchenko. The players started arriving late this week and most trained indoors Friday, although manager Ryan Nelsen did not involve those who were are the recent Canadian national team camp in Florida. He also gave Bradley a pass, given his recent involvement in Serie A. "Michaels had a lot of football," Nelsen said. "He doesnt need it now. He just probably needs a little rest." Captain Steven Caldwell sat out with a minor calf knock while the club waited on visa paperwork for Brazils Gilberto and Jackson. Toronto leaves Sunday for Florida. The 31-year-old Defoe will remain with Englands Tottenham until the end of February. Toronto opens the season March 15 in Seattle. Nelsen says the team will give Defoe time to bed in when he gets here. "We have to be very careful and we have to judge it. Hes here for four years, its not like were going to rush him back, patch him up if we have to and throw him out on the field. We have to think long-term. "So when hes ready to play, hell be ready to play. If thats Game 1, then brilliant. If its Game 4, so be it." In his second year on the job, the 36-year-old Nelsen finds himself in a totally different situation. He arrived last year with minimal knowledge of the talent that awaited him. He has the squad of his choice largely in place this time. "In all honesty I thought it might take a couple of years to get to the situation where we are right now," said Nelsen. There was short-term pain for long-term gain last season. Some 27 players came in -- if you count Israeli defender Tal Ben Haim whose loan deal from QPR never quite happened -- and 26 exited. The revolving door has slowed ahead of 2014 but those coming in have been quality additions. The three DPs are joined by American Justin Morrow and Englands Bradley Orr on defence, Jackson and Canadian star Dwayne De Rosario in midfield and teenage Canadian forward Jordan Hamilton. The team still has some roster work to do on the status of Argentine midfielder Matias Laba and English fullback Richard Eckersley. Laba is in camp while Eckersley, with the teams blessing, is not. Laba also has a designated player deeal, meaning Toronto is one over the three DP limit. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Blue Jays Jersey. So the club has to find a way to restructure his contract or move him on. The club likes the Argentine, who at 22 has many years ahead on him. Heres guessing the team finds a way to farm him out without losing track of him. Eckersley is a victim -- sort of -- of a rich contract that grew fatter this year when the team was forced to restructure his deal to help ease its salary cap burden last season. Toronto could take a one-time contract buyout to get out from under the Eckersley contract burden without taking a salary cap hit. Toronto can also reach a settlement with Eckersley or deal him while eating some of the contract, which would impact the cap. Other MLS teams are unlikely to take Eckersley at his current number. Still, Bezbatchenko is confident he can find a way. Given his background as a former MLS insider and the leagues seemingly fluid rules, he is likely to succeed. When it comes to his starting lineup, Nelsen often says his players -- not him -- pick the team with their performance on the pitch. When all his pieces are in place, one would expect a likely starting 11 of Joe Bendik in goal behind a backline of Morrow, Caldwell, Canadian Doneil Henry and Orr, a midfield of Jackson, Bradley, De Rosario (or fellow Canadian Jonathan Osorio) and Alvaro Rey with Gilberto and Defoe up front. Its a good-looking team sheet, although the rest of the roster is young. Nelsen likes what he sees but is realistic. He knows it takes time to turn around a franchise and establish a winning culture. "It doesnt matter who you put out on the field, the clubs got to learn how to win ... we know weve got a long way to go." Nelsen adds: "I say that with one side of my face. The other side says if theres a group of guys that can live up to any expectations, I feel like these guys will really enjoy it and will enjoy the pressure. "It will be different for them because we will have a target on our back. Everybody will want to beat us. Everybody wanted to play us because they knew they could beat us in the past. Now theyll want to play us because they will want to try to prove a point to beat us. "Its a different mentality and its going to be difficult. But its a lovely challenge to be in." A one-year partnership with the North Carolina-based Wilmington Hammerheads of the USL Pro League gives TFC a place to give some of its younger talent a chance to play. Toronto may also look to loan a player within MLS. Bezbatchenko was part of the process in getting the newly installed loan format approved while he was working in the league office. Canadian international Issey Nakajima-Farran is in the Toronto camp on trial. ' ' '