NEU » with Sindhu holding up a clenched fist in a

TORONTO -- After playing eight of their past 10 games on the road, the Toronto Raptors open a season-long six-game homestand Monday against the Philadelphia 76ers.When the Raptors defeated the Bucks 105-99 Friday at Milwaukee, they finished their 10-game grind with a 6-4 record.On the road, youve been edgy, youve been uptight, youve got the you-against-the-world mentality, Toronto coach Dwane Casey said Sunday. Now you come home to the comforts of home and relax and we cant do that. Weve got some good teams coming in, the young, athletic Philly team coming in, Memphis is playing well, the Lakers are playing well and Atlanta. Its going to be a tough homestand, it wont be a piece of cake whatsoever. The homestand will end with games against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Minnesota Timberwolves.The Raptors (10-6) are 4-3 at home and Philadelphia is 0-5 on the road this season.The 76ers (4-13) are coming off a 112-108 loss to the Cavaliers at the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday after leading for the first three quarters.Philadelphia center Joel Embiid, who is coming back from foot injuries that cost him the past two seasons, will not make the trip to Toronto after scoring 22 points with nine rebounds in 25 minutes on Sunday.We played hard, Embiid said. We had a good defensive game. They just played better.The game Monday will be the sixth he will have missed this season. The restriction in minutes and the skipping of some games fit in with his rehabilitation program. He also did not play in the 105-89 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Friday.You come up with some really hard decisions that maybe dont favor me or us or whatever, 76ers coach Brett Brown said. But for the long-term lens that we all have, we have to be responsible with Joel Embiid. Winning a game in the middle of November in 2016, sometimes that takes a back seat.The 76ers were without point guard Jerryd Bayless on Sunday because of a sore left wrist. Bayless, a former Raptor, missed the first 13 games of the season after suffering a torn ligament in the wrist during training camp. The free-agent acquisition played in only three games. Bayless said his wrist was sore when he played against the Bulls on Friday.The Raptors made a season-best 14 3-pointers against the Bucks and had double-digit scoring from six players.While the offense is working, the concern remains the defense.Weve got to be more conscious of letting teams get easy buckets, transition buckets, make everything a lot tougher on them, said Toronto guard DeMar DeRozan, who is averaging 30.2 points. Especially from the 3. Just be more disciplined. We cant have mistakes. Once we get clicking defensively and everything comes together as one, we have a chance to be really good.Improving the defense is constantly on Caseys mind.If we have to get guys in there that are going to be committed to the defensive end, weve got to do that because to get where we want to go, were kidding ourselves if were not committed to that end, Casey said.Forward DeMarre Carroll is improving as he returns from knee surgery and that should help the Raptors defense. He also scored 14 points on Friday.Thats what Ive got to do, Carroll said. Theyre double-teaming Kyle (Lowry) and DeMar (DeRozan). Ive got to be able to space the floor, especially in the first unit. Im just trying to do my part. I know at the beginning of the season I wasnt doing my part, but now Im trying to step up, and Im just trying to progress and not look back. 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She became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic silver and also, at 21, the youngest individual Indian medallist.As Marin sank to her knees sobbing after her win, Sindhu walked up to her, bending to offer a congratulatory handshake before the two embraced. It encapsulated the thrilling, closely fought contest with both players extracting the last ounce of will and tenacity from the other.Im really proud since my aim was to win a medal at the Olympics. I also want to congratulate all those who lost a medal by a point. Its been a great week for me and Im really happy about it, Sindhu said. Badminton has been really doing well in India for the past few years and Im sure we will win more medals in the future. I didnt think I would make it to the finals and when I did I told myself that I can do it.In the third game there were simple errors from my side. In a match one has to win and the other has to lose. I guess it was Marins day today. I played my best and Im happy to settle for silver, Sindhu said.Sindhu fought back from a six-point deficit to take the first game. A beautiful drop shot from Marin had the Indian trailing 2-4 before dispatching a down-the-line smash to widen the gap 9-5. The more attacking player of the two, Sindhu, landed another one wide to fall behind 9-13 as coach Gopichand wore a tense, studied look. A couple of unforced errors by the Spaaniard had the Indian closing in at 13-15 before the reigning world champion sent a body smash to go up 17-15 before calling for the courts to be swabbed.dddddddddddd Following a protracted rally of close to 50 shots, Marin ballooned a return wide with Sindhu holding up a clenched fist in a show of measured celebration. A wayward return from Marin when trailing 19-20 had her dropping a game for the first time at this Olympics and Sindhu shrieking in triumph.Racing to a 4-0 lead early in the second game, Marin sent a smash wide to hand Sindhu a point. The gap was widening and the crowd was turning restive, willing the Indian to mount a comeback similar to the one in the first game. But the Spaniard was putting away winners with ease and, though Sindhu managed to pick up three points at 9-18 down, the deficit was too large. A deft drop shot from Marin had her sealing the second game and stretching the match into a decider.Showing some incredible footwork in the final game, Marin leapt to smash one beyond Sindhus reach to extend her lead to 9-4. A brilliant backhand from Sindhu at 9-6 before Marin sent one wide had the Indian breathing down the Spaniards neck. Another Marin smash had her now leading 12-10 before Sindhu slapped one into the net at 17-14. At 19-14, a cross-court smash from Marin had Sindhu dropping to her knees before the reigning world champion put away the winner well beyond Sindhus reach. ' ' '