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TORONTO - Jonas Valanciunas called it a cold shower — a harsh early-season lesson that brought the Toronto Raptors back down to earth Thursday night.The Raptors dropped a 100-93 decision to the Chicago Bulls in a battle for first place in the Eastern Conference. It was Torontos first loss in six games, and first loss at home in whats been a feel-good early-season story.Its a good experience, coming off the win streak. Thats good, Valanciunas said. Make us regroup and be strong in the next game.Kyle Lowry scored 20 points to lead the Raptors (7-2), who coughed up the game with a dreadful third quarter. James Johnson was big off the bench, with 16 points, five rebounds, four steals and four blocks.The third quarter did us in, said Raptors coach Dwane Casey. They got us on our heels and we stayed on our heels.You know thats the kind of game youre going to have against them. Its a hard game to officiate and its a hard game to play. But youve got to make a muscle and fight through the physicality, the bumps, the grinds. . . we didnt meet that challenge in the third quarter. Amir Johnson had 14 points, while Terrence Ross finished with 12 points.Pau Gasol scored 27 to lead the Bulls (7-2), while Jimmy Butler finished with 21, and Derrick Rose scored 20 before leaving the game with 1:53 left with a left hamstring injury.I guess it was cramps in my hamstrings, said Rose, whod missed most of the previous two seasons with knee injuries. I think it is minor and they decided to pull me out.The Raptors led by nine points late in the second quarter, but the Bulls lit it up in third, outscoring Toronto 25-14 in the frame, punctuated with a 27-10 run, to send them into the fourth with a 80-66 lead.When Joakim Noah fed a wide-open Taj Gibson for a dunk early in the fourth, it put the Bulls up by 16, eliciting groans from the sellout Air Canada Centre crowd of 19,800 that included actor Donald Sutherland and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel.A running layup by Rose put the Bulls up by 18 with 5:03 to play. Lowry — whose collision with a fan seated courtside left him wiping off remnants of an ice cream sandwich — drained a long jumper with 3:05 to go to make it a 10-point game.With the fans on their feet, Ross connected on a three to pull Toronto within seven, then a James Johnson block led to an Amir Johnson dunk, and the deficit was five points.But Mike Dunleavys two free throws with a minute left put the Bulls back up by seven, then it was a matter of the clock running out on Toronto.You find out you really arent as good. . ., James Johnson said. But none of us have big heads in here, all of us strive to get better every game regardless of whether we win or lose, we look at film regardless of whether we win or lose, and learn from the mistakes.The game marked the first time the Raptors hosted a nationally-televised game on TNT since the Raptors hosted Orlando — Vince Carter vs. Tracy McGrady — in 2002. And the Air Canada Centre dressed up for the occasion, unfurling the giant We the North banner.The noise was reminiscent of last seasons playoff games, but all the ACCs cheering couldnt lift Toronto to a victory.Lowry said the game was a good gauge of where the Raptors are at — and where they need to get to.Just know thats what weve got to get up to, that physicality, that type of defensive intensity, that type of offence that they could go to a couple of different guys who could take over games at different points, Lowry said.Torontos all-star DeMar DeRozan struggled through another uncharacteristically low-scoring night, making just three of 17 shots for 10 points.Its fine, Im not worried about it at all, DeRozan said. These games, theyre going to happen, especially now. Ive just got to learn from it, not get down on it, get frustrated. Two years ago, Id think it was the end of the world, but were only eight games in. Id rather have these games now than later on.It was a strong game for Rose, whose two sprained ankles had kept him out of half of Chicagos games, to this point. Rose played in just 49 games total in the last two seasons, due to knee injuries.We have a good team, we had the game up by 10 by then so why force it, Rose said, on the decision to leave the game. I overstepped, just stretched out a little bit more with my left leg. It just comes with the process I guess of missing two years.The two teams were evenly matched through a first quarter that saw eight lead changes, and neither team lead by more than three points. The Bulls took a 25-24 lead into the second.James Johnson scored 12 points in a second quarter that saw the Raptors second unit contributing 18 of Torontos 22 points. Greivis Vasquez fed Johnson for a dunk that put the Raptors up by eight midway through the frame, then Patrick Patterson drained a three with 38 seconds to go, and Toronto headed to the dressing room up 52-45 at halftime.A running dunk by Jonas Valanciunas early in the fourth put Toronto up by five, but then the wheels fell off. Gasol and Dunleavy scored eight points apiece in the quarter to lead a charging Bulls team that took a 14-point lead into the fourth.The Raptors host Utah on Saturday, then Memphis on Wednesday. Their homestand ends Nov. 21 when they host Milwaukee.NOTES: The Raptors last TNT game was April 16, 2013 in Atlanta after an Indiana-Boston game was cancelled due to the Boston marathon bombing. . . The Raptors previous best start to the season was 4-1 in 2004-05.Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version reported that the We the North banner had not been unfurled since the playoffs. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . I kept my eyes focused up on the camera during each approach. I just tried to stay focused on my form, as I didnt know what the ball reaction was. I was quite emotional at the end. I did not actually see any of the shots in the game until I got home and watched the video. Wholesale Ducks Jerseys . Watching them over the past year - and in some cases, two years - has given us a starting point for this seasons Craigs List. http://www.cheapducksjerseys.com/. Vargas (8-3) allowed four singles and two walks while striking out five, allowing only two runners from a diluted Twins lineup to reach second base. Mike Moustakas and Jarrod Dyson hit RBI singles in the second inning against Kevin Correia (4-10), and that was all Vargas needed. Cheap Ducks Jerseys . DArnaud hit one of three doubles for the Mets as they took a 4-0 lead in the first. Then the catchers seventh home run of the season broke the game open in the fifth. The 41-year-old Colon (10-8) retired the first 20 batters in his last outing Wednesday against Seattle, eventually allowing two runs on three hits in 7 1-3 innings in a 3-2 win. Cheap Ducks Jerseys Authentic .com) - The Winnipeg Jets got over one hurdle by snapping their longest losing streak of the season.With 100 days to go before the Rio Olympics, Rupert Cox has put together his Great Britain Sevens Dream Team. Sevens will make its long-awaited Olympic debut in Rio and and Great Britain coach Simon Amor has an exciting time ahead in his bid to forge a team who can compete for a medal.Amor, who also is also the head coach of the England Sevens side, has made it clear that he has no intention of swamping his Olympic squad with 15-a-side players but has drawn up a shortlist which he believes can add value to the talented pool of Sevens players from the home unions. Wales winger George North, Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg and Wales flanker Justin Tipuric are believed to be high on Amors list, but who would be in your dream team for Rio?Cox has analysed the best players from both the 15-man game and the shortened version and presents his ultimate Team GB Sevens team. FORWARDSJustin Tipuric Justin Tipuric shows off his skills for Ospreys The Wales flanker has an all-round game well suited to Sevens. Turnovers at breakdown, high work rate and great handling skills all add up to a big impact for Team GB.With a fine international pedigree for both Wales and the Lions, he wont be overwhelmed by the big stage. Tipuric also has previous experience in the shorter format for Wales Sevens and could play either in the forwards or the backs. Maro Itoje England Rugby star Maro Itoje gives us a lesson in the breakdown With Englands restart king James Rodwell in a race to get fit for Rio, another kick-off and lineout specialist may be required. No one fits that bill better than Englands Grand Slam sensation Itoje. His aerial ability and all-round athleticism is up there with the best.Tackles, turnovers, off-loads and youthful enthusiasm - Itoje would bring a medal-winning game to a Team GB Sevens team. Sam Burgess Sevens is a game made for Burgess, says Cox Stuart Lancaster was onto something, but he played Slammin Sam out of position in the 15-a-side game. Sevens is different and the Rugby World Cup anti-hero could be devastating.Burgess would be the beast up front. A tackling machine, with massive go-forward and ferocious clear-outs at the ruck - Sam would give GB a hard edge that all good teams need. Get on the phone to Russell Crowe now!BACKSTom Mitchell Will England captain Tom Mitchell be central to Team GBs Olympic hopes? The Skipper.dddddddddddd One of the stars of the current Sevens World Series. He is the England captain and the man that makes them tick. When hes not in the field, England struggle to mix it with the big teams.Playmaker, motivator, kicker, referee negotiator - the man they call sticky fingers is central to Team GBs chances. Dan Bibby Sevens uncovered: Dan Bibby No one has a nose for a gap like Tom Mitchells buddy Dan Bibby. He burst on to the World Rugby Sevens scene a few seasons ago and hasnt looked back. His combination with Tom Mitchell will test any defence, although Bibby will need to recover quickly from the shoulder injury which has kept him out of the Sevens Series of late. Josh Charnley Steve Diamond thinks Josh Charnley can break into Englands rugby union side A rugby league superstar who has signed for the Sale Sharks next season, Wigans long-range try specialist has out and out pace and will pick up many a free hit for Team GB if given the chance.Every good Sevens team needs a whippet, Charnleys it. Manu Tuilagi Manu Tuilahi could be a battering ram for Team GB Try stopping this guy in space. The Leicester Tigers bulldozer has the ability to break the line at will, which in Sevens more often than not means try time.Some might question Tuilagis ability to get Sevens fit but with the five-sub rule now operating you could bring him on for short bursts so the big man can wreak havoc. Do you agree with Rupert? Have your say by giving us your comments below if viewing on skysports.com or alternatively, why not Tweet us @SkySportsRugby? Also See: Fiji are the team to beat Brits who could star in Rio Follow @SkySportsRugby Team GB unveil Olympic kit ' ' '