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TORONTO - In a cost-cutting move intended to avoid the increasingly punitive penalties tied to the NBAs restructured luxury tax, the Raptors have used the amnesty provision to waive forward Linas Kleiza. The team announced the move on Tuesday. Kleiza, 28, was set to enter the final season of a four-year deal he signed with Toronto in 2010 and is owed $4.6 million in 2013-14. The Raptors will still have to pay the remaining amount owed to Kleiza but his contract will not count against the teams salary cap. The Raptors, who were projected to be over the luxury tax line with Kleizas contract on the books, find themselves roughly $2.5 million under the threshold after cutting the forward. Additionally, they can now reap the rewards of remaining a non-taxpaying team, which include a larger mid-level exception and a share of the money collected from taxpaying teams at season end. Both Tim Leiweke and Masai Ujiri have indicated that the organization would be willing to pay the leagues tax in the event that they were funding a contending team. However, it would be a lot tougher to justify missing out on the aforementioned benefits awarded to non-taxpayers to field a team that figures to be a middling group in the Eastern Conference. Ujiri had hoped to move Kleizas expiring contract for a draft pick but the forward has minimal trade value, if any, as a result of the knee injuries that have plagued him throughout his tenure in Toronto. Kleiza underwent surgery on his right knee in 2011 and has been slowed by the injury ever since. He last played on Dec. 26 and appeared in just 20 games last season, averaging 7.4 points and 2.6 rebounds while shooting just 33 per cent from the field. Following the 2011 NBA lockout each team was granted one amnesty clause to be used prior to the expiration of the new collective bargaining agreement. Teams who have yet to use their lone amnesty clause have a one-week window to utilize the provision each summer following the July moratorium period. This year, the amnesty window closes at 12:00am ET Wednesday July 17. Kleiza averaged 9.8 points and 4.0 rebounds in 108 contests over three seasons with the Raptors. Buycks on Board The Raptors finalized an agreement with guard Dwight Buycks (pronounced Bikes) on Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Buycks, 24, won league MVP playing in France last season -- averaging 18.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game -- after collecting first-team all-rookie honours with the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League the year prior. He went undrafted out of Marquette in 2011. Buycks story is one of perseverance. After several years of chasing his NBA dream in the D-League and overseas, he continued to turn heads playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Orlando Summer League earlier this month. The Milwaukee native averaged 9.5 points and 6.0 assists in four games for the undefeated Thunder team before Ujiri and the Raptors expressed interest in the point guard. He made his Toronto debut, getting the start for the Raptors Summer League team in Las Vegas Tuesday. With the reported signing of Julyan Stone on hold -- and now appearing unlikely -- as the former Nuggets guard rehabs nagging hip and knee injuries, the Raptors will look to add a more experienced back-up point guard for the veterans minimum. Air Max 270 Canada Outlet . He was followed closely by David Clarkson, donning red, seconds later. Clarksons actions one night earlier, leaping off the bench in defence of Kessel during a pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres, will cost him the first 10 games of the regular season. Air Max 270 Canada Online . The 29-year-old Baines has established himself as one of the top attacking full backs in the country and was the subject of two bids from United during the last off-season. Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings "maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch" and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad. http://www.airmax270cheapcanada.com/ . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. Sale Air Max 270 Canada . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Nike Air Max 270 Canada Wholesale . Any real chance at payback wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsburgh knows its taut 3-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night is a pretty good place to start laying the groundwork. "They are a very good defensive team," Penguins forward Brandon Sutter said. CLEVELAND -- Tom Brady, looking razor-sharp at times and relatively rust-free after serving his four-game Deflategate suspension, passed for 406 yards and three touchdowns to Martellus Bennett in his hyped return and the New England Patriots thumped the Cleveland Browns 33-13 on Sunday.Brady was back -- much to the relief of teammates and New England fans everywhere -- following a ban for his role in the scandal in which an NFL investigation found the Patriots under-inflated footballs in the 2015 AFC championship game.Brady fought Commissioner Roger Goodells ruling for more than a year before he begrudgingly accepted his punishment.He took out some of that built-up frustration on the Browns (0-5), throwing for 271 yards in the first half, as the Patriots (4-1) rebounded after being shut out last week at home by Buffalo.Brady threw two short TD passes in the first half to Bennett before hooking up with his new teammate again on a 37-yarder to give the Patriots a 30-7 lead in the third quarter.LIONS 24, EAGLES 23DETROIT -- Matt Prater kicked a 29-yard field goal with 1:28 left and Darius Slay made an over-the-shoulder interception on the next snap, helping the Lions hand Carson Wentz his first loss with a victory over the Eagles.The Lions (2-3) had lost three straight.The Eagles (3-1) turned the ball over for the first time this season with 2:34 remaining when Ryan Mathews fumbled on a hit by Slay. The loose football was recovered by Tyrunn Walker at the Philadelphia 45.Matthew Stafford set up the game-winning kick by converting a third-and-4 from the Eagles 39 with a perfectly placed pass on a crossing route to Golden Tate, who drew an unnecessary roughness penalty on Malcolm Jenkins.REDSKINS 16, RAVENS 10BALTIMORE -- The Redskins used an 85-yard punt return by Jamison Crowder and an uncharacteristically strong performance by their defense to beat the Ravens.It was the third straight win for the Redskins (3-2), who came in with the leagues 29th-ranked defense. Washington allowed a touchdown on the games opening drive and smothered the Ravens (3-2) the rest of the way.The game wasnt decided until the final minute, when an apparent 23-yard touchdown catch by Baltimores Breshad Perriman was overturned by replay. Perriman got his right foot down in the end zone, but his left foot was out of bounds.Crowder scored Washingtons first TD with a sensational run through the middle of the Baltimore punt return team in the second quarter.COWBOYS 28, BENGALS 14ARLINGTON, Texas -- Ezekiel Elliott ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns, fellow rookie Dak Prescott threw for a score and ran for another TD, and the Cowboys beat the Bengals.Prescott had his first turnover in five games starting in place of injured Tony Romo, a fumble when being sacked late in the third quarter. But Prescott extended his NFL rookie record to 155 passes without an interception to start his career. He completed 18 of 24 passes for 227 yards.Elliott, on only 15 carries, became the first Cowboys rookie with three consecutive 100-yard rushing games.Dallas (4-1) has won four in a row. The Bengals (2-3) already have a losing record a year after being 8-0 midway through the season.FALCONS 23, BRONCOS 16DENVER -- Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons didnt need another 300-yard performance from Julio Jones to decipher Denvers dazzling defense and wreck Paxton Lynchs first NFL start.Using a steady dose of I-formation runs and short passes that put Denvers linebackers in coverage, the Falcons (4-1) handed the Super Bowl champs their first loss since Dec. 20 at Pittsburgh and left the Minnesota Vikings (5-0) as the NFLs last unbeaten team.The Broncos (4-1) were on their heels having to respect the play-action because Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman were so effective running the ball, combining for 119 yards and a 4.4-yard average.STEELERS 31, JETS 13PITTSBURGH -- Ben Roethlisberger passed for 380 yards and four touchdowns and the surging Steelers pulled away in the second half for a win over the Jets.Sammie Coates caught six passes for a career-high 139 yards and two scores, including a 72-yard catch-and-run for a score on Pittsburghs opening drive as the Steelers moved the ball at will against a secondary missing injured star Darrelle Revis.Steelers running back LeVeon Bell racked up 154 yards of total offense, including a career-high nine receptions, while Antonio Brown caught nine passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. The All-Pro receiver, who has been fined on multiple occasions this season for crossiing the line during his celebratory dances, simply handed the ball to a fan in the stands.ddddddddddddPittsburgh (4-1) played without starting right tackle Marcus Gilbert, but had little trouble protecting Roethlisberger from one of the NFLs top defensive lines.The Jets fell to 1-4.BILLS 30, RAMS 19LOS ANGELES -- Nickell Robey-Coleman returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown, LeSean McCoy rushed for 150 yards, and the Bills won their third consecutive game by defeating the Rams.Robey-Coleman stepped in front of rookie receiver Pharoh Cooper and strolled down the sideline to put the Bills (3-2) ahead 23-16 with 3:54 left in the third quarter.The big play allowed the Bills to finish off the Rams (3-2) and end their three-game winning streak. Robey-Coleman added another interception in the final minutes.The Bills stopped Bradley Marquez on a fake punt at the Rams 25 with 3:41 remaining.Tyrod Taylor then threw a 6-yard touchdown to Marquise Goodwin to put the game out of reach.RAIDERS 34, CHARGERS 31OAKLAND, Calif. -- Derek Carr threw a go-ahead 21-yard touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree on a fourth-and-2 gamble and added another TD pass to Amari Cooper to lead the Raiders to a victory over the mistake-prone Chargers.San Diego (1-4) committed four turnovers and then botched the hold on a potential tying field goal. Rookie Drew Kaser couldnt hold the snap on what would have been a 36-yard field goal attempt.The Raiders (4-1) took over with 2 minutes left and ran out most of the clock to get a third straight win for the first time in five years and hand San Diego its 10th straight division loss.Oakland took the lead on a bold call late in the third quarter. Facing a fourth-and-2 at the 21 late in the third quarter trailing by five, coach Jack Del Rio once again trusted his offense to make a big play and it paid off.Carr found Crabtree deep down the left side for the touchdown that put the Raiders up 25-24. A 2-point conversion pass to Cooper gave Oakland a three-point lead and Jamize Olawale added a 1-yard run that made it 34-24 on a drive set up by Kasers 16-yard punt.TITANS 30, DOLPHINS 17MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Marcus Mariota threw for three touchdowns and ran for another score, helping the Titans overcome a handful of big plays by the Dolphins.Mariota bounced back with a strong game after totaling three interceptions and no TD passes in losses the past two weeks. He went 20 for 29 for 163 yards with no interceptions, and ran seven times for 60 yards.DeMarco Murray added 121 yards rushing for the Titans, who totaled 235 on the ground. They improved to 2-3, and Miami fell to 1-4.Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins offense turned in another woeful performance aside from the occasional long gain. Rookie Jakeem Grant scored on a 74-yard punt return , Damien Williams had a 55-yard, catch-and-run to set up a touchdown, and DeVante Parker made a 50-yard reception that led to a field goal.VIKINGS 31, TEXANS 13MINNEAPOLIS -- Adam Thielen caught a touchdown pass to cap Minnesotas opening drive and finished with a career-high 127 yards, and the Vikings defense flustered Brock Osweiler and the Texans.Marcus Sherels returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown and Cordarelle Patterson scored on another sharp throw by Sam Bradford, who produced another turnover-free game and deftly guided the Vikings (5-0) into their bye week.Brock Osweiler was overmatched by Minnesotas relentless rush and coverage, finishing 19 for 42 for 184 yards, one interception and a late touchdown pass while taking four sacks. The Texans (3-2) were denied on 12 of 13 third downs, unable or unwilling to do much other than dump off short passes. Lamar Miller only had eight carries for 20 yards during a dud of a performance by the Texans that felt a lot like the 27-0 loss at New England two weeks ago.COLTS 29, BEARS 23INDIANAPOLIS -- Andrew Luck threw a 35-yard TD pass to T.Y. Hilton with 3:43 left to lead the Colts past the Bears.Its the first time the Colts (2-3) defeated the Bears in Indianapolis.After hearing a clamoring for changes all week, Indy went to the hurry-up offense and Luck made the alterations look good early and late.When the Colts opened up the passing game and took shots down the field, they were efficient. When they didnt, they bogged down.Brian Hoyer was solid in his third straight start throwing for 397 yards and two touchdowns for Chicago (1-4). ' ' '