PORTLAND, Ore. - Injuries and a scuffle overshadowed another strong effort by Portlands Damian Lillard.Lillard had 21 points and nine assists to help th Trail Blazers beat the short-handed Chicago Bulls 105-87 on Friday night.However, Mike Dunleavys flagrant foul on Lillard in the third quarter, followed by Taj Gibsons painful left ankle injury, marred Portlands sixth straight win.Lillard was going up for a 3-pointer when Dunleavy barrelled into him, knocking him down. Wesley Matthews ran over and pushed Dunleavy, and Aaron Brooks in turn shoved Matthews. Aldridge stepped in to separate the group.Dunleavy was served with a flagrant foul, while Matthews and Brooks got offsetting technicals. Lillard made all three shots.Afterward, Lillard called it a cheap play.When I was shooting the b all I saw him coming at me and I thought, Hes not stopping, Lillard said. Anything could have happened.Dunleavy called it an awkward moment.I was going to intentionally foul him, but he went up to shoot, he said. What was I supposed to do?Chicago lost Gibson in the third quarter when he sprained his left ankle. Gibson, who came down on Portlands Wesley Matthews, clutched his ankle and grimaced in pain before he was helped off the court. The 6-foot-9 forward was averaging 12.9 points and 5.9 rebounds coming into the game.Coach Tom Thibodeau said he didnt think it was serious, but Gibson left the Moda Center in a boot and on crutches.Well see where he is tomorrow, Thibodeau said.The Bulls were already limited without Derrick Rose, who missed his fourth straight game with a sore left hamstring. Pau Gasol missed his third game with a left calf strain.They were also missing starting guard Kirk Hinrich, who left Thursday nights 103-88 loss to the Sacramento Kings with a chest contusion. X-Rays were negative, but Thibodeau said before the game that Hinrich was day-to-day.Rookie Nikola Mirotic came off the bench and had season highs with 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulls.LaMarcus Aldridge added 16 points and nine rebounds for the Blazers, who got Nicolas Batum back after he missed four games with a right knee contusion.Portland jumped out to an early 25-9 lead after Aldridges 3-pointer. Lillard had seven assists in the first quarter alone and finished three short of matching his career high.The Bulls closed the gap in the second quarter with an 8-0 run that pulled them to 39-35. The rally was short-lived and the Blazers went up 51-39 after a 10-0 run, capped by back-to-back 3-pointers from Lillard.Portland led 61-42 at the half.Aldridge passed to Robin Lopez for a dunk to put Portland up 70-45 before Portland sat its starters for the final period.Obviously Chicago didnt have three of their main guys, but I liked our demeanour, Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. I liked our disposition, the way we came out of the gates. Our defence was solid.Despite the drama, Lillard thought it was one of the Blazers most complete games of the season.We started the game really well and then they found their way back in — and we picked it right back up, he said.TIP INSBulls: Brooks, who went to the University of Oregon, got warm applause when he was announced as a starter. ... Thibodeau, who was an assistant coach on the U.S. national team that won the FIBA World Cup, said he has been impressed with Lillard. Hes terrific. Theres nothing he cant do, Thibodeau said. Lillard did not make the final cut for the team, with Thibodeau called a tough choice.Trail Blazers: Lillards 33 3-pointers through the first 10 games were the most made over the opening 10-game stretch in Blazers history. ... Lillard has had at least seven assists in seven straight games.TAKING THREEAldridge had a pair of 3-pointers in the first quarter, the third time in his career hes had a game with multiple 3s. Its there, Aldridge said about the 3 being part of his repertoire.DOMINANCE OVER THE BULLSThe Blazers have won seven straight against Chicago, their longest winning streak against any team in the league. The streak also ties the franchise high for wins against the Bulls.ON MOUNTING INJURIES:Youve got to keep moving forward because the games keep coming, the Bulls Joakim Noah said. Nobody feels sorry for you so youve got to keep going and getting better. Hopefully Taj will be all right.UP NEXTBulls: At Utah on Monday.Trail Blazers: At Boston on Sunday. San Francisco Giants Gear . Rosbergs time of 1 minute, 33.185 seconds at the Bahrain International Circuit was a quarter of a second faster than Hamilton, who had to abandon his final flying lap after running wide at the first corner. 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Giants Jerseys 2020 . - Anthony Beauvillier had the winning goal in the third period as the Shawinigan Cataractes edged the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 2-1 on Wednesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play.TORONTO -- Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said Thursday that hes confident hell have financial flexibility should he need it later in the season. Anthopoulos, who held a media availability before his team opened a four-game series against Kansas City, was asked about an online report by columnist Peter Gammons that quoted him saying the team is "pretty much maxed out" in terms of payroll. "Were at our number to start the year," Anthopoulos explained to reporters. "Thats fair so I dont think it varies from anything else weve ever said." The Blue Jays, who have a payroll of about US$135 million, dont have a locked-in salary ceiling. If a situation presented itself, it appears there would be room to heighten it if needed. Toronto has been one of the surprises of the American League this season, rising to the top of the East division and taking a nine-game winning streak into Thursdays game. Talk of potential upgrades and loading up for a post-season run is already underway in the playoff-starved city even though the season is barely one-third old. Anthopoulos said while its still quite early, he does not expect to be hamstrung when it comes to finances. "I have every confidence that if we have a need come the trade deadline, which is obviously late July, I have every confidence that well have the resources to do that," Anthopoulos said. "I dont have any doubts about that at all." The teams purse strings were in the news last April when reports surfaced that some Toronto players discussed deferring portions of their salary to help land Ervin Santana. The free agent pitcher ended up signing with Atlanta for the same one-year US$14-million deal offered by the Jays. But Anthopoulos stressed that if something came up in the next month or two, he feels the team could take on salary if required. "We may need to be creative, we may needd to do some things," he said.dddddddddddd. "But weve been able to add payroll when needed." One potential upgrade area is the starting rotation, which has improved significantly this season despite Brandon Morrow going on the 60-day disabled list and a variety of pitchers handling the No. 5 spot. Anthopoulos gave credit to his starters and said their performance will be key going forward. "I know the offence has been great, were hitting home runs and all that, its fun to watch," he said. "But we will go as far as the rotation will bring us, there is no doubt about that." The Blue Jays could get an in-house upgrade if Morrow is able to return to form. "Well have more of a report by the end of June," Anthopoulos said. "Hes going to be back around the all-star break and by late June, he should be going out on a rehab assignment. So I think it could actually time well." For now, Anthopoulos is focusing on preparations for next weeks draft. He expects GMs to pick up trade discussions once the selection process is complete. "Were not having any active talks at all," Anthopoulos said. "Were really immersed in the draft right now. But I do expect once that draft is over and we get to the Monday after the draft, I think thats when everyone is going to start making the calls again." The teams play over the next month will determine the GMs next move. But again, Anthopoulos doesnt believe money will be an issue. "I think if were in a good position at the beginning of July, well know the landscape a little bit more with what our needs are," he said. "I have every confidence in the world that I can have that conversation with (president) Paul (Beeston), and Paul has that conversation with ownership. "But one, we need to be playing well at that time and were still very far away from that (date)." ' ' '