TORONTO - Rudy Gay could barely stand as he prepared to speak to the media minutes after a back-and-forth affair with the Wizards. The Raptors forward, who has been battling the flu since Thursday evening, skipped shoot around Friday morning but played 31 minutes in his teams resilient 96-88 victory at the Air Canada Centre. "I actually came here feeling worse than I did this morning, but there was no stopping me. I was going to play," Gay said, sitting down. "I was out of breath and theres other things that happen when youre sick, but I had to push through it for my team." Gays first-half performance reflected his pain and was just about the only thing that went wrong for Toronto in the opening 24 minutes. The Raptors shot 51 per cent, held Washington to 38 per cent - allowing 11 points on four-of-21 shooting in the second quarter - and took a commanding lead at home despite Gay going just two-of-10 from the field. As he missed a jumper, his team up 14 late in the second quarter, the home fans - unaware of his illness - began to boo. "He had the flu and [high] temperature and gutted it out," coach Dwane Casey said. "I was proud. He struggled a little bit, but down the stretch he came through for us." With Gay struggling, the Raptors good fortune finally ran out in the third quarter, an ongoing concern for the team. The Wizards outscored Toronto 32-15 in the period. John Wall had 18 alone. A 13-point halftime lead quickly became a four-point deficit. Gay had just six points on three-of-13 shooting. "You can see why he got paid all that money," DeMar DeRozan said of Wall, who scored 30 of his game-high 37 in the second half. Toronto had no answer for Wall. Thats when Casey and the Raptors threw the Wizards a curve ball. For the first time in four games, D.J. Augustin checked in to spell Kyle Lowry at the point. Terrence Ross, coming off a couple strong performances, and Steve Novak shared the floor as the Raptors regained control of the game with the help of Gay and their zone defence. "We had to mix it up," Casey admitted. "Our man [defence] wasnt working. We had to go to something else and it had to be our zone. It worked for us, it got them out of rhythm and it got us into rhythm. We work religiously on the zone and guys are still learning it. It worked out for us tonight." After losing his job as the back-up point guard four games into the season, Augustin got a rare opportunity. It was one that he received in an unfortunate circumstance with rookie Dwight Buycks - the acting back-up - away from the team following the passing of his father. Still, it was an opportunity he didnt waste. Augustins first shot was a three-pointer, the first hes made all season after missing nine straight attempts. His quickness and knack for the draw and kick helped turn the momentum back in Torontos favour. "Hes a pro," Casey said of Augustin. "He kind of fell out of the rotation. To his credit, the young man has worked at it. Hes stayed after practice, worked late, come back at night and worked on his shot. It paid off." "Im a firm believer, if youre heart and your mind is in the right place good things will happen for you," said the coach. "And if theyre not, youre sitting on the bench pouting and upset because somebody is getting an opportunity, nothing good is going to happen for you. His heart is in the right place, his mind is in the right place." Augustins resiliency sparked his team and its leading scorer. Gay was a perfect three-for-three in the fourth quarter and added three of his four blocks - one of them of the highlight variety - in the final frame. "It just slowed down," Gay said. "I feel like I was trying to fight through the fact that I was a little sluggish, a little slow. In the fourth quarter, I just let it come to me and it was a lot easier." Exceeding 20 assists in back-to-back games, both victories, the Raptors offence is coming along as they continue to sit atop the Atlantic Division with a 6-7 record. Up next The Raptors will have the day off Saturday, a day of rest Gay plans to take full advantage of, and return to practice on Sunday ahead of their next game at home to the struggling Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday. Mariners Jerseys China . Casey Janssen was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday due to a strain in his left abdominal area and lower back. Mallex Smith Mariners Jersey . - The Washington Redskins have signed free agent offensive lineman Mike McGlynn. https://www.cheapmariners.com/465k-alex-...y-mariners.html. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam announced the move with Young on Monday during a speech at a Pro Football Hall of Fame luncheon. Seattle Mariners Gear . -- John Senden never imagined it would take more than seven years to win again. Harold Reynolds Mariners Jersey . According to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun, Brodeurs agent Pat Brisson has spoken to six teams so far regarding the veteran goaltender.The Winnipeg Jets play their first game in 2014 as they start a three-game road trip in Ottawa. This is the first of two games between these teams this season. The Senators play in Winnipeg on March 8. The Jets (19-18-5) are sixth in the Central Division with 43 points. They trail fifth-place Minnesota by two points. As for the playoff race, Phoenix currently holds the Central Division Wild Card with 49 points. Al Montoya (8-2-1, 1.85, .934) will start in goal. Jets Projected Lines: Ladd-Little-WheelerKane-Scheifele-FrolikThorburn-Jokinen-SetoguchiTangradi-Wright-Peluso Ellerby-ByfuglienEnstrom-TroubaStuart-Bogosian Andrew Ladd is on a five-game point streak (two goals and three assists). Jacob Trouba has three points (one goal and two assists) in his last three games. Blake Wheeler, who was named to the U.S. Olympic team yesterday, has scored eight goals and two assists in his last 10 games.dddddddddddd The Senators (17-18-7) are sixth in the Atlantic Division with 41 points. They trail fifth-place Detroit by five points and are five up on Florida. Craig Anderson (12-9-4, 3.17, .904) will start in goal. Senators Projected Lines: MacArthur-Turris-RyanMichalek-Zibanejad-ConacherGreening-Smith-CondraKassian-Pageau-Stone Cowen-KarlssonPhillips-CorvoMethot-Ceci Ottawa recalled Winnipeg native Mark Stone who will wear jersey #61. The Brandon Wheat Kings graduate played four NHL games last season. In 19 games with the AHLs Binghamton Senators this season, Stone has nine goals and nine assists. Cory Conacher has one goal and two assists in his last two games. Following tonights game, the Jets fly to Boston. The road trip continues against the Bruins Saturday afternoon at Noon ct (TSN 1290/TSN Jets). ' ' '