The 11-time NBA champion coach arrived late at the building where he

TORONTO -- After digging deep into its roster for a midweek friendly against Tottenham, Toronto FC gets back to business Saturday when it hosts defending MLS champion Sporting Kansas City. Four days later, Toronto wraps up a busy July with a visit to D.C. United (10-5-4), which trails Eastern Conference leader Kansas City (10-5-5) by one point. It speaks volumes about the turnaround in Toronto FC that midfielder Michael Bradley sees the two games against elite opposition as an opportunity rather than just a chance to see how his team measures against the best in the East. For Bradley, the K.C. and D.C. contests are a chance to move up the standings. Toronto (7-5-5) has two games in hand on D.C. United and three on Kansas City. "When you play the teams right around you these are six-point games and so if we can now, over this next week, come out with some good results, then still it gives us a chance to keep the games in hand but move right up the table," said Bradley. "Thats our goal. "Seventeen games gone, 17 to go. We feel like its been a good first half of the season for us but we still hold the bar high for ourselves and want to continue to move on up." Manager Ryan Nelsen says his team continues to be a work in progress. "Even now, were still learning about each other.," said Nelsen. "Im still learning about (designated players) Michael and Jermain (Defoe) and Gil(berto). And theyre still learning about us. Are we the finished product? Of course not. Were nowhere near that. But are we getting better? I think so. Were evolving quite nicely." This year has already been a success compared to previous seasons. Nelsens team is headed to a first-ever playoff campaign and has already exceeded the number of wins posted each of the 2007, 2011, 2012 and 2103 seasons. Three more victories and it will match the club single-season record of 10, set in 2009. With 13 leagues wins in his 1 1/2 seasons, Nelson is already the club leader for managerial victories. Toronto will have to face Kansas City without Defoe, the star striker who is suspended due to the accumulation of yellow cards. Brazils Gilberto is expected to start up front with Englands Luke Moore. Defoe has 11 of Torontos 26 league goals. Next on the list is Moore with three. Gilberto has two, although he has shown signs recently that he is finding his feet in the league after a lengthy scoring drought. Gilberto attributed to his slow start to the layoff since the Brazilian season ended in December. "It was tough getting used to the MLS because Id been off for so long," the 25-year-old said through an interpreter. "So the road was a little bumpy but now things are starting to progress." Is he having fun, he was asked. "Its good," he said in English with a smile. Bradley says the team is rooting for the likable Brazilian to succeed. "Sure. Hes a good guy. Hes somebody that has come in and shown such a willingness to work and run and fight and really do everything he can to help the team," he said. "We have total confidence in him," he added. Bradley did not figure in Torontos 3-2 midweek loss to Tottenham as Nelsen looked to give his midfield star time to rest. Kansas City also played a midweek friendly, losing 4-1 to Manchester City. Unlike Toronto, K.C. played its first team against the English side. Captain Matt Besler seemed unfazed by the defeat, telling local reporters that the focus was on Toronto -- "which is a huge, huge match, probably our biggest of the season so far." Nelsen said Brazilian winger Jackson is fit after an Achilles knock and is available for selection. Captain and centre back Steven Caldwell (quad) and right back Mark Bloom (knee) remain out. Kansas City has not lost in the league since dropping a 1-0 decision to D.C. United on May 13. The champions arrive on a six-game unbeaten streak (5-0-1). "Theyre a team that grinds out results," said Nelsen, before delivering one of his biggest compliments. "Theyre very good at not playing well and winning." Nelsen sees Kansas City as one of the leagues model franchises and values how they got there. "Theyve done a really good job there," he said. "I think they went through two or three years of really tough times. "Its really easy to see the beacon that they are now but to actually get there, they went through some really hard times. And you kind of have to live that when youre in the situation that they were and potentially where we were. But theyre an example of a team, like Real Salt Lake, that built it right, built it well. And that gave it longevity. Theyve got a foundation now where they can just spit out these good players because the clubs got such a good, stable foundation. NOTES: Toronto tied 2-2 at Kansas City earlier in the season in the strength of a stoppage-time goal by Bradley Orr. Torontos career record against K.C. is 4-10-5, but it is 3-3-3 at BMO Field. Christian McCaffrey Jersey . The 49ers announced the deal Thursday. San Francisco selected Kilgore in the fifth round of the 2011 draft out of Appalachian State. He has played in 33 regular-season games, plus all six playoff games the last two seasons. Brian Burns Jersey . The 18-year-old Januzaj has made his breakthrough at United this season, including scoring twice in a 2-1 win over Sunderland before the recent international break. His performances have sparked a debate about where his international future lies. http://www.shoppanthersonline.us/panthers-will-grier-blue-jersey/ .com) - Former New York Mets general manager Omar Minaya is joining the Major League Baseball Players Association staff as a senior advisor to executive director Tony Clark. Curtis Samuel Womens Jersey . Picard had a goal and two assists to help Canada improve to 2-0 at the tournament. Seven different players scored for the two-time defending champions. "Today all four lines played excellent," said head coach Laura Schuler. Cam Newton Panthers Jersey . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91.LOS ANGELES, Calif. - With Knicks President Phil Jackson watching from a luxury suite high above the court, his new teams teetering playoff hopes got a big shove from his old teams incredible offensive show. Xavier Henry scored 22 points, Nick Young hit five 3-pointers while scoring 20 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers set a franchise record with 51 points in the third quarter of their 127-96 victory over New York on Tuesday night. Although the Lakers have 16 NBA championships and a luminous list of former superstars, those teams never had a quarter to compare to the 12 magical minutes played after halftime by Los Angeles current patchwork roster. And no Knicks defence had ever given up 51 points in a quarter until this team did it in a key game for its post-season chase. New York dropped three games behind Atlanta for the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. "We hit shots all over the place," Lakers coach Mike DAntoni said. "Its infectious. When you start taking good shots, they start going in, and even the hard shots start going in." Indeed, the Lakers hit 19 of their 26 shots with six 3-pointers, stretching an eight-point halftime lead to 30. Nine players contributed a field goal to the spree, led by nine points from Chris Kaman in his first game action in March. "It feels good, but it only lasts one night," said Henry, who played exceptionally well with a torn ligament in his shooting wrist. "Weve just got to be encouraged for the rest of the season from it." Kent Bazemore scored 18 points as the Lakers won consecutive games for the first time in more than three weeks with a season-high 82 points from their reserves, including Henry and Young. Jodie Meeks had four 3-pointers as Los Angeles finished one 3-pointer shy of the single-game club record during the Lakers highest-scoring game of the season. Five players hit multiple 3-pointers, including three apiece for Henry and rookie Ryan Kelly. Carmelo Anthony scored 29 points for the Knicks, who have lost two straight after an eight-game winning streak. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 17 points and Amare Stoudemire had 16 in the Knicks seventh straight road loss to tthe Lakers since 2007.dddddddddddd "At the end of the day, its just individual pride," said J.R. Smith, who had 12 points. "You have to have pride in guarding your man, guarding the ball, and we just didnt have that the last three quarters." The Knicks are assured of a losing season with their 42nd loss, and the Hawks have two games in hand in the playoff race. Those high stakes and Jacksons looming presence werent enough to spur New York to a competent defensive performance. "I thought we came out ready to play," New York coach Mike Woodson said. "I mean, we held them to 14 points in the first quarter, and then that second and third quarter, all hell broke loose. We just didnt have any answer for them from a defensive standpoint. I thought the plan was perfect starting the game, and when they went to their bench, they came out blazing and we just couldnt control them." Jacksons fiancee, Lakers executive Jeanie Buss, watched from the second row. The 11-time NBA champion coach arrived late at the building where he won five titles with the Lakers, who declined to re-hire him early last season, infuriating much of their fan base. With Pau Gasol sidelined by vertigo, Kaman had 13 points and nine rebounds as the Lakers starting centre. Steve Nash also sat out for the 17th time in the Lakers last 18 games. The Lakers missed 13 of their 18 shots in a 14-point first quarter, but rolled off a 22-4 run in 5 1/2 minutes to open the second. Meeks and Jordan Hill then expanded the Lakers lead with a 12-0 run early in the third before the Lakers really got rolling. NOTES: Young converted a four-point play in the third quarter. He has six of the Lakers nine four-point plays this season, both franchise records. ... Gasol will be re-examined Wednesday before the Lakers determine whether he will travel with them to Milwaukee and Minnesota this week. ... Metta World Peace, the former Knicks and Lakers forward, attended the game. New York waived the former Ron Artest on Feb. 24. He got a rousing ovation from the Staples Center crowd when he appeared on the scoreboard in the first half, and he sat in Jacksons box during the second half. ' ' '