Theyre the two Canberra misfits who have outgrown the NRL.On the back of the Raiders stunning ascension into premiership contention, Joey Leilua and Jordan Rapana have evolved into arguably the most feared centre-wing combination in the league.And according to Kangaroos incumbent Josh Papalii, both are now destined for higher honours when the Raiders assault on this years finals series is over.It would be complete a stunning transformation for the duo, who have overcome a number of hurdles to finally make their mark on the competition.Weve had a lot of players playing their breakout season, Papalii told journalists on Wednesday.A lot of them are a bit older, redeemed themselves from bad form. Its going good so far and hopefully we can keep it going and theyll get what they deserve.Leilua battled form and fitness issues over his first six seasons at the Sydney Roosters and Newcastle before finding consistent form after linking with coach Ricky Stuart in Canberra last year.In contrast, Rapana rode a different path to stardom, including stops on a Mormon mission and Super Rugby before he too found a home under Stuart.Now Papalii believes they could be running out for Australia and New Zealand respectively in Octobers Four Nations tournament in England.Obviously BJ had a lot going on before coming to the club. It just shows when you play footy (you can put yourself in contention), he said.And then Rapana outside of him as well - Ill be surprised if he doesnt get picked for the New Zealand team. Ecco Shoes Buy Online . 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Durant finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds, Jackson matched his career high with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting and Lamb scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, lifting the Thunder to a 94-88 win over San Antonio and snapping the Spurs 11-game winning streak. NEW YORK -- Derrick Rose had a red-hot Kristaps Porzingis and an ice-cold Carmelo Anthony, and he chose neither.Down the stretch, Rose called his own number.Rose made the go-ahead basket with 3:15 remaining and hit the jumper that clinched it with 6.8 seconds left as the New York Knicks beat the Portland Trail Blazers 107-103 on Tuesday night.Im not here to bust or brag but Im used to being in positions where I have the ball in my hand, playing in Chicago, Rose said. Ive really played like that my entire life, through grammar school, high school, college and here.Porzingis had 31 points and nine rebounds and Rose scored six of his 18 points down the stretch. Brandon Jennings had 11 assists off the bench as the Knicks won their fifth straight at home.Thats why we came here, Jennings said. We came here to win.Anthony finished with 17 points after going scoreless in the fourth quarter and shooting 2 for 12 in the second half, but tipped out the rebound of Roses miss with about 30 seconds left, allowing the Knicks to keep possession before Roses jumper that clinched it.Theres other ways to impact the game if your shots not falling and he did it another way and that was defense and rebounding, guard Courtney Lee said.Damian Lillard scored 22 points for the Trail Blazers but fell to 4-1 at Madison Square Garden. CJ McCollum added 16 points.The Blazers were trying for a New York sweep, having routed the Brooklyn Nets 129-109 on Sunday. They managed just a pair of free throws from Lillard after taking a three-point lead with 3:58 to play.Weve got to go out there and get after it. Weve got to play hard, understand who they are and what theyre capable of, Lillard said. At the end of the day its the NBA, anybody can be beat.Rose made consecutive baskets, with his reverse layup giving the Knicks a 102-101 lead. It appeared he was going to lose posseession on their next trip, but the ball came out to Mindaugas Kuzminskas for a 3-pointer that made it 105-101 with 2:37 to play.ddddddddddddLillards free throws cut it to two with 1:22 left, but the Blazers turned it over, then couldnt grab the rebound after a Knicks miss. Rose hit a jumper as the shot clock was winding down to put away the victory.TIP-INSTrail Blazers: Portland had won four straight at MSG, with its last loss in March 2012, a few months before drafting Lillard. ... Coach Terry Stotts remained with 190 wins, tied with Mike Dunleavy for fourth on Portlands career coaching list.Knicks: The Knicks played without starting center Joakim Noah (illness) for the second straight game. ... Jennings cramped up and didnt play in the fourth quarter. ... New York won for just the second time in the last nine meetings.NEW YORK, NEW YORKStotts, on the Blazers lengthy stay in New York, where they arrived Saturday for their two-game stint:Its actually nice not to have to travel for that extra game. It makes the road trip a little more tolerable, but to be able to stay in New York four days is pretty nice, he said.SIBLING RIVALRYKnicks backup center Marshall Plumlee didnt get into the game to play against his older brother Mason, the Blazers starting center. Marshall Plumlee made his NBA debut on Sunday, a day after Mason surprised him by showing up to watch him play for the Westchester Knicks of the NBA Development League.UP NEXTTrail Blazers: Visit Cleveland on Wednesday, the first meeting since the Blazers 105-76 rout last Dec. 26 in a game they played without Lillard.Knicks: Host the Hornets on Friday in the opener of a home-and-home series. They play Saturday in Charlotte, where they have lost five straight. ' ' '