TORONTO -- Toronto FC is making progress on its hunt for a new general manager, according to Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment CEO Tim Leiweke. "This wont be a long search. Were already down to two (candidates)," Leiweke told season ticket-holders at the MLS teams annual barbecue Sunday. "Ive been focused on this the last two weeks." The struggling 5-13-10 club fired president and GM Kevin Payne on Thursday, with Leiweke saying the two were not on the same page. Reports have linked Real Salt Lakes Garth Lagerwey to the Toronto job although Real Salt Lake has noted he is under contract to the club through 2014 -- a fact that might not mean a move is out of the question. Leiweke also told his audience at the teams training centre Sunday that the MLSE board had authorized $26 million to spend on two major player acquisitions in the transfer window that just closed. The team was unable to close those deals, a failure that was seemingly part of the reason behind Paynes departure and Leiweke hitching his wagon to rookie manager Ryan Nelsen. "I also believe that the coach and the front office have to have the same view of the kind of DP (designated player) and the position youre trying to fill," Leiweke said. "One thing Nellie (Nelsen) and I agree on is we need strikers. "If you watched the game last night (a 4-0 loss in Portland on Saturday), we need finishers and we need strikers. It is so clear what we need here. Were not chasing defenders or midfielders. If were going to find a midfielder, itll be an attacking midfielder. And we do believe weve got to solve our striker situation once and for all by (spending) significant money." "Moneys not the issue," he added. "We have the money. But we have to find the right players." That means finding a player who wants to be here and wants to make a difference. "It cant just be a payday or a holiday or else thats going to backfire." Leiweke reiterated that the GM search is not about hiring "a dynamo or world-class personality that is a great spinner." "I think the future of this league is about the (salary) cap, about trades, about player evaluation and about development. I think what we need to do is take a page out of the NBAs book and find someone thats analytical, a capologist that understands how to handle our cap and make sure we do not enter into bad deals, that gets along and knows every GM in the league and knows how to make trades." His comments seemed to suggest a growing role for Nelsen in player personnel. Leiweke has pushed back the deadline to renew season tickets to January, telling fans that he will come back to them then. "We dont want you to make that decision now and, by the way, we dont have the right to ask that decision now," he said. "Well be back in January. "We know where were going and were going to get there quickly." Toronto, on its eight manager in seven seasons, has a history of failure on the field that includes never having made the playoffs. Leiweke also pointed to some of the teams past mistakes, said TFC will stop trading away its draft picks. "Those days are over, that I promise." He also said the franchise has also done a poor job of trading within the league. The MLSE boss paid tribute to the fans, saying he was "shocked" by the turnout Sunday and their loyalty in the face of the teams performance. "We dont deserve this," he said. Leiweke promised to talk to the ticket-holders in January "and lets see how weve done." "Between now and then Im tired of the BS and you aint going to get any from me. This is about rolling up our sleeves and getting to work. And thats what were going to do between now and January." Before then, Leiweke said he given his staff specific instructions. "No more promises, no more spin, no more assessment. Im tired of that. That doesnt solve a damn thing. What weve got to do is go work hard. Thats what were going to do." That seemed to be an unspoken reference to Payne, who often talked up the talent on the way. Leiweke also addressed speculation that the CFL Argonauts might join the MLS team at BMO Field, with the stadium being retrofitted to accommodate football. "Nothings going to happen until we have another conversation and you have input, I promise," he said. "This hasnt even been a subject or a discussion with our board. And when youre talking about $60 (million) or a $100 million, believe me the boards not only going to have an involvement, its not going to be a quick decision. "So lets not worry about that yet." Marcos Diplan Twins Jersey . Joakim Nordstrom and Garret Ross also scored for Chicago and Corey Crawford made 30 saves. Tomas Tatar scored twice for Red Wings (2-3-0), Jonathan Ericsson added a goal and Gustav Nyquist had three assists. Ryne Harper Twins Jersey . -- The Tampa Bay Lightning are disappointed, though not discouraged. https://www.cheaptwins.com/1172t-ehire-a...rsey-twins.html. -- Kevin Stadler might be playing in the Masters for the first time, but hes already showing his old man a thing or two. Jake Cave Twins Jersey . Bjoerndalen, who had failed to win any major race for two years before Sochi, writes in a Facebook entry that he is "full of energy and inspiration" after winning the 10-kilometre sprint and mixed relay at last months Olympics. Zack Littell Twins Jersey . The game had many controversial incidents that, upon closer inspection, were not as controversial as many believed. The Formations Toronto FC lined up in its usual 4-4-2 formation, with Nick Hagglund slotting in at right fullback and Bradley Orr at centreback in place of the injured Mark Bloom and Steven Caldwell, respectively.CHICAGO - Draymond Green scored a career-high 31 points and the Golden State Warriors beat the Chicago Bulls 112-102 on Saturday night to set a franchise record with their 12th straight victory.Klay Thompson added 24 points for the Warriors, who extended their league-best record to 17-2.Jimmy Butler led the Bulls with 24 points. Pau Gasol added 22 points and 20 rebounds.The Warriors improved to 10-1 on the road. They previously won a franchise-record 11 straight games from Dec. 29, 1971-Jan. 22, 1972.The Bulls fell to just 2-5 at home.During warmups, Chicago point guard Derrick Rose wore a black I Cant Breathe T-shirt, referring to a New York man who died July 17 after a police officer placed him in a chokehold when he was being arrested for selling loose, untaxed cigarettes.A grand jury decided it would not indict the officer in Eric Garners death. A videotape recording of the arrest showed Garner gasping, I cant breathe during the fatal encounter. Thousands have protested the grand jury decision around the country.76ERS 108, PISTONS 101, OTAUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) — Hollis Thompsons 3-pointer in the final seconds sent the game to overtime, and Philadelphia outlasted Detroit in a matchup of the teams with the NBAs two worst records.Detroit (3-17) dropped its 11th straight and now leads the 76ers (2-18) by only a game in the standings. Philadelphia has won two of three since starting the season 0-17.Thompson tied it at 100 when he sank a fadeaway shot from the right corner with 13.4 seconds left in regulation. The Pistons managed only one point in overtime.The teams entered with a combined record of 4-34, the second-worst in NBA history for teams about to play each other — with a minimum of 38 combined games. The 76ers and Buffalo Braves were 4-35 entering their meeting Nov. 24, 1972, according to STATS.Robert Covington scored 25 points for Philadelphia. Josh Smith led Detroit with 23 points, and he also had eight rebounds and seven assists.MAGIC 105, KINGS 96SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Tobias Harris scored a season-high 27 points for Orlando, and Channing Frye made a game-changing 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter.Victor Oladipo hadd 16 points, seven assists and five rebounds, helping the Magic to their second straight win following back-to-back losses to Golden State and the Los Angeles Clippers.ddddddddddddThe Magic (9-14) led most of the game and were up by 16 early in the fourth quarter before holding off a late Sacramento push to end a four-game losing streak to the Kings.Darren Collison scored 22 points for Sacramento, and Jason Thompson had 18. The Kings have dropped five of six.ROCKETS 100, SUNS 95HOUSTON (AP) — Trevor Ariza and Pat Beverley each scored 19 points, leading Houston to its fourth straight win.The Rockets improved to 16-4 by winning for the seventh time in the nine games All-Star centre Dwight Howard (knee strain) has been out.The Rockets led by as many as 22 points. The Suns used an 8-2 run, capped by a tip-in by PJ Tucker, to cut the lead to 97-93 with 21.9 seconds remaining.But Beverley made three free throws to make it 100-93 and Houston held on for the win.Eric Bledsoe led the Suns with 23 points.SPURS 123, TIMBERWOLVES 101SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Marco Belinelli scored 20 points, Tim Duncan had 13 points and 10 rebounds, and San Antonio rolled to the easy win.The Spurs had seven players score in double figures. Kawhi Leonard and Cory Joseph had 18 points apiece, and Boris Diaw finished with 17.San Antonio (15-5) had a season-high 30 assists.Zach LaVine had 22 points and Shabazz Muhammad added 20 for Minnesota (4-15), which has lost five straight.CLIPPERS 120, PELICANS 100LOS ANGELES (AP) — Blake Griffin scored 30 points, going over 7,000 for his career, and Los Angeles rallied after blowing an 18-point, first-half lead to beat New Orleans for its seventh straight victory.J.J. Redick scored 13 of his 21 points in the first quarter, Jamal Crawford added 20, Chris Paul had 18 points and 16 assists, and DeAndre Jordan had 18 rebounds for Los Angeles. Griffin was one of just two starters to go to the free throw line, where he made 10 of 15.Anthony Davis scored 26 points, Ryan Anderson added 16 off the bench and Luke Babbitt had 12 after making four of five 3-pointers for New Orleans, which has dropped two straight and five of six. ' ' '