Orlando Magic Grades: Orlando Magic 92, Toronto Raptors 87
The Toronto Raptors were able to slow the game down and make the Orlando Magic execute. But the Orlando Magic were up for the challenge and took a win.
Things did not get off to a good start in the third quarter for the Orlando Magic.
The Toronto Raptors burned of a 19-4 run to open the second half and made the Magic look like a lethargic, tired bunch. They might have been better not showing up and Scott Skiles was not thrilled.
He pulled out the full line change, something he similarly used against the Charlotte Hornets in the first preseason game. But that was just a preseason game, this was a regular season game with some actual meaning behind it.
The message was very clearly received. Orlando snapped back to attention defensively and hung tough, getting baskets at key moments from Tobias Harris and Victor Oladipo.
More importantly, they picked up some key defensive stops, digging out a critical rebound and scrambling to stop DeMar DeRozan at the rim in the final moments.
It was not pretty, but the Magic did not fall back into old habit and secured a win. It was a gritty, ugly win that teams have to dig out to be successful.
B+. <p>The question with Tobias Harris for much of the early part of the season has been: Where is Tobias Harris? Harris has missed some late-game situations of late because, quite simply, Scott Skiles believed other players were playing better.</p><p>Harris was definitely playing better tonight. The Magic went to him time and time again in the mid-post and he converted for them, taking advantage of <strong><a href=. F. Orlando Magic. TOBIAS HARRIS
F. <p>It is hard to put a finger on exactly what is wrong with <strong><a href=. PG. Orlando Magic. ELFRID PAYTON
B. <p><strong><a href=. C. Orlando Magic. DEWAYNE DEDMON
C. Orlando Magic. JASON SMITH. C. <p><strong><a href=
3rd East. TORONTO RAPTORS. C+. <p>The Toronto Raptors entered the game undefeated and playing really really well. They were perhaps playing the best of any team in the NBA entering Friday’s game. They were not sluggish at all, they were just off.</p><p>Toronto shot 34.9 percent from the floor and made just 5 of 23 3-pointers. The Raptors were never really in control of this game despite successfully slowing the pace. They just never got going.</p><p>The Magic did more than hang around, they held control. Except for the stretch in the third quarter when the Raptors paraded to the line and took momentary control of the game, the Magic were the aggressors. Toronto ceded control right back and were fighting off Orlando throughout.</p>. 5-1