John E. Sokolowski/USA TODAY
The Raptors public address announcer summed up the Magic's feelings after the third quarter.
After Kyle Lowry pulled up for a contested three-pointer, the announcer belted out a "You have got to be kidding me!" for the Raptors fans' delight (like they had not had enough of that today after Canada won the gold medal in ice hockey at the Olympics).
Magic fans heard that and agreed after Toronto made 12 of 14 shots in the third quarter. Lowry scored 17 of his 28 points in the third quarter, not missing a shot and driving the Magic's defense nuts with his ability to draw contact on his shots (including 3-pointers).
A 36-point outburst in the third quarter and a suffocating defense that had the Magic completely out of rhythm for long stretches. Toronto slowly built its lead out and comfortably glided to a 105-90 win over Orlando at Air Canada Centre on Sunday night.
| Score | Off. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
| Orlando | 90 | 95.3 | 44.3 | 18.0 | 8.7 | 19.5 |
| Toronto | 105 | 106.2 | 59.2 | 20.7 | 22.9 | 55.4 |
The Magic kept things very close throughout the first half. They forced turnovers and kept the Raptors from getting to the paint. Toronto was missing a lot of shots. Orlando was too, but the team was able to convert enough to keep things tight with Tobias Harris and E'Twaun Moore and Kyle O'Quinn providing some offensive boost.
Orlando controlled the pace in the first half and the team was able to get out and run to try to create easier offensive opportunities. With the Raptors making shots, those opportunities ended pretty quickly.
The Raptors focus increased dramatically with each shot that seemed to fall as the Magic got more discouraged.
Toronto got its open looks for sure. But Lowry and DeMar DeRozan were also hitting difficult contested shots. That could only discourage any player it seemed. And Orlando struggled to execute in the half court with Toronto able to close in on the paint and then rotate back out to the perimeter on the kick outs. Dwayne Casey has done a great job coaching this Raptors team and they have really bought in.
The Magic's offense did pick up a little bit, but it was not anywhere near as efficient in the second half, it seemed. And so many shots seemed to fall flat or short. The team's ability to get into the paint seemed to decrease.
Every time Victor Oladipo or Jameer Nelson seemed to get into the paint, they were surrounded by several Toronto players and forced into tough or hurried shots. And Orlando just could not seem to get to the line. Especially as they seemed to foul more and more on the other end.
Toronto held a 14-2 advantage at the line in the first half — a sign perhaps of the luck involved in Orlando trailing by only three points at the half. The Raptors finished with a 36-17 advantage in attempts for the game. Toronto made 28 of those 36 attempts. And Kyle Lowry had a few where he was fouled on 3-point attempts.
There were just plenty of instances where the Magic seemed to let themselves down.
Harris, Moore and O'Quinn each put in solid games despite the lopsided score and difficult second half. Harris scored a season-high 28 points. Moore was aggressive in attacking the paint, particularly in the first half as he showed off his floaters using both hands. He had 16 points. O'Quinn added 10 points and four assists in some very solid minutes.
Shooting 41.4 percent from the floor and just 5 for 14 from beyond the arc (it was the lack of attempts that was probably more concerning) kept the Magic from competing when the Raptors caught fire. Without Arron Afflalo, the Magic just did not have the consistent firepower to change the outcome.