Dec 18, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) looks down after they called a foul against him against the Toronto Raptors during the second half at Amway Center. Toronto Raptors defeated the Orlando Magic 109-79. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
The Toronto Raptors took it to the Orlando Magic in the second half, stifling their offense to a standstill for another disheartening home defeat.
VS.
1
2
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4
T
Raptors
23
32
29
25
109
Magic
30
21
13
15
79
The Orlando Magic were riding high, if only for a moment. Their defense was containing one of the best offenses in the league. The Magic had an 11-point lead and all the momentum at home.
The floor would slowly drop from beneath them. With each Jonas Valanciunas rebound and each missed shot. The Raptors slowly exerted their offensive dominance against a team struggling to keep pace with the quick ball movement and struggling to withstand the physical defense against them.
The Raptors are the second best team in the Eastern Conference. They were last year, they are now. And without a team like the Magic’s best effort, it is going to be tough to compete.
The Raptors started turning the screws on the Magic, suffocating their offense with some surprisingly stellar defense and tearing them apart with DeMar DeRozan’s individual brilliance and some stellar work from key role players.
Orlando’s offense fell flat in the third quarter and sunk even lower for the rest of the second half. The Raptors turned that 11-point deficit into as much as a 35-point lead in defeating the Magic 109-79 at Amway Center on Sunday. It was the Magic’s third 30-point loss this season.
“You have games where you can’t necessarily put it in the hole,” Jodie Meeks said. “You just have to figure it out. Obviously, we shouldn’t have lost by that many points. But it happens.”
The Magic could not get themselves together or get on the same page. The few open shots they did get in the second half did not fall.
Meanwhile, Toronto attacked the basket aggressively and used its star power to keep the Magic off balance and unable to keep up
Orlando shot 50 percent in the first half, but made a mere 12 of 39 shots in the second half. The team was not moving the ball and relying too heavily on isolations. This was not the path to success for the Magic. Not even close.
The Magic got another butt-whooping, falling at home in embarrassing fashion. Leaving much more questions than answers for this team yet again.