Orlando Magic Grades: Toronto Raptors 93, Orlando Magic 91

The Orlando Magic were plenty game and had their chances to win. But a late basket from Danny Green delivered the Toronto Raptors a road win.

It was not fair that it was the Orlando Magic’s defense that ended up costing them a game that kept them in it for so long. The catalyst for the team thundering back against one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference and putting them in a position to win.

Then again, coach Steve Clifford did not seem too upset with the shot his team gave up with two seconds left.

Danny Green came around a screen from Serge Ibaka, losing Wesley Iwundu in the process as he sharply turned the corner toward the baseline. He received the pass and shot over Aaron Gordon, recovering a half step late realizing Wesley Iwundu was caught a bit sharply from the screen.

Green’s shot nestled into the basket with a half-second left and the Magic’s upset bid was for naught as the Toronto Raptors won 93-91 at the Amway Center on Tuesday.

Maybe it should not be called an upset anymore. The Magic are proving they can compete with just about any team in the league and do so in different ways.

In this one, the team’s offense was struggling. Orlando shot just 40.5 percent from the floor and 8 for 30 from beyond the arc. This was not the offensive masterpiece that has fueled this strong run of play.

And the Magic’s defense was not particularly strong in the first half either. The Raptors beat them to the offensive glass throughout the first half and it helped them build as much as an 18-point lead.

When Orlando tightened things up in the second half, the team was slowly able to climb back into the game. And then it became a battle of execution for the team.

The Magic might point to their slow offensive start to the fourth quarter. That was also where the Magic played some of their best defense in the game, but they could not expand their lead in that time.

They might also point to some missed opportunities late in the game. There were a few turnovers and rushed shots that let the Raptors take control of the game.

But it all ultimately came down to one play. Evan Fournier made a fantastic move to get past Danny Green and tie the game with two seconds left, finishing with a thunderous two-handed jam. But the Raptors had that little space and one extra play to win the game.

The Orlando Magic next start a five-game West Coast road trip on Friday against the Denver Nuggets.