Orlando Magic Grades: Toronto Raptors 121, Orlando Magic 109
The Orlando Magic got a playoff preview and found their defense wanting as the Toronto Raptors drained 3s and tore apart the Magic.
81. Final. 109. 38. 121
The Orlando Magic were humming along smoothly. Their defense was active but not precise, but the offense was doing enough. A tipped pass or a block fed the team’s fast break and the Magic’s lead grew.
This was not sustainable. Everyone could feel it with every time Danny Green got free for a 3-pointer or every time Aaron Gordon jumped on a Kawhi Leonard pump fake.
The Magic were doing good things. But not good enough. Not against a good Toronto Raptors team.
The Raptors were hanging around too much for a game where the Magic were shooting first. As halftime approached, the first team to string together enough stops could take control.
That team ended up being the Raptors. A 17-2 run to end the second quarter put the Magic behind. And Orlando was unable to reel this team back in. The Raptors were rolling and their 3-point shooting carried them to a 121-109 win at Scotiabank Arena on Monday.
Toronto hit 19 3-pointers with 31 assists on 42 field goals. The Raptors were moving the ball and able to work inside out. Aside from a few active defensive performances, the Magic were playing catch up defensively, giving up drives to the lane.
After going without a foul in the first quarter, the team found itself in the bonus early in the second and committing 21 for the game. The Magic were a step slow.
They also could not break down the Raptors defense.
After shooting 62.5 percent in the first quarter, Orlando finished with a 46.2 percent field goal percentage. They had 12 assists in the first quarter and finished with 32 for the game. The ball movement slowly choked off and the Magic were struggling to create the paint touches that are vital to the offense.
Toronto was scrambling and sprawling to the perimeter and forcing turnovers. Orlando had 13 in the game leading to 18 Toronto points.
Orlando’s offense got itself going, but the defense could never make a dent. And the Raptors grew their lead in the third quarter to a point the Magic could not come back. Not until the bench unit cut the lead to eight in the final two minutes.
By then it was too late. Orlando was never engaged defensively enough.
C+. The good and the bad for this game were embodied in <a href=. F. Orlando Magic. AARON GORDON
NIKOLA VUCEVIC. C-. <a href=. C. Orlando Magic
B+. <a href=. F. Orlando Magic. JONATHAN ISAAC
B+. <a href=. C. Orlando Magic. KHEM BIRCH
A-. Did the Toronto Raptors want to send a message in this game? They had struggled with the Orlando Magic in three previous meetings this season and this felt like a chance a few weeks before the playoffs for them to put their foot down on a potential opponent. They did that and more.<p>Toronto really got wherever it wanted on the floor. The Magic’s length bothered them early, but they found a way around it passing around the perimeter and driving successfully into the lane. Danny Green’s 29 points and seven 3-pointers were a lot for the Magic to overcome.</p><p>But really this was about Toronto’s defense. The Raptors locked in and closed off the paint to the Magic. Orlando could not generate much penetration. And their offense was just dominating. The Raptors made a statement whether they intended to or not.</p>. 55-23. 2nd East. TORONTO RAPTORS
The Orlando Magic return home Wednesday to take on the New York Knicks. With the Miami Heat’s loss to the Boston Celtics, the Orlando Magic remain a half game behind the Heat for the final spot in the playoffs. With five Heat wins or five Magic losses, the Magic will be eliminated from the playoffs.
Terrence Ross has saved the Orlando Magic's season. dark. Next
With two more Orlando Magic wins or two more Minnesota Timberwolves losses, the Magic will be eliminated from receiving the 10th-best odds to win the NBA Draft Lottery.