Orlando Magic Grades: Game 2 — Toronto Raptors 111, Orlando Magic 82
From the start, the Toronto Raptors dominated the Orlando Magic with their physical defense. Now the series is tied 1-1 heading back to Orlando.
81. Final. 82. 38. 111
Kawhi Leonard was going to do whatever he wanted to do and get wherever he wanted to get. It did not matter what kind of coverage or scheme the Orlando Magic sent his way. Nothing would work.
Orlando could only hang on for so long. And Leonard was going to make sure the Toronto Raptors did not have any repeat of their disappointing Game 1 performance. The Raptors would punch the Magic in the mouth and never let up.
By the third quarter, he put the Magic away and sent the series back to Orlando tied at one.
Aaron Gordon was doing his best to pressure and push Kawhi Leonard out toward midcourt. He started reading the play and got a screen from Marc Gasol. Nikola Vucevic started to overplay the drive, trying to keep Kawhi Leonard from the paint. He would have to recover quickly but that was not the main concern.
Kawhi Leonard got a rub off the screen to gain separation from Aaron Gordon and began heading downhill. Nikola Vucevic had good defensive position to slow Leonard down. But there was no slowing him down. He eased past him, Euro-stepping around Vucevic for a one-handed jam.
If that were the only big play, that would be one thing. But Leonard scored 17 of his 37 points in the third quarter, helping the Raptors stretch their lead out to beyond 30 points. Orlando’s offense never stood a chance against a physical and imposing Toronto defense in a 111-82 Game 2 loss at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday.
The Magic knew they would get the Raptors’ best shot in this game. They all said as much, but they were not repaired for what that shot would look like.
Self-inflicted wounds early on led the Magic to miss their first nine shots. The Raptors used those misses to charge their transition game and race out to an 11-0 lead. Orlando never really recovered from that initial punch.
Sure, the Magic inched back in, closing to it as much as eight behind Terrence Ross‘ sudden burst. But there was no one scoring consistently or getting offense. Toronto blew up every pick and roll and forced Orlando into one-on-one plays.
That will not get the job done for the Magic. Orlando shot just 37.0 percent from the floor and just 13 of 24 from the foul line. Orlando made just 9 of 18 in the first half. The Magic were able to get to the line, but those missed opportunities came back to haunt.
So too did the 17 turnovers. That helped the game get out of hand in the second half.
Toronto came in with the desperation, energy and physicality it needed to dominate the game. The Magic were caught flat-footed and unable to answer.
C. Orlando Magic. NIKOLA VUCEVIC. D. One game is an aberration, two games is a pattern. And when it comes to Nikola Vucevic, the Orlando Magic’s inability to get him going is becoming concerning. Coach <a href=
F. Orlando Magic. AARON GORDON. B-. The Orlando Magic could get little going on offense throughout the game. The guys who stood out were good in bursts. Aaron Gordon scored 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting, impressive considering his matchup with Kawhi Leonard. Gordon was willing to get into the paint and mix things up to get some garbage points where he could. He was able to get into a rhythm with off-ball movement and hit outside shots.<p>He was one of the few guys that seemed to play with any energy on either end. He got to the line for five free throws but missed four of them. Those were opportunities left on the board and bits of energy that were left cast aside when the team needed a boost.</p><p>His efforts on Kawhi Leonard this series are laudatory, but not that effective. Leonard is getting around the massive screens with some separation and getting into his shots easily. Gordon has had his licks on Leonard in this series. But it is impossible to say Leonard is not winning, even with Gordon playing decently on that end.</p>
C+. <a href=. PG. Orlando Magic. D.J. AUGUSTIN
G/F. Orlando Magic. TERRENCE ROSS. B-. The Orlando Magic were down double digits and going nowhere offensively when <a href=
A+. The Toronto Raptors needed to make a statement. They tried to ease themselves into the playoffs and found themselves in a fight for Game 1. They lost it and it caused a lot of soul searching for sure, even if they were in reality very close to a playoff victory.<p>The Magic knew they had a tall task to get both games. The Raptors made sure they understood just how tall a task this series would be. From the start, Toronto dominated defensively, stifling every Orlando action. The Magic were not able to get into their sets or break down the defense. The Raptors blitzed and trapped and forced the Magic into mistakes at every turn.</p><p>Their star players stepped up. Kawhi Leonard had 37 points. <a rel=. Series Tied 1-1. Game 3: Friday at Orlando. TORONTO RAPTORS
Next. Orlando Magic need Nikola Vucevic to be himself. dark
The Orlando Magic will return home to the Amway Center on Friday for Game 3. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.