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Orlando Magic have control of the series heading home to Amway Center

By Spencer R. Henderson

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors reach for the rebound during the game against Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic on December 28, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors reach for the rebound during the game against Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic on December 28, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Orlando Magic shocked the world in Game 1 against the Toronto Raptors. Even after a loss, the Magic return home with control of the series.

The Orlando Magic are in a great position.

Although they lost Game 2 by nearly 30 points, the Orlando Magic can take away some good things away from being in a 1-1 tie with the second-seeded Toronto Raptors.

The first thing is the fact they are tied says it all. No matter what team in any circumstance you would want to win at least one of the two games away from your building. The Magic did that. They took away homecourt advantage, forcing the Raptors to go into hostile territory and take a game on the road.

Now the question becomes just how good are the Magic at home?

The Magic have won nine straight home games before Friday’s matchup at the Amway Center. They will not be favored in the next matchup — the Raptors are favored by 4.5 in Thursday afternoon lines.

But the Magic will have the power of the Amway Center crowd behind them. A crowd that has waited seven years for a playoff battle and has already turned out by the thousands to watch parties across the city. There is an undeniable buzz surrounding the team.

And Nikola Vucevic usually looks like himself at the Amway Center. Well, he did in the regular season — averaging 21.1 points and 11.8 rebounds per game inside the Amway Center this year.

This will be the first time he has experienced the intensity of the Playoffs at home. But the playoffs so far has been a nightmare for Nikola Vucevic. After a stellar regular season, the Raptors have effectively eliminated him from the occasion, holding him to 8.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game on 28.6 percent shooting.

To be sure, Vucevic and company have to wake up out of their funk because they are actually in a great position.

The Magic have a chance to lead the series once again. If they hold serve at home, they will win the series. It is really that simple.

They just have to play like they did at home during those last nine home games and they should be successful.

For Orlando to do that the team will need Nikola Vucevic to break out of his funk and find some offense and for Jonathan Isaac to hit shots consistently and be an offensive threat Friday night.

Both players are capable of playing better against their matchups and they both should be champing at the bit to get back on their home floor.

Some say the home cooking or the fact the players can now sleep in their own beds, can uplift the talent on the roster and make the players outperform their potential. Certainly, the energy from the crowd will play a major role in the game if the Magic can channel it properly.

The Magic will need all the home cooking they can get. It almost seemed as if they have awoken a sleeping giant considering how well the Raptors defended and scored at will in Game 2.

Kawhi Leonard looked like a beast in the mid-range and continued to cook the Magic defenders all night long on his way to 37 points. His 17 third-quarter points buried the Magic in a hole they could not get out of.

There is nobody on the roster who can defend him if he is playing at that level. Orlando will need a more concerted team effort to slow him down.

Coach Steve Clifford may need to send an early double team to Kahwi Leonard and take the ball out of his hands and just make someone else beat him in Game 3. At the very least, Aaron Gordon has to be more physical and attached coming around screens and the Magic may need Nikola Vucevic to be more aggressive defending him on pick and rolls.

The Raptors still have plenty of guys who can beat the Magic if they eliminate Leonard. But Leonard cannot have things so easy.

This may not be the only solution to stop Leonard from scoring more than 35, but it may be a strategy that Clifford needs to explore going into the next game.

Either way, the Magic have to take advantage of their opportunity and defend their home court. Although the Magic know they can win on the Raptors’ home court, they have not proved they can win when the games really matter. They can avoid that scenario by winning at home.

Next. Orlando Magic took their playoff lumps in Game 2. dark

If the Magic can win Game 3 and lead this series again, it will give the team a level of confidence they have never experienced before. But actions speak louder than words, and most pundits aren’t even giving the Magic a chance to win another game in the series.