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Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors (Oct. 28, 2026): 3 Things to Watch, Odds and Prediction

The Orlando Magic look to build off their first win of the season as they take on the Toronto Raptors in the first of two games on the road at Scotiabank Arena.
ByPhilip Rossman-Reich
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Scottie Barnes is coming off a horrible shooting performance in the Toronto Raptors' loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.
Scottie Barnes is coming off a horrible shooting performance in the Toronto Raptors' loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors: Stats and 3 Keys to Watch

Orlando

Toronto

103.5

Pace

105.5

106.5

Off. Rtg.

108.3

111.9

Def. Rtg.

97.8

52.7

eFG%

47.1

27.0

O.Reb.%

33.9

16.8

TO%

14.3

30.7

FTR

30.3

1. Turnovers are still the story

One thing has defined the Toronto Raptors' play style for the last decade: They force turnovers and pounce and score off every mistake in transition. Whether it was Dwane Casey, Nick Nurse or Darko Rajakovic, the result has always been the same: Turnovers are death against Toronto.

That has been the case early in the season. The Raptors are forcing opponents to turn it over at a league-leading 23.3 percent turnover rate. They score 25.7 points off turnovers per game this season.

The one thing the Orlando Magic cannot do in this game is turn it over.

But that is perhaps the one weakness the Magic have been unable to cure effectively early this season. Orlando has a 16.8 percent turnover rate, 19th in the league. The team is giving up juast 18.0 points off turnovers per game, good for 18th.

The Magic's defense is rounding slowly into better form. But this game will come down to protecting possessions one way or the other.

2. 3-Point Variance

The Orlando Magic are taking more 3-pointers.

That was a trend that started in the preseason and has continued in the regular season. The Magic are taking 40.3 3-point attempts per game, the eighth most in the league.

That is quite a transformation for a team that has mostly avoided taking threes for hte last decade.

The Magic seventh in the league generating 20.3 wide-open 3-point attempts per game (when the closest defender is six or more feet away).

Orlando is still struggling to make threes. The team's 32.2 percent to start the season is 20th in the league. They shoot 36.1 percent on their wide-open threes, right in the middle of the pack for the early season.

This is a new day for the Magic, even if they are still not quite as accurate as they would like. They get more bites at the apple. That is a place to start.

3. Offensive struggles

The story for the Toronto Raptors entering Wednesday's game is the injury to Kawhi Leonard.

Leonard missed Sunday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves and will now be out with knee swelling for a few weeks. The Raptors were hoping Leonard would give them another offensive engine to power them deeper into the Playoffs.

This Raptors team should be plenty capable of scoring. But this has been a slow offensive start for Toronto.

The Toronto Raptors have a mere 108.3 offensive rating to start the season, roughly the same as the Orlando Magic's number to start the season. There are some wild variances this early in the season -- take out Sunday's blowout, and the offensive rating is 113.8.

This is indeed a dangerous Raptors team. That is even with Leonard off the floor. Including Sunday's game, the Raptors have a 110.6 offensive rating with Leonard off the floor.

And Toronto's defense has been elite to start the season. They do not need much scoring.

Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors: Injury Report & Projected Lineups

Orlando Magic Injury Report

  • Paolo Banchero - OUT (Right Low Grade High Ankle Sprain)
  • Jalen Suggs - OUT (Right Knee Contusion/Bone Bruise)
  • Noah Penda - OUT (Right Partially Torn Hamstring)
  • Jonathan Isaac - OUT (Left Knee Injury Management)
  • Izaiyah Nelson - OUT (Left Ankle Injury Recovery)

Toronto Raptors Injury Report

  • Kawhi Leonard - OUT (Left Knee Effusion/Swelling)
  • Malachi Smith - OUT (G-League Two-Way)
  • Nate Bittle - OUT (Right Foot Avulsion Fracture)

Projected Starting Lineups

Orlando

Toronto

Jase Richardson

PG

Immanuel Quickley

Desmond Bane

SG

Ja'Kobe Walter

Franz Wagner

SF

R.J. Barrett

Tristan da Silva

PF

Scottie Barnes

Wendell Carter

C

Jakob Poeltl

Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors: Prediction

2027 Record: 0-3/1-2 ATS

The Orlando Magic seem to be stabilizing a bit after their early-season struggles. The defense has found its footing and is starting to assert itself. The team is starting to find a baseline.

It is still early, of course. And injuries are defining this team as much as anything. There is a lot of adjusting that is still occurring for a new coach and for the roster as it exists now.

The Magic will get themselves right even as they shuffle around a bit in this early part of the season.

The two games against the Toronto Raptors are a really good test. Not merely because this is a good team with a clear sense of its identity. But because the Raptors will pounce on the Magic's biggest current weakness.

Turnovers have been a big issue for the Magic through the early part of the season. Orlando does not always look to be on the same page. And that is not where the team wants to be facing off against a Raptors team that is strong defensively.

The Magic not only need to make the shots it made in Sunday's win, but also limit mistakes and turnovers. The Raptors will pounce on every mistake.

It is a challenge the Magic better be ready for.

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