TORONTO – After a slow start, RJ Barrett finished with 19 points, while Scottie Barnes had 17 more points and 11 rebounds to help the Toronto Raptors handle the Orlando Magic 109-93 on Tuesday.
The Raptors (11-32) offense heated up to score 40 points in the third quarter to win their third in four outings. The Magic (23-22), depleted by injuries, lost their fourth consecutive game.
Gradey Dick scored 17 points with a 10-point third quarter at Scotiabank Arena.
Canadians Kelly Olynyk and Bruce Brown Jr. had solid games coming off the bench with 12 and 15 points respectively.
Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 26 points and 12 rebounds, followed by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s 20 and Anthony Black’s 17 points.
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Orlando was decimated by injuries as Franz Wagner (right oblique tear), Jalen Suggs (lower back sprain), Goga Bitadze (concussion protocol) and Moe Wagner (left knee) remained out.
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The Raptors overcame a dismal start that put them behind 10-0 before the game was three minutes long. But the home team continued to crumble.
Barrett’s first basket of the game, a three-point jumper with 7:58 left in the half, brought the Raptors within 39-37. But Orlando led 50-45 at halftime, only to see the Raptors take an 85-70 lead after three quarters.
TAKE AWAY
Raptors: The Raptors were without defensive specialist Ochai Agbaji (lacerated right hand). Immanuel Quickley (left hip sprain) continued to nurse his illness, while Chris Boucher returned from his illness.
Magic: Caleb Houstan of Mississauga, Ont., and Cory Joseph of Toronto, a former Raptors player, came off the bench for Orlando. Houstan played 26 minutes compared to 12 for Joseph. Each scored three points.
KEY MOMENT
Raptors point guard Davion Mitchell hit a layup with 6:52 left in the third quarter for their first lead that they didn’t want to relinquish.
KEY STATUS
Orlando entered the game with the lowest points per game total among the 30 teams at 104.2, but the Magic finished second in points allowed at 104.3 per game.
FOLLOWING
Magic: Host the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.
Raptors: Visit the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published January 21, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press