Surging Magic pull away from slumping Raptors
Franz Wagner scored 19 points and the visiting Orlando Magic defeated the undermanned Toronto Raptors 113-103 on Friday night. Paolo Banchero added 17 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Magic, who have won 10 of their past 13 games. The teams play again Sunday in Orlando. The Magic have won the first two meetings. Jalen Suggs scored 16 points, Wendell Carter Jr. had 15 points, Cole Anthony scored 12 and Jonathan Isaac had 10 points for Orlando (39-28). Gary Trent Jr. scored a season-best 31 points for the Raptors, who have lost six in a row.
Jordan Nwora added 14 points and Bruce Brown had 12. Immanuel Quickley, Kelly Olynyk and Jahmi’us Ramsey each had 10 points for Toronto (23-44). Orlando took an 11-point lead into the fourth quarter and soon had a 91-75 cushion thanks to Isaac’s layup. Anthony’s 3-pointer increased the margin to 19 points with 8:42 remaining. The Raptors pulled to within seven points on Gradey Dick’s layup with 5:48 to go. Suggs made a 3-pointer to increase the margin to 11. Wagner made two free throws to bump the lead to 15 with 2:59 left.
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The Raptors overcame an early nine-point deficit to finish the first quarter with a 27-24 lead. Toronto opened the second quarter with a 10-4 surge. The Magic responded by scoring seven straight points. Orlando took a one-point lead with 5:30 to play in the second quarter on Wagner’s layup. Banchero made two free throws to complete the first-half scoring and give Orlando a 50-48 lead. The Magic started the third quarter with an 8-3 run. A dunk by Suggs gave the Magic a 10-point lead with 8:48 remaining in the third.
Trent scored four straight points to cut the deficit to six. Ochai Agbaji dunked to reduce the margin to four. Nwora scored eight consecutive points and Toronto led by two with 4:26 left. Orlando answered with a 14-0 run to lead by 12. The lead reached 13 before Dick made a layup to complete the scoring in the third quarter and cut Orlando’s lead to 84-73. Scottie Barnes (left hand), RJ Barrett (personal) Chris Boucher (right knee) DJ Carton (right ankle) and Jakob Poeltl (finger) did not play for Toronto.
