The Orlando Magic get another crack at the Toronto Raptors on Friday night, and this one comes with a little extra weight. The same two teams are meeting again at Scotiabank Arena, but this time it’s the first NBA Cup game of the season, which gives Orlando a fresh chance to answer for a 30-point loss in their last matchup.
That blowout was the Magic’s worst defeat of the season so far, and now they have to show they can respond against the same opponent that flattened them. Orlando doesn’t have much time to dwell on what went wrong.
If the adjustments aren’t there, the loss could snowball into a longer skid. If they clean it up, they can leave with a win and put the last game behind them.
A big part of that response has to come from Desmond Bane. With Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs out because of injury, Orlando needs offense wherever it can find it, and Bane is right at the center of that pressure. Through this stretch, he’s shooting just over 30% from the field and just under 28 percent from three, numbers that won’t hold up if the Magic want to stay afloat.
His last game was especially rough. Bane finished 3 of 14 from the floor, one of the toughest shooting nights of his Orlando run.
Right now, he seems to be trying to shoot his way through the slump, and that approach can work in theory. But for the Magic, better shot-making from him isn’t just a nice-to-have.
It’s part of the formula for staying competitive.
Orlando is also dealing with constant lineup shuffling. The team has used three different starting groups over the last three games because the injuries keep piling up, and head coach Sean Sweeney may need to adjust again.
One possible move is Tristan da Silva, who has been one of the bright spots early in the season. He’s averaging 14.5 points per game off the bench, and sliding him into the starting five next to Franz Wagner could make sense. The third-year forward has been one of Orlando’s better players, and that kind of move would give the Magic another look as they try to turn this rematch into a much-needed win.
In Other News...
Raptors Have A Chance To Keep Rolling In A Familiar Matchup
A familiar matchup has lined up well for Toronto early this season, and the latest meeting with Orlando only reinforced it. The Raptors cruised past the Magic 129-99 in their most recent game, a result that continued a trend of success in the series and came with RJ Barrett leading the way with 25 points.
Toronto has opened 3-1 and remains undefeated at home, with four players averaging at least 16.5 points to give the offense a balanced look. Orlando, meanwhile, sits at 1-3 and will have to find a better answer if these teams cross paths again, especially with the Raptors showing they can score and defend at a level that makes this matchup look comfortable. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Defense Looks Legit But A Bigger Test Is Coming
Four games into the season, the Raptors have done more than just look competent on defense. Theyve sat atop the NBA in defensive rating at 97.9, edging out Minnesota and giving early proof that the group can make life miserable for opponents even while the offense is still finding its footing. It is an encouraging start for a team trying to establish an identity, especially with Kawhi Leonard working his way through limited minutes because of conditioning and a knee injury.
The real examination comes next, when Torontos schedule turns into a much tougher run against several strong teams. Those matchups will say a lot about whether the Raptors defensive numbers are a sign of something sustainable or simply a hot opening stretch, and theyll also force the offense to hold up under more pressure without much margin for error. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Face A Real Test In Friday's Magic Rematch
Torontos fast start has given the Raptors some early breathing room, but the first week of the season has also clarified what this group will have to live with for a while. After opening 3-1 and rolling past Orlando 129-99, the Raptors have shown they can defend at a high level and get enough from Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl and Trayce Jackson-Davis to stay competitive while Kawhi Leonard is expected to be out for about a month.
Fridays rematch with the Magic is a cleaner read on where Toronto stands than that lopsided win ever could be. The Raptors have not shot the three well, which puts even more weight on Barnes expanded offensive load and the teams ability to keep winning with defense and physicality. Orlando will have every reason to make the second meeting less comfortable, and for Toronto it is the kind of early test that can say plenty about how sustainable this start really is. [Read more 🡒]