The Toronto Raptors turned a rough shooting narrative into the night’s biggest storyline Wednesday, rolling past the Orlando Magic 129-99 and getting back on track in the process. Toronto has now won five of its last six games against Orlando, and this one was decided early.
The cleanest change came from deep. The Raptors, who entered the game as the league’s worst three-point shooting team at 9 makes per game and 26.2 per cent, flipped that script in a hurry. They finished 15-for-35 from long range, and the early barrage helped them seize control before the Magic could settle in.
RJ Barrett set the tone right away. He knocked down his first three threes, helped spark Toronto’s response to an early Orlando run, and was already over 20 points by halftime.
He stayed efficient from the perimeter, kept finding openings at the rim, and when the Magic started sending extra attention his way, he made them pay by creating for others. Barrett finished with six assists.
There was a lot of connective play behind that start. Jamal Shead pushed in transition, found the open man, and the ball kept moving until Immanuel Quickley got to his spot on the wing. That sequence was part of what built Toronto’s 16-point halftime cushion, and once the Raptors had that separation, the rest of the game came much more easily.
Scottie Barnes also delivered a big night, especially after what had happened against the Timberwolves. His third quarter helped widen the gap after Barrett had already turned the early momentum in Toronto’s favor.
Orlando never found a rhythm against the Raptors’ defense. Franz Wagner drew plenty of attention and finished with seven turnovers as Toronto refused to let him get comfortable. He ended with 15 points on 36.3 per cent shooting and added five assists.
The Magic didn’t have a 20-point scorer, a byproduct of the 20 turnovers Toronto forced. Orlando matched Toronto with 35 three-point attempts, but made only 10. The Raptors’ closeouts mattered, and so did the pressure they kept applying on the perimeter.
Toronto and Orlando will meet again Friday night, when they open their first NBA Cup matchup of the season.
In Other News...
Raptors-Magic Suddenly Looks Very Different After New Injury News
What had looked like a straightforward Raptors-Magic matchup has quickly taken on a very different feel after the latest injury updates. Toronto will be without Kawhi Leonard for several weeks because of right knee inflammation, leaving a significant hole in the lineup and altering the way the team will have to approach the stretch ahead.
Orlando is dealing with its own setbacks, with Paolo Banchero expected out for 4-6 weeks because of a right high ankle sprain and Jalen Suggs sidelined for two games with a right knee bone bruise. Anthony Black, who had been listed as questionable, has been cleared to play, giving the Magic at least one more available body as both teams adjust to a suddenly thinner game plan. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Face An Early Test As Injuries Raise The Stakes
The Raptors head into their matchup with Orlando still sorting through the offensive issues that showed up in the loss to Minnesota, where Scottie Barnes had a particularly rough night. Toronto needs more from its young centerpiece, especially in terms of aggressiveness and playmaking, and this stretch against the Magic offers a chance to reset before the seasons early frustrations settle in.
Orlando comes in dealing with its own injury problems, with Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs both sidelined, which changes the look of the game even if the challenge remains real. For Toronto, that only adds to the importance of handling business against a depleted opponent, because the Raptors can use a clean offensive performance just as much as they need a result. [Read more 🡒]
Scottie Barnes Is Raising A Real Concern For The Raptors Offense
Scottie Barnes early-season shot profile has become a notable wrinkle for the Raptors, and not necessarily the kind that encourages confidence. Instead of living at the rim the way he has in past seasons, Barnes has been leaning more heavily into mid-range looks, a shift that has altered the balance of Torontos offense and taken some of the pressure off defenders to protect the paint.
Darko Rajakovic has said opposing coverages have played a role in that change, but the larger concern is whether Barnes can get back to being a consistent paint threat while still operating as a playmaker. He has already shown flashes in the opening stretch, then followed that with a rough shooting night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, which only adds to the sense that Toronto is still trying to figure out how best to use its most important young piece. [Read more 🡒]