The Toronto Raptors have already shown Orlando exactly how Friday night can go.
After the Magic opened their road trip with an upset over the Knicks, they ran straight into a wall in Toronto on Wednesday and got buried, 129-99. Now the teams finish their two-game set north of the border with the Raptors sitting at 3-1 and the Magic at 1-3.
Toronto has been hard to solve in this matchup, too. The Raptors have won six of the last seven meetings with Orlando, including three of four last season. They’ve also been sharp at home early, going 2-0 after a blowout of Chicago in their home opener last week.
RJ Barrett is the name to keep locked in here. Toronto has four players averaging at least 16.5 points - Barrett, Scottie Barnes, Kawhi Leonard, and Immanuel Quickley - and with Leonard out, Barrett’s workload and scoring chances only grow. He’s scored 20 points in all four games this season, and he put up a season-high 25 on 9 of 18 shooting, including 3 of 7 from deep, against Orlando on Wednesday.
That’s the kind of form that makes Toronto the obvious side again. The Raptors didn’t just beat the Magic in the first game of this set; they dismantled them. Orlando’s lone cover this season came in its only victory, while Toronto has covered in all three of its wins at -10.5, -9.5, and -5.5.
Sure, the Magic could get hot from outside and the Raptors could cool off. But based on what happened Wednesday, that’s a swing I’d bet against.
In Other News...
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 🡒]
Magic Face Real Pressure After That Raptors Blowout
The Orlando Magic come back around to the Raptors in NBA Cup play carrying the memory of a 30-point loss the last time the teams met, and the circumstances look even trickier this time. Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs are out with injuries, leaving Orlando to keep reshuffling around Desmond Bane as it searches for more reliable shooting and a steadier offensive rhythm.
Sean Sweeney has already used three different starting lineups lately because of the injury churn, and another tweak could be coming. Tristan da Silva may get the nod alongside Franz Wagner, a move that would say plenty about how much the Magic are still trying to piece together a group that can handle Toronto better than it did the first time around. [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 🡒]