Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. (33) isfouled by Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 15, 2024, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Orlando Magic secured a 113-103 victory over the shorthanded Toronto Raptors, led by Franz Wagner’s 19 points. Paolo Banchero contributed 17 points along with nine rebounds and eight assists for the Magic, who have been successful in 10 out of their last 13 games. The upcoming game between the two teams will take place in Orlando, where the Magic have already won the first two encounters.
In addition to Wagner’s performance, Jalen Suggs scored 16 points, Wendell Carter Jr. added 15 points, Cole Anthony chipped in with 12 points, and Jonathan Isaac contributed 10 points for Orlando. On the Raptors’ side, Gary Trent Jr. had a standout game with 31 points, supported by Jordan Nwora with 14 points and Bruce Brown with 12 points. Immanuel Quickley, Kelly Olynyk, and Jahmi’us Ramsey each scored 10 points for Toronto.
Orlando held an 11-point lead going into the final quarter, extending it to 91-75 following Isaac’s layup. Despite a comeback attempt by the Raptors, including a layup by Gradey Dick to reduce the deficit, Orlando maintained control, with Suggs and Wagner making crucial plays down the stretch.
The Raptors initially fell behind by nine points in the first quarter but managed to take a 27-24 lead by the end of the period. They continued to push in the second quarter, but Orlando responded with a surge of their own, ultimately taking a 50-48 lead into halftime.
The Magic further solidified their advantage with an 8-3 run to start the third quarter, but the Raptors fought back, briefly taking the lead behind Nwora’s scoring spree. However, Orlando responded emphatically with a 14-0 run, establishing a 12-point lead by the end of the quarter.
Notably, several key players were absent for the Raptors due to injury or personal reasons, including Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Chris Boucher, DJ Carton, and Jakob Poeltl.
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