VanVleet scores 24 and Raptors beat Magic to remain unbeaten at home

Evan Fournier had 21 points for the Magic, who lost both all-star centre Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon in the first half to right ankle sprains.

The Raptors’ 10th win of the seasons wasn’t pretty. Trailing for almost all of the first quarter, they led by double digits for much of the second and third, taking a 79-68 advantage into the final frame at Scotiabank Arena.

The Raptors built their lead to 15 points early in the fourth but back-to-back three-pointers by former Raptor Terrence Ross cut Toronto’s advantage to nine with nine minutes to play. Toronto battled back and Siakam’s jump shot with 4:53 to play had the Raptors up by 19 points.

Toronto didn’t let up and Raptors coach Nick Nurse emptied his bench over the final few minutes.

Two nights after dishing out a franchise-record 40 assists, the Raptors had just 26 on Wednesday. But they shot 52.3 per cent on the night to Orlando’s 38.5, and clobbered the Magic 68-40 in the paint.

The Raptors trailed for almost all of the first quarter. A three-point play by Isaac had Orlando up by eight points but Toronto outscored Orlando 18-10 to close the quarter, sending the game into the second tied at 32-32.

The Raptors rode their momentum into the second quarter and Siakam’s three-pointer capped a 21-9 Raptors run that had the home team up by 12. D.J. Augustin, who hit the winning three-pointer in Orlando’s Game 1 victory over Toronto in last season’s playoffs, drained a three at the buzzer, slicing the Raptors’ lead to 61-54 heading into halftime.

The Raptors were missing Lowry and Ibaka for the sixth straight game. Nurse hopes to have Ibaka (sprained ankle) back on Saturday, when the team travels to Atlanta.

“Serge has a shot of being ready this weekend,” Nurse said.

Nurse said he had no update on Lowry, who fractured his left thumb.

Anunoby started the game wearing protective goggles, but ditched them during Toronto’s first timeout.

Anunoby missed the better part of two games when he was swatted in the eye by former teammate Kawhi Leonard, suffering an eye contusion. Three games later, he took an elbow to the eye from Charlotte’s Nicolas Batum cutting short what was already a career night on Monday.

Orlando was the team really feeling the injury bug Wednesday.

Vucevic left the game after rolling his ankle coming down from a block attempt with 5:29 to play in the second quarter. Vucevic, who was helped off the court and to the locker-room, had six rebounds, five assists and three points. Gordon was helped off the court about three minutes earlier after attempting to stop an Anunoby dunk.

Their injuries allowed Canadian Khem Birch some valuable playing time. The Montreal native hadn’t played in the previous four games in favour of rookie Mo Bamba. Birch finished with 12 points and four boards in 21 minutes.

The Raptors beat Orlando, their first-round opponent from last season’s playoffs, on Oct. 28.

Wednesday’s was part of a stretch of seven of nine games at home. The Raptors are in Atlanta on Saturday then return home to host the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.

Lori Ewing, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

VanVleet scores 24 and Raptors beat Magic to remain unbeaten at home

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