TORONTO — In an impressive showing, Tristan da Silva achieved a personal best with 25 points, helping the Orlando Magic secure a 106-97 victory over the struggling Toronto Raptors on Friday night. The win marked the Magic’s fourth triumph in their last ten games, despite a setback with guard Jalen Suggs sidelined due to back spasms.
Goga Bitadze contributed substantially to the team, posting 11 points along with 13 rebounds, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 15 points to the scoreboard. Additionally, Cole Anthony matched his career high with 11 assists, showcasing great playmaking abilities for Orlando.
Despite entering the game as the lowest-ranked team in the NBA for 3-point shooting, the Magic made a remarkable 9 out of 14 three-point attempts in the first quarter. This achievement not only showcased their improvement from beyond the arc but also tied the franchise record for 3-pointers made in a single quarter.
Tragedy struck for the Magic in the second quarter when Jalen Suggs suffered an injury while playing defense. He stumbled without any apparent contact and fell, tending to his lower back. Suggs remained on the floor for several minutes before he was assisted into a wheelchair, covering his face with a towel as he was taken off the court.
For the Raptors, Jakob Poeltl led the team with 25 points, while Scottie Barnes added 20 points to their efforts. Immanuel Quickley also had a solid performance, recording a double-double with 11 points and 11 assists.
In terms of team performance, the Magic previously registered nine 3-pointers in the third quarter of a game against San Antonio earlier this season and also matched that mark in a game against the Lakers back in January 2018.
The Raptors, who managed to snap an 11-game losing streak with a win over Brooklyn earlier in the week, failed to build upon that momentum. As of now, Toronto has struggled to find consistency, capturing back-to-back wins only twice this season.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred late in the first quarter when four players from the Magic contributed to a 14-4 run, which propelled Orlando into a lead they would not relinquish.
Looking at the statistics, the Magic’s shooting from three-point range was pivotal in the outcome of the game, as they made 19 out of 44 attempts from beyond the arc. They perform notably well when hitting ten or more threes in a game, boasting an 18-6 record in those instances, while they have a 3-9 record when making fewer than ten.
As for what’s next, the Magic are set to host the Utah Jazz on Sunday night, while the Raptors will welcome the Milwaukee Bucks to their home court on Monday night.
