Ja’Kobe Walter delivered a thrilling finish with a clutch 3-pointer with just 0.5 seconds left, lifting the Toronto Raptors to a 114-113 victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night. The Raptors had squandered a 12-point lead in the final quarter but managed to pull off the win.
Paolo Banchero fueled a dramatic comeback for Orlando, scoring an impressive 22 of his game-high 41 points in the fourth quarter while hitting all eight of his shots in that span. His performance included two crucial free throws with only 5 seconds on the clock, putting Orlando ahead 113-111. Banchero also added eight rebounds, eight assists, and four steals to his remarkable outing.
Toronto’s performance was bolstered by RJ Barrett, who notched 21 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. Scottie Barnes contributed a solid double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Jakob Poeltl also added 17 points, while Immanuel Quickley chipped in with 15 points.
Franz Wagner played a vital role for the Magic, finishing with 28 points. Missing from the Raptors’ lineup was starting guard Gradey Dick, who is expected to be sidelined for at least two weeks due to a hyperextended and bruised right knee sustained in a collision last Sunday. Dick has been averaging 14.4 points per game this season.
For the Raptors, the victory marked their seventh road win against 23 losses, bringing their overall record to 20-42. Orlando, in the meantime, is struggling with four consecutive home losses and five losses out of their last six games overall. This slump has left the Magic 1.5 games behind Miami in the race for the Southeast Division lead.
The decisive moment came after a Raptors timeout, when they successfully inbounded the ball to Walter in the frontcourt. Walter navigated towards the middle, finding just enough room to launch his game-winning three-pointer over Orlando’s Tristan da Silva.
Toronto’s triumph was largely aided by outrebounding Orlando 48-35 and securing eight more free throws, helping them overcome 20 turnovers.
Looking ahead, the Raptors are set to host the Utah Jazz on Friday night, starting a four-game homestand. Meanwhile, the Magic will face the Chicago Bulls Thursday night before hitting the road for a five-game away stretch.
