Raptors 93, Magic 90
TORONTO - DeMar DeRozan scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds as the Toronto Raptors extended their winning streak to five games with a 93-90 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday night before an announced crowd of 18,391 at Air Canada Centre.
The Raptors who led by 11 in the fourth quarter held on at the end as J.J. Redick missed a 3-point attempt in the final seconds and the Magic turned the ball over after gaining the rebound.
The Raptors had six players score in double figures as they snapped the Magic's four-game winning streak.
Point guard Jose Calderon had 13 points and nine assists, guard Terrence Ross also had 13 points and had two steals late in the game, forward Ed Davis, swingman Alan Anderson and forward Amir Johnson each had 10 and Linas Kleiza chipped in with nine.
Magic swingman Arron Afflalo led all scorers with 26, center Nikola Vucevic had 16 points and 12 rebounds, forward-center Gustavo Ayon and guard E'Twaun Moore had 12 each.
Toronto led by nine points entering the fourth quarter but the Magic cut the lead to five in the first two minutes. But a put-back jam by Ross and a bank shot by DeRozan who made the resulting free throw had Toronto's lead up to 78-68.
The Raptors moved 11 points into the lead with 5:52 to play after Ross hit a 3-pointer, then made a steal and finished off the play with a slam dunk.
Ayon put in a rebound with a 1:51 to play to reduce the Toronto lead to 91-85. A loose ball foul put the Magic at the line with 1:30 to play and Ayon hit both free throws to cut the lead to four points, After an offensive foul on Anderson, Jameer Nelson came back to hit a 3-point shot for Orlando with 55.9 seconds left to cut the lead to 91-90.
After DeRozan missed a driving jumper, Johnson grabbed the rebound and was fouled by Ayon. Johnson made both free throws to put Toronto up by three with 42.6 seconds left.
Ross picked up a steal after Ayon turned the ball over with 30 seconds left.
The Magic had one more chance but Redick missed his 3-point attempt. Moore got the rebound but Nelson turned the ball over to Ross to end the game.
The Raptors took a three-point lead into the second half. A 3-pointer by John Lucas bumped the lead to 11 with 22 seconds left in the third quarter. Moore hit a 13-foot jumper in the final second of the third to reduce the Raptor lead to 71-62.
Toronto rookie center Jonas Valanciunas left the game after 4:29 was played in the first quarter. X-rays on his right hand showed a fractured ring finger. He did not return.
Calderon had nine points in the first quarter to help Toronto to a 20-15 lead. The Raptors led by 11 in the second quarter before the Magic went on a 10-0 run to cut the lead to 35-34. The Raptors shot 31.8 percent from the field in the first half but led 42-39 at the intermission.
NOTES: Johnson had the team's claw logo shaved and dyed on the back of his head. "I was just thinking about doing something when I was sitting around the house," he said. "It's just my personality. It's what I do." Johnson injured his ankle in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's win over Detroit but came back to make two key defensive plays down the stretch. He was ready to play Friday. ... .forward-center Andrea Bargnani (right elbow) and guard Kyle Lowry (right triceps) continue to be out for Toronto. ... forward-center Glen Davis (left shoulder) was out for Orlando while forwards Al Harrington (right knee) and Hedo Turkoglu (left hand) continue to be out. ... The last time Toronto won five consecutive games was Jan. 22-31, 2010. ... The last time the teams met, the Raptors beat the Magic 97-86 at ACC on Nov. 18. ... Magic rookie forward Andrew Nicholson made his first career NBA start Friday. The native of nearby Mississauga, Ont., was a first-round draft pick (19th overall) from St. Bonaventure. ... Toronto plays next at San Antonio at AT&T Center on Dec, 26. ... Orlando plays Utah Sunday at Amway Center.
