Following a below average journey away from home, the Magic came back to their home court & picked up a hard-fought win their last occasion out. An additional win would provide them their longest home winning streak in 2 years - & carry on skid.
Orlando are trying for their 8th straight win at the Amway Center on Friday evening versus Toronto, loser of 5 consecutive. The Magic ( 27 - 15 ) finished a 2 - 3 trip Monday having a 109 - 106 defeat to Boston, which was their 3rd within 4 matchups after a high for the year 9 game victory run. The Magic increased their home court winning stretch having a 99 - 98 win Wednesday versus the 76ers with J.J. have a four point play in OT & Jason Richardson having one to push the game into extra time.
The Magic have not had an 8 game streak on their home court since winning eleven consecutive November 24th, 2008 to January 9th, 2009. 6 of 8 players put in in double digits, & Richardson's conversion having 17 seconds left assisted put the matchup into OT. However, he completed 2 for 11 from the floor for 8 points, his worst total since putting in 5 Christmas Day. Dwight Howard, who fouled out having eighteen points Wednesday & put in 10 of 22 from the stripe, put in 25 during a 110 - 106 home court defeat versus Toronto on November 12th.
It had been the 1st of only 5 wins away from home this year for the Raptors ( 13 - 29 ), who've dropped 4 consecutive & 8 of 10 on the road.
Toronto had Western Conference best Spurs on the ropes Wednesday, leading by eleven at half-time prior to losing 104 - 95. The Raptors had been out-scored 33 - 16 during the 3rd period & lost a double - figure advantage for the 2nd consecutive matchup.
DeMar DeRozan put in twenty-eight points for Toronto, which dropped for the 9th occasion in eleven matchups. The Raptors are 3 - 8 when DeRozan puts in twenty or more.
Toronto probably will have to have a all around performance to stop their slide Friday, much like it had versus the Magic earlier this year. DeRozan put in twenty-six points, Andrea Bargnani got a high for the game 27, & Sonny Weems broke a 103 tie with 7.1 seconds remaining having a three point shot over Howard.
It might be hard to take out the Magic a 2nd occasion unless Bargnani brings only his A game. He's a combined 10 for 37 from the floor, which includes 2 of 12 from beyond the arc, for twenty-five points during his previous 2 matchups. Bargnani had put in 28.0 points & put in 51.7 % during the 4 matchups before.
The Raptors have picked up 2 consecutive within the series, both at the Amway Center vs. the Magic, following dropping 3 consecutive matchups.