Raptors 106 – Orlando Magic 103 [OT]: Come home, guys
By Brian Boake
The Raptors travelled to London and extended their stay by slipping into overtime against Orlando. Fortunately, our team took an early lead and weren’t caught.
The Toronto Raptors, following an all-too-common pattern recently, jumped out to a healthy lead and looked to be in control of another road win. Instead, they frittered away a Q4 margin which was 11 with less than 8 to play, and five with just over a minute. The Magic wouldn’t roll over, and the Raptors couldn’t make shots under pressure. Off we went to overtime, where the pattern continued.
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Even after scoring two quick baskets, and getting a 3-ball from Patrick Patterson, the Raptors couldn’t seal the deal. The Magic booted a chance to tie, and though Kyle Lowry made only one of two free throws, Orlando’s last-second heave clanked off the iron. The Raptors, in spite of themselves, had a victory.
This game was, of course, the mother of all road trips. The Raptors last visited London, England in 2011, and had a miserable time against the (then) New Jersey Nets. DeMar DeRozan had no fun this time either, putting up a woeful 4 of 19 shooting performance. Lowry, his backcourt mate, also isn’t likely to miss Big Ben and the Tower, after going 5 of 20. They weren’t the only shooters to struggle; the team was 2 of 14 from beyond the arc in the second half. Terrence Ross put up four without success before being lifted.
Happily the shooting malaise wasn’t team-wide. Cory Joseph continued his resurgence with an efficient 19 points on a mere 11 shots. Luis Scola made all three 3s he tried, and Patterson was 3 of 5 from beyond. Centres Jonas Valanciunas and Bismack Biyombo split 24 points.
Like so many games this strange season, the Raptors won this one on defense, and by getting to the free-throw line 31 times to Orlando’s 8. Oddly enough, DeRozan didn’t lead the team in trips; Lowry did, making 12 of 14. Toronto had 11 steals and blocked shots, and out-rebounded Orlando by one. DeRozan led in that department, with 11. He was a contributor even on a poor shooting night.
The Raptors are moving slowly up the ranks of solid shot-blocking teams, tied for eleventh with Milwaukee at 5.3 per game. This game spikes the average, as the Raptors turned aside 11 Orlando shots. JV in particular is learning to move his feet, but not leave them, which leads to changed and blocked shots while minimizing fouls. He played part of Q4 and most of the OT period, a sign that coach Dwane Casey has growing confidence in his D.
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Let’s hope the Raptors leave their cold shooting (35 points in the second half? 12 field goals?) in Merry Olde England. They are back in Toronto for the season’s longest home stand, a 7-gamer starting on Monday night against the sad sack Brooklyn Nets. With 23 road games under their belt (tied with Milwaukee – again! – for the NBA’s most), the Raptors are overdue for a break from travel. Let’s hope they can take advantage of the schedule’s sudden positive tilt.