10 things from Raptors vs. Magic

Here’s 10 takeaways from the Toronto Raptors’ 121-109 win over the Orlando Magic.

One - Punked: The Raptors weren’t prepared for Orlando’s intensity after spending last week scrimmaging with the Knicks and Bulls. The Magic scored 36 points in the first quarter on 63 percent shooting, took an 11-point lead, and didn’t commit their first foul until nine minutes left in the second. It looked to be a third-straight blowout in favor of the Magic until the Raptors finally matched its intensity.

Two - Levels: Toronto eventually took control by outscoring Orlando 66-41 over the second and third quarters. Kyle Lowry repeatedly hit the deck for loose balls, and Marc Gasol provided timely rim protection at the back to get stops and activate the Raptors’ transition game. This performance lended credence to the idea that the Raptors have largely been coasting, and that they can flip a switch come time for the playoffs. This was never the case in previous seasons, as the Raptors generally racked up regular season wins by playing with all-out intensity before flaming out when it mattered most.

Three - Scorching: Danny Green kept the Raptors in the game early on with 15 points in the first quarter before finishing with a season-high 29 points with seven triples. Green cleverly repositioned himself to get open, and his teammates did a great job of finding him. Nick Nurse also made a point to feature Green in the offense by drawing up plays where Green would come around a series of baseline screens to get the open look.

Four - Concern: The only downside to Green’s spectacular night was that he jammed his left thumb. However, it’s worth noting that he sustained the injury early in the first half and still hit another four shots in the third quarter before sitting the rest of the way. Nevertheless, with the Raptors locked into their seeding, Green will have plenty of time to rest. X-rays also came back negative.

Five - Frustrating: Pascal Siakam had one of his worst outings of the season as he was physically overmatched by Jonathan Isaac. Siakam tried his usual assortment of herky-jerky post moves, but Isaac was much longer and just as quick, so Siakam really couldn’t get his shots off. What’s disappointing about Siakam’s effort is that his lack of success on offense translated to a poor performance on defense, and that simply can’t happen. Siakam has played like a star for most of the year, but he shouldn’t get away from his hustle and commitment on defense.

Six - Swamped: Kawhi Leonard also had an underwhelming performance as he was blanketed by Aaron Gordon, but he still found ways to contribute. Leonard drew added attention as always, and he parlayed that into five assists in 27 minutes. Leonard also skied for an offensive rebound and ripped it out of Gordon’s hands, before finding Marc Gasol for a four-point play to give the Raptors a lead they would not relinquish.

Seven - Crucial: As always, Gasol quietly contributed on both ends of the floor with his unselfish plays. Not only did he shut down Nik Vucevic (13 points on 5-of-14 shooting), but Gasol also kept the offense humming and led all players as a plus-24 despite only putting up 13 points. His impact goes well beyond the boxscore, and Gasol’s decision making has clearly elevated the starting unit.

Eight - Scorching: This was the 10th straight game in which the Raptors shot 39 percent or better from deep, and the third consecutive outing with 18 or more makes. Again, much of that credit belongs to Gasol for his playmaking. Toronto’s biggest issue before the trade deadline was a lack of shooting, and they now lead the NBA in 3-point percentage since Gasol arrived.

Nine - Caution: Once the Raptors assumed control after three quarters, Nick Nurse made sure to keep minutes down for his veterans. No starter played more than 28 minutes, and Nurse even yanked his second unit with four minutes left in the fourth which led to a rather hairy finish. With the No. 2 seed locked up, Nurse’s main responsibility is to keep everyone healthy.

Ten - Achievement: The Raptors also clinched their sixth Atlantic Division title with tonight’s win, but they’re way past celebrating such minor accomplishments. With that in mind, the Raptors should also consider taking down the 2015 division banner because that was a year to forget.

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