Dwight Howard Powers Orlando Magic Past Toronto Raptors

Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan scored a team-high 23 points in a close loss to Orlando Magic on Monday night at the Air Canada Centre

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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D12 Finishes with 16-of-20 for 36 Points and 13 Rebounds

Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan scored a team-high 23 points in a close loss to Orlando Magic on Monday night at the Air Canada CentreWith all the speculation swirling around the NBA about whether Dwight Howard will be traded before this season’s trade deadline, the powerful centre looked unaffected in the pre-game shoot around moments before tipoff against the Toronto Raptors.

Howard was seen laughing, singing and even joking with fans sitting courtside. For D12 it was still business as usual as he racked up 36 points and 13 rebounds in leading his team to a close 92-88 win at the Air Canada Centre.

The game wasn’t a great display of basketball as both teams lacked energy but it still came down to the wire as the Raptors hung in with one of league’s best teams. Toronto, already without Andrea Bargnani, was without Amir Johnson as well who injured his knee the night before in a win against the Golden State Warriors.

Despite missing Johnson’s hustle and playing in second of a back-to-back the team did not back down and push the Magic until the final whistle. But once again it was the same old story – another close loss decided in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter.

“I feel for our guys because they are putting themselves in position to win,” said Raptors Head Coach Dwane Casey. “The experience factor – you can’t rush it, you can’t teach it, you can’t give it to them. I see fight every night. There are periods where I have to get on them and push them like every other game, but I see guys caring.”

“I see passion and I don’t see give-in. Frustrated we lost, yes, and I want to see that. I don’t want to see a guy happy-go-lucky. I see guys caring and pulling for each other.”

The Raptors (12-26) could take solace in that the team is playing well enough to win despite missing key players, but being on the wrong side of close games has many clearly frustrated with the situation.

“It’s frustrating, especially knowing how many games we’ve had like this and that we should have won,” said guard DeMar DeRozan who finished with a team-high 23 points.

“We just have to close out games, especially against tough teams like the Orlando Magic.”

Jerryd Bayless continued his strong play in coming off an ankle injury and added 15 points, five assists and six rebounds. James Johnson built off his strong performance against the Warriors and put in a solid all-round effort for 13 points, seven assists and seven rebounds.

Centre Aaron Gray started the game matched up against Howard and acquitted himself well early on to finish with 11 points and 11 rebounds. But Casey decided to utilize Jamaal Magloire against Howard down the stretch and that meant Gray was glued to the bench for the entire fourth quarter.

“I think Jamaal (Magloire) came in and did a great job at being physical,” said Gray. “I think the coach was comfortable with that. I don’t have a problem cheering on my teammates. Obviously, whoever the best five that the coach thinks should be out there to win I support him 100 per cent.”

The Raptors are now 0-2 this year against the Magic having lost 102-96 in Orlando on New Year’s Day.

Last Minute Magic

Despite leading most of the game, the Magic (25-14) never built a lead larger than nine points and the Raptors kept pace with the visitors. In fact, Orlando had its largest lead with just 2:58 left after Richardson finished a running slam dunk on the fast break. But a 7-0 Raptors run cut the deficit to just two points with 31.8 seconds left.

With Howard struggling from the stripe, he wasn’t the one with the ball in his hands to nail the dagger into the Raptors – it was J.J. Redick. But the Magic centre set the perfect screen while Jason Richardson found a wide open Redick from the corner and the guard nailed a three. The long range jumper all but snuffed out any comeback hopes for the Raptors with 9.8 seconds left.

Raptors point guard Jose Calderon responded with a quick three as well, but Redick was fouled on the next play and nailed two free throws to seal the victory.

“Our perimeter guys all shot the ball very poorly tonight, so trying to decide who you’re going to have down there as the last man wasn’t an easy call but he (Redick) knocked in a big one right then,” said Magic Head Coach Stan Van Gundy.”

Added Redick, “J-Rich (Jason Richardson) made a great play to get the ball quickly to me. I knew I didn’t have a lot of time on the clock so I just caught it and let it go.”

Howard’s poor free-throw shooting ability has been well-documented, but on Monday night he struggled more than usual from the stripe going just 4-for-14.

“I’m going to make some. I’m going to miss some,” said Howard. “I’m not afraid to get the ball and make a play. I didn’t make them, but so what? We won the game. I’m going to continue to work on it and it’ll get better.”

Howard was very humble and deflected praise onto his teammates for his dominant performance.

“My teammates gave me the ball in the right position to score,” said Howard who went 16-for-20 but many of his points came from dunks. “They (Raptors) didn’t help so much so I had a lot of room to really be effective.”

Forward Ryan Anderson made a big impact as well to finish with 19 points and tied Howard for a game-high 13 rebounds. Jameer Nelson added 11 points and six assists while Redick finished with 13 points and six assists. Former Raptor Hedo Turkoglu was booed by Raptors fans all night long and failed to produce a single point but did dish out a game-high nine assists.

The Raptors will conclude its four-game home stand on Wednesday night when the Houston Rockets (21-17) visit the ACC with tipoff at 7 p.m. ET.

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